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Help me ease the pain
dave1888 - 20/1/10 at 09:31 PM

I have a trapped nerve in my neck and its AGONY been suffering for over a week now no pain in neck but right shoulder and arm. Been on 3 diazepam, 3 diclofenec and 6 co codomol a day but wont take anymore 2 visits to chiropractor and to be honest i feel worst. So if you have suffered this please tell me how you got sorted.


marcjagman - 20/1/10 at 09:37 PM

had same problem, still got it. You don't want to know how long i've suffering


flak monkey - 20/1/10 at 09:51 PM

Stay away from the chiropractors and see a physio!


dave1888 - 20/1/10 at 10:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by marcjagman
had same problem, still got it. You don't want to know how long i've suffering

Go on tell me


zilspeed - 20/1/10 at 10:33 PM

Dave

I used to have a similar thing.
This may be quack medicine, but it worked for me.

Run a hot bath, get in.
Top it up with more hot until it's roasting yours nutts off and you're scared to move.
Lie down flat with your neck dead straight. Lie there for a few minutes then gradually start moving your neck around, gradually increasing the range of movement. For me, it eased the pain every time.

I used to be in such pain with this that I could hardly move, this crazy therapy which was nobody else's idea but mine never failed to work.


dave1888 - 20/1/10 at 10:43 PM

Zil tried that a few times still got the scarred or is it scared scrot to prove it, but it comes back after an hour. 1 thing i have noticed is while driving our golf it seems ok but i cant drive around for ever.


thefreak - 20/1/10 at 10:45 PM

quote:
1 thing i have noticed is while driving our golf it seems ok but i cant drive around for ever.


Good excuse to get Forza 3 out on the xbox then and hog the TV all night.
"It's for medicinal purposes dear, honestly!"


dave1888 - 20/1/10 at 10:50 PM

Haven't been to bed for over a week now i have watched every topgear from series 1 through to series 10. Starting on series 11 tonight.


Daddylonglegs - 20/1/10 at 11:32 PM

I've had a dodgy back for around 16 years and the best way to cope when it's giving me jip is to use my Tens machine and exercise it to stretch it out. I also agree that a Physio is the better option regarding professional treatment and I found that a Sport Physio seems to be that little bit more efective.

HTH.

JB


Fozzie - 20/1/10 at 11:44 PM

Ouch...sympathies....

Red Tiger Balm purchased in most chemists, Boots and even large Tesco's ....

Use a little on your finger tips and gentle massage the back of the neck either side of the spine......make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after......it will hurt like hell if you touch your eyes or other delicate parts if you still have it on your hands

Get a wheat pack put it in the microwave for suggested time, drape around neck ...

Or.....Neurofen do a 'patch' which is self heating..... all only to be used whilst you are waiting to see a physio, to relieve the pain...

The point of all above is to try and get the muscles out of spasm to hopefully allow the nerve to get back in its place ....

Good luck, hope you feel better soon.
Fozzie


austin man - 20/1/10 at 11:49 PM

whan laying down place a pillow under your knees to raise the legs this take pressure off the spine, equally if you lay on your side place a pillow between your knees this helps tp realign the spine. I took this advise from my Physio when I knackered 3 discs I too tried a Chiropracter not good news they are better for muscular caused me more pain.

Top tip with the tablets though if you have anti inflamatories make sure you eat before taking them. I ended up with a stomach ulcer not nice, and now I am sensitised to anti inflamatories


Memphis Twin - 20/1/10 at 11:55 PM

I find the best pain relief is actually good old Ibuprofen - it really helps my dodgy back. Combine it with visits to a qualified Sports Physiotherapist, not some quack chiropractor. Physios generally charge about £30 for a 40min session (they do around here anyhow), wheras a "chiropractor" generally charges £30 for an ineffective 10 minute grope.

Try swimming.


Fozzie - 21/1/10 at 12:10 AM

Guys .... the pain/trapped nerve is in his cervical spine...which is his neck.....


dave1888 - 21/1/10 at 01:33 AM

You tell em Fozzie


Fozzie - 21/1/10 at 01:51 AM

^ ^ .....Ooooops.....

The reason you are feeling pain (assuming that you have had the pinched nerve in your neck diagnosed by your doc) down your shoulder and arm, is called referred pain....much like sciatica, where the problem is in your back (lower) but the pain is felt in the bum and leg (sciatic nerve).

The same goes for the arm/shoulder pain, it is the nerve that is 'pinched' in your neck, that goes down your arm, hence now the neck crisis is done, the pain is now prevalent down the shoulder/arm.......


scootz - 21/1/10 at 09:02 AM

Never been to a Chiropractor, but every Doc and Consultant I've ever seen with my spine problems has said to avoid! Must be a reason!?

As for pain management, your Doc has prescribed the usual suspects... Dicolfenac takes a bit of time to build up. Good shout from Fozzie - if the 'burn' from Tiger Balm doesn't take your mind off the underlying problems then now't will!

I'm off to the Neuro Dept today to get steroids pumped into my spinal cord. Hope it works - my left foot was like a block of ice last night (super painful)... had 2 hot water bottles strapped to ether side, but no effect.

Good luck... I can fully empathise with your situation!


Fozzie - 21/1/10 at 09:28 AM

Scootz ... good luck, will be thinking of you!

Is it a 'nerve block' you are having?

Really hope it is successful.....

ATB Fozzie

Oh, there is a White Tiger Balm, but it is less 'hot' and not so effective for 'spines'.....very good for headaches though...


dan8400 - 21/1/10 at 10:15 AM

A bit off the wall.... but find someone who practices the BOWEN technique.

The woman who puts me straight (usually when i put my back out) is amazing

You will be better either the same day or the day after. Even with a pulled back muscle!!! Amazing

Someone should be able to sort you out. It works for me.... worth a try?


Dan

[Edited on 21/1/10 by dan8400]


splitrivet - 21/1/10 at 10:28 AM

Stay well away from Chiropractors my missus had slight Sciatica twinges a few years back after 10 visits to a chiropractor she got worse instead of better the upshot was in the end it cost me nearly £2000 for private treatment to get her right plus she was bed bound for nearly 6 months.
Cheers,
Bob


mangogrooveworkshop - 21/1/10 at 12:41 PM

Dave
Lizzys Karate instructor can sort you out + the bonus is his location is five mins from you.

ps Peter treats Lizzy for the back pain she get from the multiple car crashes she was the victim of


Madinventions - 21/1/10 at 01:11 PM

Go to a physio!!! Also - you need Pregabalin (Lyrica) which is a nerve painkiller. Diclofenac eases swelling and Co-whatever is more muscle based.

Get a nerve root block if one is offered as this should sort it out in a matter of a week or so. I had 2 collapsed disks in my back last year and this sorted it.

Best of luck.
Ed.


marcjagman - 21/1/10 at 04:43 PM

stil having grief, 28 years later


stevec - 21/1/10 at 04:47 PM

Vertebroplasty is the answer.
Steve.


Fozzie - 21/1/10 at 05:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by stevec
Vertebroplasty is the answer.
Steve.


For Daves neck?

Isn't that mainly for thoracic and lumber regions?


scootz - 21/1/10 at 05:40 PM

Crikey.. some fairly radical suggestions!

If it's a fairly recent complaint then start conservatively (even though it is a complete pain in the neck - see what I did there!) and build up treatments / medications as required.

PS - Just back from a steroid shot into the spinal cord... not something you would want if it's just a passing complaint (mind you, it's not something the NHS would offer for a non-chronic issue).


dave1888 - 21/1/10 at 11:42 PM

Made an appointment for a physio in the morning he tells me the frozen pea trick but put the bag on my shoulder not back as previously informed. I have to say the chiropractor i seen hasnt really done anything to help or inform me of what the problem is. I dont like taking tablets i wont even take them for headaches although the diazepam have been a hoot.


Ninehigh - 24/1/10 at 08:24 AM

I've known of a few people that have had trapped nerves and they've all said that all you can really do is keep moving the effected area, and that it will last a long time.