| Author | Message | ||
     Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.151.125.7 |
Not very rock n'roll but... Luckily for me, I have a couple of health care thingys which cover some of the cost of medical treatment if I need it. I have a trapped nerve in my neck which is causing me dreadful pain in my neck & arm...bad enough to keep me off work this week. I have been seeing a Chiropractor who has also been giving me acupuncture...I have had some good results from Chiro before, but this time it doesn't seem to be getting to the problem. So I am now going for Physiotherapy...Anyone know much about these things? - I only have limited funds on the private stuff so want to spend them wisely. gcw | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
I was fortunate enough to have had the same problem caused by a lady ramming her car into mine at a red light, so all my treatments were paid for by her insurance company. Still, the problem continued intermittently for years even after the treatment ran out. My personal advice if you don't have the money for regular professional treatments is to have the physio show you exercises you can do to improve things, along with self-adjustment techniques. You could also buy a TENS unit. That always helped me. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 61.216.33.191 |
Have you had an MRI to find the exact extent of the problem, Gcw? Nerve problems can be tricky. I'm on long-term medication for my own neuropathic pain problem, but if yours is fairly recent it may be reversible, or at least more responsive to conservative treatment. It really depends on the individual and the degree of injury to the nerves. As Niki says, a TENS unit may help (I use one myself occasionally), but if I were you I'd try to see a neurologist and get an MRI done as soon as possible. Do you get tingling, burning and piercing sensations down your arm? I have that most days, and it's extremely distressing. Muscle relaxants and/or anticonvulsants can help. When mine gets really bad, all I can do is take my medicine and hug my arm to my side and hope that the pain subsides. Good luck. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 61.216.33.191 |
Another thing, Gcw - you may find holding a heat pad on your neck or arm (or both) gives some relief. I know it's cold over there right now, and that can make neurological and musculoskeletal problems worse. One thing I would avoid is traction, which never worked for me - in fact, I think it may have made things worse (again, it depends on the individual and the specifics of the injury). Sorry I haven't got anything more helpful to offer... From the sound of it, you have some sort of compression of the cervical vertebrae. If you haven't had an MRI (or a CAT scan, if MRI is unavailable) done yet, please try to get one - it can really help pinpoint the exact problem (ignore this if you already have!). | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.151.125.7 |
Huw & Niki - Thanks. I have the 'pins & needles' in my left hand, and pain in my neck & upper arm, I'm on anti-inflammatories, and er...self medicating painkillers. I can only sleep on my back at the moment, with my arm supported on a pillow. Pain wise, I am ok until about midday, thats when it kicks in. This is becoming a real worry...I haven't been incapacitated like this since I had chronic eczema (which I finally shifted a few years ago -touch wood). I am seeing the physio for the first time today...I will mention the MRI scan. It is hard to get info about best treatment on this...The chiropractors sniff about the Physio's and vice-versa...I need hard facts! Thanks again folks, I am sorry your problem is so bad Huw, If mine is half as bad then i feel for you. gcw | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.209.186 |
Sorry to hear this, GCW. Yes, the technology for scanning is getting better all the time, and physio based on incomplete data may not help. If possible, try to find out where the best NHS facilities available within your PCT region are. This is too complex a problem for trial and error. Best of luck! Huw, as ever, best of luck and take care. | ||
| Adriana (Adriana) Username: Adriana Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 99.230.239.233 |
I'm inclined to suggest an Osteopath. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 79.187.206.46 |
GCW - keep with the acupuncture. I did and it really did work after four or five sessions. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.123.126 |
Sorry to hear about it GCW I hope some of the suggestions work. | ||
| Adriana (Adriana) Username: Adriana Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 99.230.239.233 |
I'd also recommend a break from any internet porn. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.74.96.200 |
I'd second A's comment, GCW. About the osteopath. My uncle had a severe nerve problem that the docs were unable to do anything about, and a bone-bender shifted the problem in a couple of weeks' treatment. Hope you're better soon, mate. And I hope you have some relief from the pain, too, Huw. You've my sympathies; I know about constant pain, and it ain't much fun. You tend to have dreams about what it'd be like to live without it just for a day, would give almost anything for that one day off from the pain. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.5.12.233 |
I've known (on a lesser scale) what pain's like, having to suffer daily, waiting for hernia surgery, for 9 long months; and then the instant release, the instant freedom from pain, really made me appreciate life again... until some stupid thing or other got in my way, mucked up my green lights (metaphor); and then you lapse back into being unaware of just how lucky you are - I mean in general, just being alive. That's an incredibly difficult state to stay in, and takes a lot of work, and I wish I could say I'm there more than I'm not, but... well, fallen beings, all.... Thank God for internet porn to get me through the day. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.192.58 |
Gcw, I'd consult a neurologist or orthopedist and have an MRI done before seeing an osteopath or continuing with a chiropractor. They can be great for some things, but if you have a nerve problem (and yours certainly sounds like it has some sort of neurological basis) it's possible that the manipulation techniques could make it worse. I started off with some less than impressive, inconsistent doctors who just took x-rays and then automatically put me on a regimen of massage, traction, microwave therapy and the like, along with daily NSAIDs. This did very little for the pain, but succeeded in prolonging and worsening my injury. This dragged on for over two years before I finally saw a good neurosurgeon who told me the extent of the damage to my nervous system and spine. This may not be the case for you at all, and I hope it isn't. I guess I'm just trying to say be careful, and try to find the precise nature of the injury before you have any more treatment. Often these things heal over time of their own accord (as with the majority of 'slipped' discs), but if it persists it's essential you pinpoint the problem and get appropriate treatment. If you're taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for pain, take antacids with them to protect your stomach. Be careful also of taking too much paracetamol - it can damage your liver, though generally only in very high amounts (over 4g a day is definitely not a good idea), or when mixed with alcohol. If the doctor prescribes you compound drugs (usually a mild-medium strength opioid like codeine or dihydrocodeine combined with paracetamol), be careful not to take too many (not so much because of the opioid, but the paracetamol - it's best to just have the opioid seperately, if your doctor will agree). Muscle relaxants and anti-convulsants can be really helpful too - when I have flare-ups I find taking them is like having a switch that allows me to dial the pain level down from an 8 or 9 to a 4 or 5, if I'm lucky. A TENS unit (as Niki mentioned before) might give some relief too. They used to be really expensive - I had to loan one out from the hospital after my operation, as I couldn't afford one back then - but they are far more affordable now. I bought one for around 40 quid, but there are probably cheaper ones about now. Maybe you could loan one out first and see if it helps. Some people find that TENS ('transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator') works wonders and provides a distraction from the pain, others merely find it irritating and ineffective. For me, it varies, but sometimes it can help a lot (and, frankly, anything is worth trying when you have chronic pain). If you do decide to try it, just make sure you don't attach the electrodes on the front of your neck/throat area. Anywhere down the back or on the arms is fine, though. It sounds obvious, but sometimes having a hot bath can give a lot of temporary relief, and a heating pad or blanket might help too. I used to go to a nearby hot springs bath and soak in the sulphur water, which I found relaxing, but it's not practical for me any longer. I don't know if you have hot springs back in the UK... I've been away too long! Good luck, and keep us posted on how things go. PS Thanks Gcw, Joel, Mark and anyone else, for the kind words regarding my own situation. | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.151.125.7 |
Cheers all for your advice and support - It's much appreciated. I think Craig's comments about pain are very true - you don't appreciate your health & wellbeing until it has gone... Today I don't feel too bad, and spent 45 minutes on my crosstrainer.(been advised this shouldn't agravate it) I daresay my old mate the pain will kick in around midday, but yesterday I was out and about quite a bit and didn't need to take painkillers 'til 4.00pm when for the last week midday was the best I could do. The Physio' I saw yesterday did some ultrasound and seemed confident that I should be able to recover in a couple of months. her diagnosis of a trapped nerve between the 5th & 6th vertabrae echoes my chiropractors version of things so its nice to know they agree on that if not each others techniques! Y'all given me some good advice on'ere - Thanks again! gcw | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.184.36 |
That's good news, Gcw! I hope you make a full recovery - let us know how it goes. |