Harrison--I finally had my "duh!" moment re the Theracane as a result of your post in this context, and will be ordering one. To answer Jenni's question, the exercises definitely do help but the muscles do not fully relax and sometimes are in worse shape than other times. I believe I'm dealing with muscle guarding and if there weren't this natural response, I'd probably be in worse pain (or so I'd like to believe). Anyway, the Theracane seems to be a more practical and acceptable solution than inviting my massage therapist to come live with us, to which for some reason my husband objects--although I don't think he would object if John were blond, Swedish and named Helga.  
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2001 MVA; C5-C6 disk extruded
ongoing physical therapy, exercise and massage
ESI's, oral prednisone, trigger point injections
foraminal and central stenosis C5/C6 and c6/C7
2007 EMG/nerve conduction shows pattern of chronic radiculopathy
January, 2008: Prestige ST Artificial Disk Replacement, C5/6
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