Question: Hello, I have been diagnosed with congenital cervical spinal stenosis. My MRI indicated compression on the spinal cord at C4-C5 and encroachment on the central canal at C5-C6. The C4-C5 causes pain in a specific area of my neck and radiates down the deltoid. The pain is much better now than it was 3 weeks ago when I first learned of the condition. I have made a number of behavior changes that I believe are helping. A spinal surgeon I saw here concluded the C5-C6 area was stable and not symptomatic, so he did not recommend surgery. A spinal rehabilitation specialist I saw today, stated that he thought the risk was from the C4-C-5 area; which is symptomatic. He did not recommend surgery ether; yet he did say that I might want to see a Neuro-Surgeon in the future and that I should repeat the MRI. I am strong and quite fit; yet he thought I had lost a little strength in my left toe area because as he leaned on it I could not hold it up. I had a similar situation when he leaned on one of my wrists. He said my strength in those areas was a 4 rather than a 5. My question is this: no one is recommending surgery; yet I can tell everyone is concerned. What risks am I taking by not having surgery in terms of possible, irreversible, neurological damage if the spinal cord is further damaged? As I have mentioned my pain and symptoms are much better from 16 days ago with behavior changes. One additional question: should the two physicians reach a consensus on which area they are concerned about, C4-C-5; which is symptomatic, or C5-C6, which is not? Thank you I need to clarify one thing because I was in a hurry earlier. The spine surgeon I spoke with indicated that he was most concerned about the C5-C6 area and that because it was not symptomatic, it was therefore stable, and as a result he did not recommend surgery. The rehabilitation spine doctor has not read the surgeons conclusions yet. His position was that the C4-C5 area that compresses the spinal cord, rather than encroaching the central canal as is the case with C5-C6, is what he is concerned with. I had my first physical therapy session today and as I mentioned my symptoms are much better than 16 days ago. My biggest concern is permanent neurological loss as a result of this situation. The pain, which is improving, is not my major concern. I apologize for the length of this communication. I have an additional questions, which condition is considered worse, a spinal cord compression, or spinal cord encroachment? I have pain in the deltoid is that from C4-C5 (area of compression), or C5-C6; which was defined on MRI as an area of encroachment.