Should I have a neck fusion?

Hello, I have two herniated discs at C5-6, C6-7. I'm not in a tremendous amount of pain , but do have a little numbness in the left arm. Spinal cord is being pinched some , but not a tremendous amount. Have to go to deep tissue massage about 1-2x's a month for the pain in the neck. Muscles get really tight around the neck. I am worried if I'll be able to workout again after this and also about possible damage to my vocal chords as I am a semi-professional singer. Doctor said I'm a little more at risk to be paralyzed if in a car accident ,but not significantly so. I have irritating , nagging pain every day ,but not severe pain. Risk of vocal problems is about 5% from surgery. I don't want to lose the two things I love to do which are singing and working out. However, I don't want to be paralyzed either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

First, know that the following comes from a complete optimist. I had an anterior cervical discectomy, fusion, plate and screws (C4-C6). I was always at the gym until I couldn't bear it anymore, always active, house full of kids, pets, gardening, etc. When I got to the point that I couldn't even make Thanksgiving dinner, I gave up, gave in. Laser disc decompression was not available at the time of my surgery, and honestly, I don't even know if it would have been an option.

Search for alternative solutions, look into laser disc decompression before you opt for fusion. It is not an easy way out. You will not have the same range of motion you presently have, nor the same sense of balance. When vertebra are fused, they are immobilized, therefore, you can not look up, down, left, or right within the same range as before. Since those vertebra are fused, the discs above and below the fusion are stressed and may become distressed, causing those discs to herniate, develop spurs, etc., which has happened to me.

As far as your vocal chords are concerned: the surgeon has to move everything aside, including your vocal chords, to access your anterior spinal column. In my case, a nerve was damaged and swallowing was difficult for quite some time, but I learned to adjust, still isn't the same, voice either, but I never could sing worth a darn, lol.

Please understand that I am not trying to scare you and by no means am I suggesting that you should not proceed. Just tread carefully, my friend, and search every alternative.

I will post some sites for you to view. I am posting these sites because they are easy to understand. If you go to "Google", type in, "cervical spine discectomy", or "cervical spine laser surgery", or "cervical spine surgery alternative", you will find many sites, and many opinions. Take care, be well, sorry you're having a difficult time.
http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/
http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarti...

Get the surgery, and opt to use your own bone. The pain will most likely get worse as you get older. Mine did and I had to have two surgeries , front and back. Before you do anything though get a second opinion. The nerves in the arm that are being pinched can eventually go completely numb as mine did.