I had a MRI last Monday and got a call from the MD yesterday saying I need surgery on my neck.   She said that my disc bulge has progressed to a point where I may start to loose strength and motor function if it gets much worse.   The was evidenced by the numbness I was having last month.  I am always in some sort of pain with it and several  times  this season I have had a tough time fighting fish due to  it fatiguing so much I would start to loose strength.    Thought I was doing well when the numbness left, but alas it is not.  Getting an appointment with a Neurosurgeon later next week to go over my options and the final call.   I am hoping to put it off until  mid March due to snow removal and of course ice fishing, but will follow Neuro's advice if he says I need it sooner.   I will be getting what is called an ACDF,  anterior cervical decompression and fusion.  Basically they go in through the front of your neck, pull out your disc, install a cage with cement and donar bone (either mine or cadaver) to take the place of the disc and then install a plate between the 2 vertebra to keep them from moving  until the bones fuse together.   With any luck all I will lose is a little range of motion in my neck and about 8 weeks of sick time (I am very lucky as I have about 16 weeks saved up).   I think my biggest issue is going to be what  I am going to do for the first 4 to 6 weeks with a 5 lb lifting restriction and possibly needing to be in a cervical collar.  You can only watch so much TV................
 

Good luck Clint- do what the DR says- don't risk bad stuff for a fish or two.

As you already know the medical profession can do amazing things these days.  Good luck with the procedure.  Prayers for a successful and speedy recovery.

Kind of nervous with someone cutting into my throat and all.        This MD states out patient procedure with no hospital time and in most cases no collar, which is the way this surgery has been trending the last few years .   I am in a unique situation where my patients usually come to see me after these things go wrong and I see the "worse case" scenario all the time so I tend to worry alot.   It will be nice to get rid of the pain and be able to fight a fish without my arm feeling like it is going to fall off.   
I will follow protocol though,  as I do not need any issues from this and know the worse case results from not.   I will probably have alot time to tie up a bunch of flies though,  less than 5lbs

Clint , that sucks for sure but I bet in the long run will be all for the better. Can't blame you for being nervous . I never , ever go to the doctors and when I had that plate done in my collar bone I was scared to no end. It was all for not ..
Get it taken care of ASAP and heal up quickly .
I'll be sending good vibes ..

Clint,you took the words from my mouth.....tie flies and more flies,this will be all for the better.

I had it done a couple years ago.
Overnight stay just for observation.
Then the collor for a couple weeks then just at night for a while.
I had some kind od electric co;;ar that was supposed to aid in the bone grafting.
Carefull there.
Not covered by insurance and it was while I was have that on a couple times a day that I face planted in my mac n cheese.
Fought and they took the couple (that is right) couple grand off my tab.
 
First two weeks suck bad with the lack of mobility.
PA its tough to tie when you can't really look down at the vise.
 
Gets better pretty quick after that (in your mind) and after 6 weeks I was fishing for kings (not landing many since I weight restriction kept my drag loose and if I couldn't fool them into doing what I wanted they won)
 
You know the drill.
Follow doctors orders (within reason) and do your physical therapy and all willl be well.
I have to twist a bit sideways to look over my shoulder but that is it.
Scar is very minor and being on the throat almost unnoticeable. 
 
 
 

Best of outcomes, Clint.  Good to hear there are still folks who understand that sick time is an insurance policy meant to be saved for just this sort of thing, not an extra couple of days off every now and then.  Watch MASH reruns, see 'em enough times, you and TwoBob can recite the shows back and forth across the river!
 
L13

Clint hope the best for ya man... rest and heal well

A prayer sent, Clint, oh yeah and a order for flies. Tie me up a couple a dozen while your at it.  Put the vice up at eye level..... No excuses when them crazy steel get off  after this.