Question: I was diagnosed with cervical degenerative disc disease and TMJ disc disease in 2010. It began in 2010 with earaches that doctors said were not ear aches. I saw a neurologist who did 2 MRI's which showed the disc disease in my neck and jaw. The prosthodontist said due to the shape of my protruding jaw, a mouth guard wouldn't work. The neurologist sent me to a GREAT physical therapist (who left town) who I saw about 2 times a week for almost 2 years. He worked a full half hour - hands on - primarily on my posture. He said I came in with "no neck." In addition to the hands on, he did ultarsound and electrode stimulation. He taght me exercises for home to lengthen and strengthen my neck. He also did some work with his fingers inside my jaw. I had a pain specialist (many) started out giving me tramadol for pain. In late 2012 I really got better! I still took some tramadol, But it was very livable. That lasted until July of 2015, where a dentist put a prop in my mouth to hold my mouth open while he worked on the last part of crown and filled a cavity. A few days later, the SAME ear pain I had had in 2010. I went back to pain specialist and have had the WORST neck pain I have eve had. I have had all the steroid injection treatments and radio frequency ablation of many discs. NOTHING has helped. I had a fall a few weeks ago when a small stool collapsed underneath me. My pain is UNREAL! . I am scheduled for Botox injections this coming Friday (2nd time.) Ihave seen 2 neuro surgeons who had differrent opinions - one for fusion surgery and one against that, but sent me to specialist who recommended Neurostimulation therapyy. By the way, another pain doctor, who said he did not give ANY pain medication, and said that neurostimulation therapy has NOT been FDA approved. My pain is so bad now, that I take 4 percocets a day. My new physical therapist has me riding bikes to strengthen my muscles and hasn't really touched my neck. My current doctor says if botox doesn't work, he can do acupuncture, and we could try a steroid injections again, because he does it differently. I have had many MRI's and a bone scan in 2014 which showed the 4 radial ?. These discs, on my right side of neck C2-3 C3-4, C4-5 and I think one more. and 1 on the left side. The doctor said these were the main source of my pain. The discs were flattening and the facey joints were rubbing against each other. I just don' know what to do. I really don't want surgery, unless it is the last resort. Any ideas?