Salmo,
Sounds like you are going through almost exactly what I did a few years ago.
I had Johnnie Delashaw at oregon Health Science University fuse my neck at c5-6 Used a donor bone.

I Had bone spurs,calcified bulging disc etc.

Night and day difference.Rarely any pain.Great relief of all symptoms.And doing only 1 level I dont really notice the little bit range of motion I lost.

I really do feel like a new man

I highly recomend him.

Do a google search.Tons of info.
Heres my favorite link .Scroll down to the story of the first runner up.
http://www.ourhideout.com/darwin.htm

HntnFsh