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Injured C6 nerve. Extreme pain.

wiflib

wiflib

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,966
Location
Bristol
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have been suffering for two weeks since I woke up with a trapped nerve in my neck. It's causing all sorts of things, random arm muscle spasms, severe random arm pain, pins and needles, loss of power and reflex, and numbness and misery.

I've seen several doctors and a really good physio. I have analgesia but it simply doesn't work. Tried all sorts of combinations. I'm also taking amitriptyline in the hope it will help with the pain. What I'm left with is that at some point, it will get better. If no better in 5 weeks, I can have a scan. My BS are always under 5, I am on an ELCD

My question is this;
Is there anyone here who has gone through the same and come out the other side, or anyone that is still waiting for it to get better?

I'm trying hard not to let it drag me down but it's getting harder. I have to sleep sitting bolt upright with my head lolling forward and I wake up every morning suddenly, in screaming agony.

wiflib
 
wiflib afraid I can't help but it sounds absolutely horrendous I really hope it gets better soon you don't deserve that one bit. Take special care of yourself.
 
Thanks xyzzy. Don't give me sympathy, I'm likely to bawl my eyes out! I live on my own and pay a stupidly large mortgage. I simply can't be out of action and have to stay strong. No room for tears.







Too late. I put off going to bed because of the pain. No matter where I stand or sit, it's always there. The muscle spasms have me screaming out. I'm pretty sure the neighbours think I'm doing something kinky. I'm so bloody miserable probably because there are no answers.
I will also apologise for letting out my misery here. Really, I'm not seeking any sympathy or to wallow in self-indulgent b*ll*cks but saying it out loud helps.

wiflib
 
Can I suggest a heat pad thingy round your neck whenever you can? It wont help a lot, but it may make it a bit mor bearable when you are trying to sleep XXX
 
Thanks Lucy. I'll try it. The pain is referred to my arm and shoulder with fasciculation all the way down it and on my right side. I forgot it's lost power and dropped a mug of coffee this evening.

wiflib
 
You got anyone you could go stay with for a bit. Being alone can't be helping...
 
Dear Wiflib,

May I suggest that you visit a chiropractor today. I had a frozen neck and shoulder for six months - after two visits it had gone completely.

Rob
 
Trapped nerve pain is kind of tough to live with, I have spondyltis of the lower spine and get very bad pains in my right leg, the pain can be anywhere from the groin to my big toe and is different in intensity and location on a daily basis. A chiropractor as advised by BaliBob made my back worse as he was merrily cracking my back before I had had any scans to diagnose the problem, spondylitis was only diagnosed after an MRI scan and my orthopaedic consultant told me had I continued with the chiropractor I could have ended up in a wheel chair so I would be very wary of trying anything until you have a proper diagnosis of your problem. It is possible that a chiropractor may be the answer in your case but please dont rush in until you know what the cause is.

Now for the bad news :( After an MRI scan diagnosed my problem, it had been bad for 4 or 5 years prior to that point I was referred to physiotherapy for 12 months which actually made the pain worse as after each exercise session I was unable to leave the house for 3 or 4 days as the pain was so bad. Physiotherapy finally gave up on me and referred me to a Back Rehab Clinic which was another waste of time, all they did at the weekly sessions was explain to us that pain doesnt exist and is all in our mind/brain and that we could block it out with relaxation techniques, unfortunately they hadnt bargained on me being so laid back anyway if I relaxed any more I would be in a coma :lol: Needless to say the course was another wast of my time and money in hospital parking fees :crazy:

After that I then reffered to a Pain Clinic and after 8 months being treated with a variety of drugs including Amiltriptaline, Tramadol, Gabapentin and Pregabalin non of which eased the pain except either gabapentin or pregabalin I cant remember which that worked so well I couldnt feel a thing below the waist and started to suffer erectile dysfunction as soon as I started using it and also put on 4lb in the first week so that had to go and on my next appointment I was prescribed DF118 at 40mg and told to take two every 4 hours which does help but makes me constipated so I dont like taking them unless the pain is really bad.

So for the last 5 years I have not slept longer than about 2 hours at any time I generally wake every hour through the night and other than the SDF118 (dihydrocodeine) I get by using re heatable gel pads that I heat in boiling water and place on my lower back, these ease the pain but it is only a temporary relief.

I believe that when a nerve is damaged beyond repair there is little that can be done to correct it, I do hope that you can get your problem sorted before any permanent damage is done, so dont mess around get a referral to an Orthopaedic specialist ASAP and they will give you an MRI scan to locate the problem, that is standard practice now. Good luck.
 
Sid, thank you so much for that reply, I want to hear the good and bad. Just to let you and Bob know I have a friend who is a chiropractor and she won't touch me. She helps me try to understand it though.

I've done all those drugs in your list Sid, apart from the 'pentins. Nothing works. Codeine makes me feel like I just don't care for 30 minutes but that's it. I'm continuing with the amitryptaline because it takes time. I'm not at the point that I'd rather have a useless arm instead of the pain yet.
They don't seem bothered because I can use my hand and arm but told me to seek emergency treatment if ceased to function. Derrrrrr. As if I wouldn't. I am glad the sun is out though. Got a do this afternoon to say goodbye to a much loved colleague.

wiflib
 
wiflib I agree with Sid you do need a proper diagnosis before deciding on treatment options.
In the meantime you could take an antiinflammatory supplement to help soothe the areas surrounding the injury.

Nerve pain is pretty tough, you scale the walls.
I hope you feel better soon.
 
The diagnosis is done and all I have to do is wait. Because it happened when I was on nights and at a weekend, I've seen 4 doctors and a physio and all came up with the same thing. I also picked the brains of three doctors at work and an anesthetist and they all came up with the same thing.
An x-ray ruled out any obvious tumor or bone damage. Even if I have a scan there's little they can do apart from surgery and as you know, that has huge risks. It's times like this I wish I could look up 'orthopedic bod' in the phone book and get an appointment.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions though, keep them coming, especially experiences.

wiflib
 
Oh I wish I had said a legally licensed chiropractor with his/her own X-ray equipment. After seven years training a good chiropractor can knock spots off most of the hospital physios, etc. I did not suggest you went to a witchdoctor which Syd appears to have used.
 
Sorry Sid - I should also have added that any chiropractor worth their salt would immediately refer their patient to another specialist if they realise that their patient's problems are beyond their remit. God you have to be so careful on this Forum.
 
Ok, an update. I was on the mend but 9 weeks ago I woke up with the same agony but this time it's not got better. My MRI results show a 'bone spur' and a large prolapsed disc which is squashing my spinal nerve. What this means in real life is I can't hold my head up without bringing on severe pain and pins and needles all over my right arm. Talking to people is hilarious though, nobody knows quite what to do, even after explaining it.
One lovely friend squatted on the floor so I could see her. The laughing did me good.


wiflib
 
What can they do for it? Sounds a nightmare.
 
wiflib said:
Ok, an update. I was on the mend but 9 weeks ago I woke up with the same agony but this time it's not got better. My MRI results show a 'bone spur' and a large prolapsed disc which is squashing my spinal nerve. What this means in real life is I can't hold my head up without bringing on severe pain and pins and needles all over my right arm. Talking to people is hilarious though, nobody knows quite what to do, even after explaining it.
One lovely friend squatted on the floor so I could see her. The laughing did me good.
Click to expand...

Well it's better than a brain tumour I suppose... :(

What are they going to do about it Lib? Will it need an operation?
 
The usual scenario is that the disc dries out, so taking the pressure off the nerve and I have been told it normally happens to much younger people with their soft and spongy discs, not old trouts like me. For it to happen twice is unheard of.
The treatment is steroid injections or surgery.

I also found out I'm nowhere near the menopause, therefore, I can only conclude (with a sample size of one) that a ketogenic diet causes agony and delays facial wrinkling and grey hair.

wiflib
 
wiflib said:
I also found out I'm nowhere near the menopause, therefore, I can only conclude (with a sample size of one) that a ketogenic diet causes agony and delays facial wrinkling and grey hair.
Click to expand...

Ketogenic diet hasn't stopped the facial wrinkling and grey hair for me.
On the brighter side, I don't think I've been through the meopause yet either.
 
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