Hi Bassmonter, and sorry to hear what you're going thru. I've been in a very similar situation as you and have avoided surgery to this point. I was also 43 when my event took place, and I'm 55 now.
I wasn't even working out at the time. Just sitting at home relaxing on my computer, turned my head to look at the TV - and BAM! Felt a searing pain from my left shoulders down my arm, but not very intense (yet). Took an aspirin and went to bed just figuring I pulled a neck muscle. Next morning pain continued and began to increase in intensity. It got so bad I went o ER. They just did an X-ray, told me I had some arthritis, gave me an oxy and sent me home telling me to follow-up with GP. My GP ordered an MRI that was scheduled over a month away
Intense pain lasted almost 3 weeks. One afternoon it just suddenly went away, however I had numbness in over my forearm, index and middle finger. I also felt a general sense of weakness on my left side. I wasn't actively working out at the time, so didn't immediately notice any strength/size differences. About 6 weeks into it just before my MRI, I got really worried. I had a good look at myself in the mirror and noticed my chest and tricep had atrophied - the left side looked half the size as my right! I tried dumbbell tricep extensions while lying on the floor. If I recall, on my right side with about 20LB dumbbell I could easily do 20+ reps. With my left it was barely 2 reps!
MRI ended up showing disk herniation at c7 with mild to moderate disk degeneration/arthritis in the whole cervical area. The nerves out of the c7 area affect part of shoulder, tricep, chest, forearm and middle/index fingers. Since the pain was gone, it was decided to try PT to see if strength/size would return.
The PT wasn't really accomplishing to much, and so I decided to hit the weights big time at the gym. I was always mindful of my neck, and never did squats as the barbell runs along the c7. My strength and muscle mass began to return as the months went by, and I was actually getting in the best shape of my life.
To this day I'd say my strength on both sides is about equal, but my left tricep/chest is to this day not as developed. BUT, they're so close you have to look for it as it's not really noticeable. My middle finger has a permanent numbish feeling to it, but that's the worst of it. It took over two years from initial symptoms to get to that point. Pain never returned for me.
I've had a couple of mild flareups over the years, but things always seemed to settle down. Just this past November however I had my worst flareup, mostly some mild soreness behind shoulder and extra middle finger numbness. I sometimes worry the day will come when it will get much worst (due to continuously degenerating cervical), but so far 12 years later still managing fine.
My suspicion is that you may have a more serious initial herniation than myself (also at c7), but will it likely also resolve in time. My understanding is that 90% do in fact resolve eventually. I've also had herniations in my lumbar region over the past 30+ years that resolved just fine.
Good luck with the MRI and keep us posted!