Pinched nerve in neck to shoulder - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

Bran'sNana · 07-02-2007, 05:27 PM

hey everyone!
Just wondering.. after an mri and months of p.t. with some relief, I found out I have a pinched nerve that runs from my neck into my shoulder, also some osteo athrits,besides that. My doctor asked me if I tried p.t. I've only been going for 4 months! I went to an ortho guy on my own, but found out he only did hands!! So he wrote the order for the p.t. My physical therapist says a shot might help me to ease the inflammation,so at least she can do strengthening exercises with me.Right now it hurts too much to exercise it, besides stretching and stuff. My doc said he'll see what the physical therapist says about me, and then he will send me for a shot. I've been taking 7.5 of Mobic a day, he says I can take it twice a day. So far my stomach has been okay, but I asked him for a prescrip for Prilosec in case ( cheaper by prescrption for me) Anyone been helped by any kind of meds, or therapy or whatever, it's not unbearable, but damn uncomfortable when I get in certain positions where it must get pinched.It's a burning kind of pulling pain. I've had deep tissue massage, ultrasound and stim. Would a shot help? I am also under treatment for a hyperactive thyroid. (Graves) Any info is greatly appreciated!!

BioAdoptMom3 · 07-02-2007, 08:28 PM

I have the exact same thing and I so feel for you. Trying to sleep at night in certain positions is unbearable! I have never had therapy or shots for it as I have only been to a family physician and a chiropractor. Two things that have seemed to help me a lot though are the chiropractic treatments (you have to also go when it is not flaring up to keep it under control, though not as often as when it is acting up) and believe it or not, working out. At first I was afraid of doing some of the strength training machines, but surprisingly I have found this to be EXTREMELY HELPFUL for my arthritis in all the parts of my body, including my neck. You might want to consider something like that.

Nancy

Bran'sNana · 07-04-2007, 02:56 PM

Thanks for the advice Nancy! I guess that's why the physical therapist wants to do strength training with me. I'm just afraid it'll get WORSE!! But to tell the truth, it doesn't really matter WHAT I do. I'm a supervisor for a cleaning company and some days I do a lot, and it's no worse than when I do NOTHING!! I was thinking about a chiropracter, I went to one with my original neck injury(sprained it) . He was right when he said athritis would set into it because of my age, I was 48 at the time, now I'm 53, also my line of work.If I sit down at a desk to write a check, it really hurts! Good thing I don't have a desk job! Thanks again! I hope I get some kind of relief soon. Now I know why people abuse prescrip pain meds. I don't take anything but the Mobic, which is an anti-inflammatory.

BioAdoptMom3 · 07-04-2007, 04:58 PM

Definately go for the strength training. It actually feels good when I am working on some of those machines and I really have noticed not only less pain, but less flare ups of it. When I mentioned it to my doctor she did say it was documented that this type of exercise has actually been been proven to benefit those of us who have arthritis. I too am only on an anti-inflamatory, relafin.

Nancy

creinha · 07-04-2007, 07:13 PM

I had a pinched nerve between c5-c6 that caused shoulder pain and numbness in the fingers. I tried the medrol dose pack and Bextra (no longer on the market, of course.)

Then I tried physical therapy and traction. The physical therapy actually made me worse and I told the orthopedic doc I wasn't going back.

I then went through three epidurals. It took all three before I felt some minor relief.

I then went to a chiropractor. The e-stim (electical stimulation) treatment was WONDERFUL! It helped deaden the nerve pain. The chiropractor I saw didn't do "manual" manipulation. He had a hand-held instrument that he used.

I know everyone is different, but I probably got the most relief from the chiropractor. Though I'm sure the steroids in the epidurals contributed a lot.