I had pinched nerve in neck and had two bouts of physical therapy over the years. I was able to avoid surgery and problem is essentially gone. Look at exercises on line that may help. I also avoid lifting things over my head.
My wife had the same problem and surgeon wanted to operate but she refused and recovered fine.
Spinal surgeries that fuse vertebra can result in need for more as stress goes to rest of spine.
As for AHR, Ed sounds like me. I have the knowledge and the tools but abilities are not working as well. I had an 81 year old neighbor suffering missing teeth when he fell off a ladder and a 75 year old get killed when he went to bring down a partially fallen tree.