post-op pain

I had ACDF in November 2008, I had disection of C5-C7 with a bone graft and titanium plate with screws. Before surgery, I had terrible pain with weakness, numbness and tingling form my right shoulder down to my arm and into my hand. My nuerosurgeon said I had severe spinal stenosis of the right side and said surgery was my only option. After surgery, I still had alot of pain same as before. My doctor started me on Nuerontin and after a few months the pain went away. I was pain free and had my life back for about 1 to 2 months before the pain returned a few weeks ago. It got increasingly worse until it got to the point where its as severe as it was before surgery. My doctor ordered an MRI and found out I have a small piece of disc material at the C5-C6 level which he says "doesn't look like its affecting the nerve and that it may or may not be causing my pain."  At this point, he doesn't recommend surgery now he wants to keep me on Nuerontin which I had been off of and which I don't like taking due to some of the side effects. He wants to reevaluate in July or August and see how things are and if no better consider surgery at that time. I don't really know what to do. I don't want to live with this pain for several more months nor do I want to be on this medicine either. I was wondering if anyone else had this happen to them and how they proceeded. I don't know if I should do as my doctor says or if I should push for surgery for pain relief or if I should seek a second opinion. Any advice from anyone who has had a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,
Kim

[abhijeet v ghosh]

hi kim,
it's the treating doctor;s decision that matters here. i can;t help you much here. All i can say that you can either go for a second opinion to confirm what he is saying. At this moment, if we question his judgement, it wont be fair at all.
So by default, do as what he is saying. If you are planing to take a second opinion, do let me know, i will be able to help you more in that.
Regards