Had the follow up visit today, the narrowing in my spinal column is not going to get better, and will probably get worse. I'll be having surgery at the end of October. Doc wanted to do it sooner, but I told him I had no intention of missing the Nike marathon. I've worked and trained too hard to miss it!

His one request is that I be careful. No bike riding, no tightrope walking, no skydiving. I must give up my daredevil lifestyle until after surgery, or risk permanent damage to my spinal cord, should I have an accident.

He said he can't say that all my neck pain will be gone, but it will lessen a great deal. The big difference will be in my arms and hands. That was pretty much all I needed to hear.