Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

I can empathise with this guy as I suffered a very similar injury, not through flying, but from sudden impact. I ruptured the same disc C5/6, however I also ruptured T2/3, L3/4, L4/5, L5/6 and fractured my sacrum as well as L's3,5 and 6. The pain, well, I won't go there.
The risks of operating to repair the damage are too high, so I didn't have it done either. At least I can now walk, although always in pain and I have to use my wheelchair when outside as standing for more than a few minutes can cause a temporary paralysis. I too, have the headaches, tingling, numbness. I also have a far larger waistline than I had before the accident.