Pinched nerve treatment?

[JudoMom]

I just found out the results of my MRI, and I've got a pinched nerve in my neck (C5).

 

The nurse told me my doctor would refer me to a pain management specialist, but with my other issues and doctor appointments I don't want to add more appointments to my schedule right now.

 

So, does anyone have experience with this? It's nothing new--pain started 4-09 and comes and goes.

 

Advice? Suggestions?

[Janna]

No advice, just...ugh! That sounds painful! I hope you are able to get relief soon! :grouphug:

[JudoMom]

No advice, just...ugh! That sounds painful! I hope you are able to get relief soon! :grouphug:

 

Yeah, it's a real pain in the neck :rim shot: ;).

[Rosie_0801]

You've tried a chiropractor? They'll want xrays, so take yours along if you decide to try it.

 

Rosie

[Chris in VA]

My mom was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in her leg last week. Dr told her to take Advil regularly to help keep the swelling down. FWIW.

Hope you feel better soon!

[JudoMom]

You've tried a chiropractor? They'll want xrays, so take yours along if you decide to try it.

 

Rosie

 

No, I haven't. They scare me :bored:.

[Ellie]

No, I haven't. They scare me :bored:.

I would be walking around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame if not for chiropractors. You should get a referral and go to one. Really.

[myfunnybunch]

I would be walking around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame if not for chiropractors. You should get a referral and go to one. Really.

 

I agree. A chiropractor and/or a physical therapist should be able to help address any alignment and posture issues so that you can heal more quickly.

 

Cat

[Peela]

Definitely a chiropractor.

A while back I was in so much pain from a pinched nerve in my neck, I was crying from the pain and all my muscles were seizing up and spasming around it- I had to keep moving all night because to lie down made it worse..but moving was still excrutuating. And my dh is an expert remedial masseur specialising in backs and necks! There was nothing we could do to alleviate my pain. So that sent me to find a chiro- the closest one to home because sitting in the car was torture. I have never had such intense pain other than in childbirth. Within one session, I was 50% better....it took several sessions but it was fixed completely.

I highly recommend a chiroprator- and a pinched nerve is exactly up their alley. That's what they do- their area of expertise.

[momofkhm]

My doctor gave me an Rx for anti-flamitories, as needed. But it just doesn't hurt and I hate taking meds. She also gave me an Rx for muscle relaxants as needed. But if it doesn't hurt and isn't in spasm, when do I take those??? And keep my elbow tucked to my body.

 

Anyway, I've been seeing a chiro anyway. I've kept him up to date on what the doctor has said and he's working to keep my spine in line and doing something to my elbow.

 

OH! Important note - mine is in my elbow! (It effects the Ulnar nerve.)

 

Like I said before, the pain isn't bad. On a 1-10 scale, it's a 1.5. Just above the noise level. So really not bad at all. The doc did give me the option of physical therapy, but didn't sound like it would help much. She also said steroids or surgery. Again, not bad enough pain to go that route.

 

I know that probably doesn't help, but it's what I've been told this week. (I said I just found out.)

[Janna]

No, I haven't. They scare me :bored:.

 

Finding a good one can be worth its weight in gold, though. I would be searching out referrals from people you trust. A good chiro (and one who *wouldn't* want/need x-rays would NOT be a good one) can really help in your situation. Don't be scared. :)

[sleepymommy]

A pain management doctor would might start you on anti-inflamatories and/or muscle relaxants. You may get an injection of the anti-inflamatory. They sometimes refer you to a physical therapist to go to in conjunction with treatment.

[AngieW in Texas]

Acupuncture?

 

My dog was having pain that the vet couldn't diagnose. She tried two different pain relievers, but neither one helped. She did xrays, urine sample tests, stool sample tests, bloodwork, physical exams, ... all to the tune of $550, but couldn't find what was wrong. She said that we could spend another $300 for a sonogram that might tell us what was wrong or we could try acupuncture.

 

The acupuncture worked extremely well. There was a noticeable difference in our dog just a few minutes after the first acupuncture session and she was almost completely back to normal after the 2nd session. I went ahead and did a 3rd session just to make sure that she was really past it. The sessions were one week apart.

[Little Nyssa]

I had this too. Excruciating pain down my arm. I wanted to chew my arm off. The pain burned itself out after about 8 weeks, but left me with residual numbness & tingling if I get stressed.

Here's my 2 cents FWIW.

1. Take the pain medication as prescribed. Don't try to be brave or think you'll get addicted. Taking the pain & swellling away actually makes it get better faster.

2. Go to the pain mgmt specialist appt. Hopefully it will be just one appt. and really worth the inconvenience.

3. In my case it's also related to TMJ/teeth grinding/tense neck muscles, maybe this is true for other people.

4. Try Physical therapy, because you might need just a couple of appts.

5. BE VERY CAREFUL OF ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS! because I went to Cranio-Sacral therapy and it made it MUCH worse-- plus DURING the treatment I started having sciatic pain as well which has persisted one year and is at times VERY severe!!!

5. It's worth learning to relax the muscles in your neck.

Best wishes & hope you feel better!

[BethInNH]

In the meantime, try sleeping without a pillow! It helped me immensely last summer when I was suffering from a pinched nerve in my neck. That, and sitting up as tall as I could, to relieve some of the pressure.

[Rosie_0801]

The scariest thing about a chiropractor is the bill ;)

 

All the pain meds and whatnot won't unpinch the nerve, so you need to go to someone who'll do that unless you want to wait until whatever is causing the trouble bumps out of that spot, whenever that might be.

 

A good chiro will want to see xrays and will give you a talk about what chiropractics is and how they do what they do. You can sit through all that, and still decide you'd rather not be adjusted. If you do decide to try it, they will probably recommend a course of treatment that will be very expensive :svengo: It should be something like twice a week for two or three weeks, then once a week for a few more, than down to once a fortnight.

 

I take my kids monthly, and I go fortnightly. The kids only need it for maintenance. I, on the other hand, have endured a few pregnancies, a couple of years of breastfeeding and have a few more of slouching over a stroller and picking small people up for cuddles; so I go fortnightly. As the kids grow and I'm able to do more regular Pilates to strengthen my core muscles, I'll be able to cut down. I skipped an appointment a few weeks back and my dh who doesn't really believe in chiropractors told me to go back. He didn't like the week he spent with Ms PMS :001_huh:;)

 

I really recommend you go and ask around for a good one, go and talk to one and explain your fears. If they can't convince you that trying it out is better than living with the pinched nerve, you can always leave.

 

FWIW, I've seen a bunch of chiros (including a couple of jerks) and over all, they are more likely to treat you like a person than a doctor is. (And I've known good doctors too, not just jerks, heheh.)

 

Rosie

[JudoMom]

I've got a recommendation for a good chiropractor from a close friend, and the chiro was recommended to her by a doctor in our church. Between her and you guys, you've almost convinced me, but I'm still debating. I might, might try him after the doctors figure out the cause of my liver disease & other pain. I'll consider the pain management doctor then as well. Because of the liver issues, I try not to take too many anti-inflammatories.

 

The neck pain is the least bothersome pain right now (it's always at a 1-3, but it doesn't stay consistently higher like the other pain), and I only finally had the MRI done because I've hit all the magic medical $ because of all the tests I've had done on my liver, so I didn't have to pay as much out of pocket.

 

Thank you for all the advice and suggestions!

[Tammyla]

I hope you feel better.

[Lizzie in Ma]

BTDT. Ouch, sorry. My nerves run close to the surface along my neck and shoulders so I have more than several times annoyed those muscles enough to pinch a nerve.

Ibuprofen and ice to reduce the swelling and a muscle relaxer at bedtime to help make it let go.

A massage of the muscles with a tennis ball helps too, best help ever, I keep them everywhere.

[Mejane]

Acupuncture?

 

 

 

:iagree:I know several people who were helped by acupuncture and accupressure. I also think a GOOD chiropractor would be helpful.

[Janna]

Personally, I would look into where the Chiro was educated and what method he uses. I would not hesitate with someone who graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic - the largest and founding school for chiropractic medicine. After that, I would look for someone who uses the Gonstead method - even if he uses other methods too. If he has experience and knowledge of Gonstead and is a Palmer graduate, I would give that person a try. There are still other things to look for of course, like your comfort level, bedside manner etc. But those two things are a good place to start if you don't have chiro. experience.

 

(Palmer is in my hometown so I grew up with Chiro care - there are chiro's on every corner there, plus my brother married into a chiro. family ;))

[TXMomof4]

If you have nerve pain - my dr. prescribed lyrica when I had a herniated disc in my neck. It was pushing on the nerve root and it was excruciating. There was quite a bit of residual pain after the disc was removed and the lyrica helped a LOT. I only take it as needed - I'll go several weeks without it and then the pain will flare up and I'll take if for a few days. It honestly is the only thing that touches the pain.

[Rosie_0801]

I've got a recommendation for a good chiropractor from a close friend, and the chiro was recommended to her by a doctor in our church. Between her and you guys, you've almost convinced me, but I'm still debating. I might, might try him after the doctors figure out the cause of my liver disease & other pain.

 

You know, liver function can be impaired if your middle back is out of whack ;)

 

I hope your doc figures out the rest of your troubles pronto then.

 

Rosie