Help me correlate my cervical MRI results and my symtpoms

[jaylogan]

Hi,
I am a 44 year old male. I am physically active (hiking, running). Last month had neck pain every night that degenerated into spasms down the left arm. I also developed a numb feeling on my left forefinger (for about an inch near the tip).  The pain was incredible and even codie wasnt helpful. The diagnosis initially was cervical radiculopathy and post MRI i was told i have a herniated disc. MRI results are :
"1.  Mild multilevel degenerative disc disease, most prominent at C4-C5 with
left-sided neural foraminal narrowing causing compression of the left C5 nerve
root.

2.  Mild spinal stenosis noted at C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7. "

I have been doing physical therapy for 2 months and now the pain has decreased so sleep is possible without medication. However i still feel pain sleeping on the left side, pain down the arms in the morning, pain while coughing, some tingling sensation etc. Numbness on my forefinger has become a permanent feature. I also noticed that my triceps are weak to the point where i cant getup using my left arm.  

Are these symptoms permanent or are they expected to gradually go away (esp the triceps weakness)?

Is running completely ruled out? (i used to do frequent half marathons and occasional full).

I am also trying to understand if there is any other treatment i should seek and whether the symptoms are matching the MRI findings.

thanks.
-jl