There's an old saying. 'A person with a hammer sees everything as a nail.'
Medics will tend to favour non surgical solutions, surgeons will tend to favour surgical solutions. Both will have your best interest at heart, but with a natural bias to their discipline. Which route is best depends on so many factors. Have you tried discussing the surgeon's recommendations with the rheumy team to get their view? That might be a useful approach?
Paul Barrett
Hexham - Northumberland - Loads of spectacular walks - all I need now are the joints to go with them! :)
Enthesitis (2012)
Ulcerative Colitis (1990)