Thanks all.
My Dr. seems to think the epidural WILL help address the cause - which is the stenosis of the neural foramen. The epi will/should bring down the inflammation that is causing the nerve that exits the C5-6. It's the inflammed nerve that is causing so much issue "down stream" - i.e., in my arm, including the weakness in the tricep. His big question is how long it will be effective - if it is effective at all, which is it may not be - granted. My hope is that it will be effective long enough to have other rehab options (pt, whatever) be effective over the long term.
I had my acupuncturist start to focus more on my neck vs. my arm. A drastic improvement in one day (by my darned lifestyle is still going to do me in....bike riding and computers are BAD for me!). I'd really prefer that route (yeah - 20 needles a week, rather than one big honkin' one).
As for pillows...we have the shaped tempurpedic ones that seem to help me a bit already.
Yeah, VB, thanks - I've been dealing with this since approximately last September. It's a major drag. I understand many folks have herniated discs and are asymptomatic. I really wish that was the case for me!