MacCool

That's the theory anyway. I suspect it varies from detergent to detergent. I think an equally big advantage is that the thick layer provides more lubrication to decrease swirling when rubbed as well as more detergent volume to keep dirt particles suspended with less likelihood of marring the clear coat when scrubbing.

Yeh, I found that the ability to quick-change between foam cannon and rinsing lance really simplifies the process.

Hmmm...some misinformation there. Cervical disk issues and spinal stenosis are less common than lumbar disk, but far from "one-in-a-million". The biggest issue is that the cervical spine carries less weight, and the direction of force is more axial, as opposed to the lumbar spine at the bottom of the spine where the weight force is greater and more off-axis because of the normal lumbar curve, therefore less tendency toward disk herniation, arthritis, and spinal stenosis. Same reason that surgery is easier and quicker recovery because those forces tend to result in better resolution, better bone graft success, and less subsequent development of adjacent-segment arthritis (fusing one segment put more force on the segments above and below the fusion). Epidural steroid injections are every bit as effective in the cervical spine as elsewhere, but if they don't help then surgery is more likely to be recommended because it's likely to have a higher success rate and is likely to be the only alternative. Spinal surgery, diagnosis and treatment, is tricky business because there are so many variables. It isn't just about a herniated disk. About 90% of people will get excellent resolution of a herniated disk over 6 months or so without surgery. But it also depends on other factors such as spinal stenosis or involvement of the vertebral facet joints. Those are the things that drive the decision as to whether or not someone needs surgery. A diskectomy by itself is simple -- done through a 1/2 inch incision as an outpatient. The problem comes in if they have to remove bone from the area of nerve root canal to decompress it. That can lead to enough instability that a fusion is necessary, which makes it a bigger deal with longer recovery. If the symptoms are all nerve root compression with pain, numbness, or weakness in an extrementy that just won't go away with PT, steroid injections and time, the success rate of surgery in resolving that specific radiating pain is very high, especially in the cervical spine. By way of disclaimer, I am a surgeon, but not a spine surgeon. However, I also have a lumbar disk herniation and you can believe that I have looked at the options and alternatives exhaustively. The informational resources available to me go way beyond a 15 minute doctor's appointment. I have ready access to all of the most current literature as well as the training to interpret it. Most of those doctors are good friends. I can talk extensively with radiologists, pain specialists, and spine surgeons, cornering them at lunch, in the surgery lounge or in social situations. I'm sure they're getting tired of me. Anyway, you are absolutely correct that the best information you will get is from a spine surgeon that has examined you, reviewed your medical history and lifestyle, and reviewed your MRI. The above are my general opinions for general background. Maybe they'll help you ask better questions of your surgeon, but don't take them as medical advice. Internet medical advice is rarely a good thing.

Cervical spine surgery is a completely different animal than lumbar spine. An anterior cervical fusion is a piece of cake by comparison with a very high success rate, fast recovery. "Neurologists" are medical doctors. They don't do surgery. Some neurosurgeons do spine surgery, but these days maintaining disk height after the disk is out is important and almost always accompanied by a bone graft as well as cages and screws. Given that spine surgery is mostly bone work, an orthopedist that specializes in spine surgery is likely to have the edge on the process, more so than a neurosurgeon that specializes in spine surgery.

IMHO, all the foam cannons are the same, probably all came over on the same boat from Taiwan. They work great. I set mine up to be interchangeable with quick-disconnects. The parts are all standardized and readily available. Even Home Depot has most of the hardware you need after you buy the foam cannon itself from Amazon. You need a female 3/8 inch quick coupler on the free end of the pressure hose (opposite of where it attaches to the pump), then screw a 3/8 inch male coupler on the trigger handles so you can quick-disconnect the foam lance and exchange it for the rinse lance. If you buy the $60 foam cannon and the $16 trigger handle above, those two connect together with a single 3/8 NPT brass pipe nipple from your hardware store. Use teflon tape. trigger spray gun handle quick coupler for your pressure washer hose quick couple for your foam lance and rinse lance trigger handle (need 2) [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Foam-Lance-Adjustable-Bottle/dp/B004GNZYY4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1308016053&sr=8-2]foam cannon[/ame]. 3/8 inch pipe nipple

Unless he showed you I.D. to go along with his declaration of "tow truck driver", I would have called the cops and reported a suspicious man prowling the premises looking in cars with a flashlight. And I'd continue to do that every time I saw him thereafter. Sounds like the towing contract ought to be an agenda item for the next homeowner's association meeting and you should be sure to show up.