Trapped nerve in neck is the absolute worst.

I am on week 10 of this. I spent five weeks in bed and it was the most excruciating pain (up there with childbirth.) I was x rayed and MRI scanned which revealed foraminal stenosis with radiculpathy c5-c6 c6-c7. I was given diazepam initially then codeine and amitriptyline. Nothing worked to relieve the horrendous pain. I was eventually given Gabapentin which took three weeks to work. I couldn’t sit at all and when walking I had to hold my arm in the air and lie down as soon as I could. The first consultant thought it was muscular. I knew it was nerve pain because of the arm pain. I saw three consultants privately and in the end had a steroid injection that was guided by x ray. It took 4 weeks to work and I was told it was 50-50 that it would work at all. I have had regular physio including massage and acupuncture. I’ve recently seen a cranial osteopath but I would not advise any of this before having an MRI as it could make it much worse. You have my sympathy it is the most horrendous pain. The steroid injection has worked, it took four weeks and I am now titrating down off the medication which is also horrendous tbh. Good luck I’m happy to chat further if it helps.

The pain was awful. I also just woke up in agony. Mine started off in the top of my arm felt like sunburn and it just got worse and worse, then started travelling down my arm in to my hands and up in to my neck and shoulder. Constant pain with some shooting pains.

Probably the first 2 weeks were the worst before I saw a physio. By the 4th week the pain was ok and I stopped taking any medication and was back at work (working from home).

It was a private physio I saw that really helped, it was like she released something in my neck/ shoulder and from then on it got better. She did a gentle massage. I had another physio appointment the following week (she was unavailable) so I had her colleague and they made it worse again for gd few days they were being very hard it put me back several days if not around a week in my recovery😭 I was off work for 3wks total but would have been more if I had to physically go out the home for work.

Don’t drive and don’t be lifting anything if u can help it. I even struggled putting a baking tray in the oven or lifting the kettle. It was also my right arm. You have my sympathy, it’s an awful thing to get.

I’ve had this. Very painful. Diazepam and physio.

I injured it during a Pilates session ironically!

Yes. I did. It got so bad that I had to walk holding my arm with my other arm. Thankfully I was able to see a physio (privately, was not too expensive) for treatment. She did give me a sling fur the first week as well as exercises/stretching. It did take a while to get better. I would tell you I stretch every day to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Ive had this, the weakness and pain in my arm was horrendous.

I had 6 weeks off work and used a hot water bottle on my neck a lot.

I now do Pilates once a week and this seems to keep my neck on an even keel, if I don’t go for a few weeks I start to get the pain down my arm again.

Oh wow 😮 that’s such a long time. I’m looking forward to breaking up on work Friday! I was hoping it might be gone for Xmas. I’ve self referred to physio today on the advice of the GPs receptionist who didn’t think I needed an appointment to be examined by the doctor.

I had this last summer. I went to a&e as I was convinced i was having a heart attack 😬

I saw an osteopath last week and worry he’s made it worse. Near constant pins and needles now

Go and see an osteopath and get it sorted?!? No need for this ridiculous drama and painkillers etc - just go and get it put back into place

I had similar. Went on for around 9 weeks and was extremely painful, comparable with labour pains. Eventually I saw a physiotherapist who massaged it and the pain went away within 24 hours.

Hi,

how are you getting on now and how long did it last? I’ve been suffering for over 2 weeks now and nothing is helping.

Sorry to hear that op. My friend experienced the same after her commute into work caused by sleeping in an upright position. She was not feeling well for two full weeks and then it started to really get better then. I think she took some very strong painkillers for 3 weeks, called the GP, only to be scheduled for NHS physio in 6-8 weeks. She couldn't wait so reached out to her nearby private physio. Definitely helped loads. It will get better, hang in there.

I’ve had this. Truly awful. I have quite high pain tolerance but trapped nerve in neck floored me.

Mine took 2 months to be tolerable, and finally stopped hurting 6 months in.

Cause was narrowing of spinal gap due to age. Surgery possible but very hard core.

Opted to wait and see, and it has not recurred in two years thankfully.

Yes, my whole left arm down to the hands felt numb and pins and needles in fingers. It does get better over time, if the physio gave you exercises to do these will help too.

I suffered for a couple of years, physio didn't help at all. A really good chiropractor sorted it out, but it took around 4 months of regular sessions. I'm happy to say it never came back.

It is really bloody painful, and I feel for you OP.

Oh and the Amytriptaline definitely made me feel quite twitchy in my legs, feet and arms. Quite an odd sensation but I took that to mean that it was doing its job.

Oh yes OP I suffered dreadfully from this last year. Physio ordered x rays as concerned there was calcification. There wasn't just inflammation. Still get numb thumb now. One of the only pains I have cried with.

I had this exactly 10 years ago! Woke up with it one morning and it got worse throughout the day. Until I ended up in A&E because the pain was so bad and quite scary.

It did take about 2 months to settle and heal enough for me to return to work properly. I was advised to rest as rushing the recovery would risk permanent damage to the nerve. It was really tough as I was a teacher with my own young dc at the time.

I was on Amytriptaline for a good 6 months. I had private physio while waiting for NHS physio. My private physio also did acupuncture and that helped. Alternating hot and cold packs for pain relief and to reduce swelling was useful. Taking the maximum painkillers each day to keep on top of the pain.

I was prescribed Naproxen which helped a bit. And diazepam to help with the nights. Naproxen can be bought from the pharmacy counter at Boots but they sell it as Boots Period Pain tablets and you have to confirm that you are using it for period pain.

You must rest and not rush. It’s horrible but I will get better. Netflix is your friend here.

10 years on and I still get the odd numbness in my index finger and thumb when I am overly tired. I take that as a warning sign to go easy for a few days.

I am also very careful with lifting heavy bags, good posture, stretching exercises etc.

My OH had this and it kept coming back again and again, she eventually needed a steroid injection in the nerve, ultrasound guided and thankfully the pain hasn't returned since!

Hi, I had this last year. Went to GP at month 4 and started naproxen and amitriptyline. 2 months later it was much better. MRI showed wear and tear both sides and bone spurs. Have never got back the normal sensation in my fingers and it plays up at times but not as bad as last may.
Also have numb/ fuzzy feet. Bloods showed low ferritin so I'm supplementing but it's not much better. I worry about chronic neurological conditions but think it could just be age