Pinched nerve in neck

[Hastingsishot]

My poor DH has a pinched nerve in his neck. He has had it for about 3 weeks now in total and is nearly broken by it.

He cannot sleep.

He got a doctors appointment last week by telephone who referred him to a physio who he has a telephone consultation with next week.

The doctor gave no advice other than strong pain killers.

We have bought him a neck brace and an elevation sling (one that stays away from the neck) which definitely gives some relief.

He has been in constant pain killers full doses for 3 weeks now.

We are at a loss of what to do next. He is working at home FT and has to school our daughter too as I work full time away from home.

We are close to breaking. Does anyone have any ideas or tips please?

The doctor said it was a pinched nerve after a phone consultation. Not great really is it? I think I will ask him to demand an X-ray or mri to get it confirmed.

It's all a bit miserable in our house at the moment I need this to get better.

Just to add to my post. I saw a private physio on Friday. Trapped nerve was confirmed and he set about freeing it with a deep tissue massage. All of my muscles have tightened so that is what is causing the problem. I've got stretches and exercises to do and I'll be going back in two weeks.

@delilahbucket how are you getting on, my DH is still suffering each day. He has spoken with the physio who has given him exercises but he isn't seeing any improvement.

@newcarcoming pretty much better. The nerve pain went within 24 hours, no more tingling fingers etc and my muscle pain has nearly gone.
Stopped day time painkillers within 6 days and stopped night time painkillers on day 8. Did your DH just talk to a physio or have a face to face appointment? Was it private or NHS?

@delilahbucket

Just to add to my post. I saw a private physio on Friday. Trapped nerve was confirmed and he set about freeing it with a deep tissue massage. All of my muscles have tightened so that is what is causing the problem. I've got stretches and exercises to do and I'll be going back in two weeks.

Keep up with some maintenance appointments! The deep tissue hurts like a devil but stops the nerve getting inflamed again. Glad you got some relief! Its absolute murder!

He has my sympathy. I’m on week 6 of trying to recover from Torticollis and I’ve never felt pain like it. You don’t really think about how much you use your neck for until you can’t. Hope he gets something sorted soon.

@delilahbucket
So glad you are feeling better. He is getting nowhere with the nhs physio as they won't see him. So he is now booking a private one! Will get some deep tissue massage. He is in amitriptiline (sp) for nighttime which does help a bit.

How many sessions of massage did you have?

OMG I feel for him, nerve pain from a trapped nerve is the worst ever. I had a cortisone injection and the pain was relieved within a few hours.

I also was prescribed sirdalud and something else that I can't remember but which made me horrendously nauseous.

@newcarcoming
I went straight to private. I've faffed around with NHS physios a lot in the past and the fact of the matter is they are under staffed and over stretched and cannot offer the help. If you can afford even just one private appointment it is worth every penny. I had just one physio session, 45 minutes, a full massage to release the nerve and relax my neck, shoulder and upper arm (which I didn't even know was tight!) Then three exercises to do several times a day. I didn't book another appointment as I thought I would see how I got on. It doesn't look like I'll need another.
I have had amitriptyline for something else in the past and the nurse practitioner offered it to me but I said no as I don't like the way it knocked me out. I think gabapentin is another that my physio mentioned that is also for nerve pain but doesn't knock you out. I was keen to not be popping pills as it's a vicious cycle that you get into with the NHS without ever resolving the actual problem.

Your husband has my sympathy, my husband has the exact same thing now. I see people mentioning chiropractor osteopath and physio. Which would it be for a trapped nerve? I hope it gets better for him soon OP

I get one regularly (about twice a year) in my neck and down my right arm.

Still awaiting mri 3 years later!

Physio helps, they give specific exercises.

Anti inflammatories, paracetamol and warmth ease it a bit too.

Have a lot of sympathy, did this teaching behind me to get something of my desk- the pain was immense.

For me a combination of physio and Osteopath sorted it, but it did take weeks.

Reaching ... not teaching.

For me the osteopath and physio worked on different areas / osteopath seemed to do the ‘bigger’ moves to free it while physio did much smaller gentler things . Seeing both worked well for me.

When my goes really bad I have diclofenac and vallium on prescription. I also have a friendly private physio who can make an amazing difference when I can see her.

Speak to your doctor about the painkillers - naproxen does nothing for me and I have secondary issues with muscles going into spasm (as its happened so many times) but the vallium just calms everything down and lets me do the physio exercises.

Your poor DH!

I had a trapped nerve, about 15 years ago.
I have never experienced pain like it.

My doctor prescribed codeine (which took the edge of it) and I paid for a couple of sessions with a chiropractor. It was worth every penny.

The chiropractor told me that I was a 'chin poker' - looking slightly upwards at a computer screen all day contributed greatly to my problem. Does your DH spend much time at a computer?

Watch out for codeine blockage!

I had a trapped nerve in my neck about 5 years ago. Just woke up with it one day and it was agony. My GP recommended anti-inflammatories and for me to turn my head left and right, chin to chest and gradually tilt backwards. She said just keep doing this and trying to go a little bit further each time whilst focusing on breathing deeply. It was agonising and exhausting, but I kept doing it and my neck was much better in just over a week.