Question
Since May I have been having pain and numbness from my right shoulder down my right arm. The symptoms were mostly relieved with NSAIDS and pain killers that let me return to my job as a hospital Register Nurse on a Medical-Surgical floor. In July I stretched and reinjuried the area. The pain was increasingly more severe and I then experienced tingling with the numbness thru my right arm. Once again after about 2 weeks, the NSAIDS and pain killers settled the majority of the symptoms. My MRI showed "disc extrusion at the c6-7 intervertebral disc level lateralized to the right recess of the spinal canal affecting the exiting c7 nerve root" To date I still have discomfort mainly in my back and right pec area. I have not resumed work as my Family Doc thinks I should be symptom free before returning. Is this ever a possibility to be symptom free ? Physio has me doing neck traction 3x/day, medial nerve glide exercises, shoulder exercises. I have started to dumbbell rows for my back, bicep and tricep exercises to strengthen these muscles back up. Are these okay to be doing ? Will I do more harm if I return to my job of tending to patients ? Will I just have to live flare-up to flare-up or can something be done to alleviate further episodes ? Do you have any other suggestions for strengthening so I can return to my job ?
I really would appreciate your feedback. My Family Doc is unsure if I should see a Neurosurgeon because there is likely nothing that they will do because I am getting relief with meds. What's your take on this ?
Thanks Kim

Answer
Although I am not a physician, it certainly sounds as though you are covering all the proper therapies to alleviate the problem.  I believe that you are on the right track with doing strengthening exercises for the areas involved.  That will lessen the risk of future injury and it will help relieve any muscle tension associated with the 'guarding' reflex.  The only advice that I would offer is to review your body mechanics when working with patients.  Try to keep from having the weight of your head out of proper body alignment by not leaning very far forward, particularly if you are moving a patient.

Thank you for your question, Kim.  I hope that my answer was helpful.