Disc bulging in T-3-T-4, arthritis and mild stenosis C-2 down

As requested let me introduce myself. I am 56, have been working as an inpatient RN for over 19 years. At age 18 I took a self-defense class which included throwing people and getting thrown to the ground. I started having lower back pain and I remember the instructor saying I probably had a UTI and should drink cranberry juice. So ridiculous as I remember this now. I finished the class, pain increased and I saw a chiropractor's ad and went for my free x-ray and exam. He stated he could help me as I didn't have any disc problems. I had some sessions which was a financial strain but I did not get relief. I went to my Dr and finally got appropriate imaging and advised I had two herniated discs L3, L4 I believe. Of course I was having sciatica. The Dr advised I be admitted for bed rest and traction which would never be done in these days. I remember my friend bringing me chocolate chip cookies as my parents happened to be out of town. 2 or 3 days inpatient which didn't help. I stopped being active and gained weight. I was offered surgery or advised it could resolve on it's own. I declined surgery and started walking more with my corset on and I got better. About 25 years ago my little family was rear-ended. I had neck and lower back pain. Flexeril and narcotics were prescribed. Right after I got my car back from the shop I was hit from the side by someone running a red on the same street as the first accident. Pain got worse and Dr finally ordered PT consult. When I arrived for the appointment she said, you're here because you don't want to go back to work. I was working retail at the time. I had ultrasound to lower back and neck. I got about 80% improvement in lower beck and neck was worse. Off and on my sciatica would act up. My last bad time was around 2015. I remember finally getting a Rx for Norco and sitting in a restaurant and feeling the relief from that first pill. With that go around walking made it feel better and every other position was uncomfortable. I have been getting massages, chiro adjustments for years for neck, shoulder, lower back pain. About 3 years ago I started having left neck pain that came and went with no relief with anything I did. It would spread up over my forehead. I finally tried a chiropractor for this and after 3 visits it was completely gone. This pain was like a spasm. About a month ago that pain started up and increased. The chiro I had gone to is not practicing. Went to one my husband had gone to and after 3 visits the pain was getting worse but his tx really never changed. I went to another from my old church and I got a little relief. A week ago Monday I was very sore and had been when sitting up in my neck, had to support my neck when stretching on my chirp wheel. I had an appointment with physical medicine that day and started to make breakfast. I reached up for a plate and had quite a bit of neck pain. I was getting a skillet ready and looked down and had the scariest, most intense spasm like pain in my neck. I cried out and continued to experience seconds-long terrible spasm when I moved my neck in any direction. I had my husband heat up my beaded neck wrap. I tried to put it on and got another spasm. He took me to my appointment. Dr. stopped the exam when I cried out after I took off the wrap causing a spasm while he was touching my shoulder. I told him it wasn't from the touch but he said then my reaction was too delayed. He ordered radiology tests, flexeril and neurontin. I found out later he ordered urine drug screen too. The nicest x-ray tech was the only compassionate person I encountered that day and that is the facility I work at. That young lady helped me with everything and I had another spasm while doing the standing x-ray. I popped a flexeril as soon as we got in the car and we headed to the nearby chiro to see if he could help. I had a spasm lying face down on the table, but he was able to press on my upper back. I had so much trouble getting up and had to support my head. He could not turn my head without setting off a spasm. He applied kinesiology tape and by the time I left I was able to look down a little. I took an old Valium I had at home and went to sleep. Next day, the spasm was just short, quick pain with movement. Took flexeril only 3 x a day and movement in all directions improved. Next day MRI. Disc bulging in T-3-T-4. Arthritis and mild stenosis C-2 down. My husband took me to a massage therapist a friend suggested. He massaged a trigger point and asked for $80. He only spoke Spanish and I was in a daze. I started accupuncture last Friday and had more movement the next day. I seemed to have regressed yesterday with more pain in the left more anterior neck muscles. I had to hold my head last night lying down and turning. Took just 1/2 a flexeril last night. I have a PT appointment next week, pain management Friday on the phone. I am now waiting to hear back from Dr on whether I should be on modified duty, full or be off. I'm due back on Thursday. We aren't supposed to lift more than 25 pounds at work, but we do. I helped turn a heavy patient at the end of January and felt tightness immediately in the back of my neck. I had also done some light overhead free weights at the end of January. My mind keeps going back to the trauma of that Monday and trying not to as it makes me stiffen up. I was able to drive two days ago. Ok, there's my lovely history.