Thank you for your insights Bob. I too have been questioning if my pain is from the degenerative changes or if in fact I do have fibromyalgia. I do not have the typical fibro fog reported by many. I got my NCS and EMG results today, with nerve root irritation noted at C5-6. Weakness in left biceps and bilateral median neuropathies of the wrists.Lower extremity showed slow tendency to respond to vibratory testing over the feet and great toes. I have been on anti-inflammatories since 1991 injury. I was put on additional antiinflammatories in December when the low back pain started. I cannot take opiod pain maedications except at night and on weekends, as I drive  8 hrs a day for my job. But I have had to recently increase the dosage of Vicodiene from 1- 500mg tablet to 2, at night, to relieve the pain. My osteopathic physician is referring me to a neurosurgeon for a consultation. I will ask him about the IDP surgery you mentioned. My lower back pain is only 3 months duration, but the neck/upper back has been ongoing for probably at least 10 years off and on. Any other insights re the EMG/NCS will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for responding to my post.

Dear LLWB
     I never had a good relation with the surgeons because I always believed in conservative managements for a good time esp if diabetic , since it affects the small vessels supplying blood to the spine and may affect the healing plus a higher chance of infection.
First , at this point I will at least cast  a doupt on the fibromyalgia with all these degenerative changes.

you wrote MYELOPATHY?  myelopathic symptoms are  motor symptoms, or bowel and bladder abnormalities , which is generally accepted as an indication for surgical therapy, esp if  severe or progressing , otherwise surgery could be delayed if the person is manifesting improvement in the neurologic deficit.

I dont see any line about the confirmation of a root damage by doing EMG/NCS??
What did you try for the pain and for how long?

Epstein's (one the major reviews 1989) clinical review of  more than 1300 patients with cervical spondylitic myelopathy were put  in a conservative treatment evaluation that 36% showed improvement, whereas 64% showed no improvement . In those who did not improve, 26% deteriorated neurologically, with the remainders remaining stable.
the believe in the 1960s (I cant remember the name of the reviwer) was long periods of a neurologic stabilization occur between episodes of deterioration...which all add to try a consevative way as long as possible

   About your Q of the prognosis the 2 most important factors for successful surgical  outcome in patients treated for cervical spondylitic myelopathy are
1-the patient's age and
2-the duration of symptoms.
Young patients tend to do better than elderly patients. And those who's disease has been present for fewer than 6 months have a more favorable outcome than patients whose symptoms have been present for 1 year.

If you are able to delay the surgery you should
1-have strict control of the diabetes, a plan to lose weight
2- Ask your surgeon about the chance of have the new less invasive surgery called The X STOP Interspinous Process Distraction System (IPD)

    Bob