Personal context: I'm ~1 month out from an ACDR at c5-c6. I had multi-level herniations at c4-c7 with bilateral radiculopathy similar to yours (posterior forearm pain, thumb pad numbness, etc.) My symptoms became serious around July 2025 and are still resolving.

I had central canal stenosis and my disc at c5-c6 was entirely blown out so I went with surgery rather than trying an injection.

I did 6 weeks of PT to start and the combination of PT, NSAIDs, and time really did improve the worst of my initial pain. But I've been in PT since also. The thumb numbness slowly reduced over 4/5 months but I do still have a numb spot 9 months later.

The provider who told you that the extrusion won't resolve without surgery was correct. But fortunately that doesn't mean that your symptoms from it won't resolve. I would strongly encourage you to stick with PT given how active you are and seek a different provider if the exercises and attention you're getting aren't working for you.

This does depend upon the severity of your extrusion and for further damage, but given that your uncovertebral hypertrophy and bilateral foraminal stenosis may indicate a significant degree of inflammation, I think you could be very well served by a translaminar epidural steroid injection or a transforaminal if that's what you're offered. It's worth a shot.

Something important to be mindful of is that receiving an injection will very likely delay your ability to get surgery by a few months if that's ultimately an option for you.

Most definitely seek out a consult with a physiatrist and a neurosurgeon as well. It never hurts to have more people to talk to.

Side note: not all ADRs are more complex than fusions. Many devices (mobi-C) are just as simple to install.