To ask for help - trapped nerve in shoulder

[BearFoxBear]

Hi, I'm in complete agony. Can barely move my arm - having to manually move it with my other arm which makes me scream in pain. Can't sleep - had about 3 x 45 minutes for the past 3 nights. Am on maximum doses of codeine and naproxen, it's barely touching the pain. Alternatively icing and heating.

Can't get a private physio appointment for a fortnight, and the next NHS physio phone consultation is a week away. No chiropractor or osteopath appointments locally either.

Any idea of things I can be doing to help in the meantime? I managed childbirth drug free and almost silent, this pain is off the scale in comparison. Thanks.

I know how you feel, my shoulder does this several times a year (old injury) and the pain makes me throw up at times.

Lots of heat, tramadol if you can get it (I have a repeat prescription for exactly this reason) and move it as much as you can in whatever direction is least painful.

I’ve found the best sleeping position is flat on my front with my arms down by my sides - sounds weird and I would NEVER sleep like that usually (huge boobs which get in the way 😂) but if I’m tired enough it works

It WILL eventually release on its own, you just have to get through as best you can until it does 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ Sorry you’re in so much pain, it really is horrendous

Chiropractor? Or standing against an opened door and putting your arm straight up and walking two paces forward? Might not be bearable so I would go again with emergency chiropractic appt. I feel your pain - my neck was stuck and the pain was so bad it made me feel sick and weak at the knees - chirp sorted most of it out in 30mins and then was possible to live with x

Thanks Iamclearlyamug that's really helpful. I've never had it before, it's truly horrendous.

I wondered about sleeping on my front (also massive of nork!) but worried about how to get up again!

Just as well my husband is a good one, he's had to lift me, dress me etc the past few days!

Will try to get tramadol on Monday morning.

May be worth a shout out on Facebook to see if anyone you know can find someone to help - it's debilitating

Thanks Royalbloo I can't get a chiropractor appointment. They're just reopening here (Scotland) and are all booked solid. Will see if I can manage to lift my arm like that! Good shout on the Facebook cry for help, thanks.

Diazepam will help, muscle relaxant. It’s the only thing that ever helped me

The only thing that helped my Mother when this happened(Twice) was going to minor injuries and getting a Voltarol injection. Is that an option for you?

Will add Diazepam to my plea list, thanks Hippofrog.

You may have to ask for the injection by name if so.

I had what I think was a trapped nerve in my shoulder a couple of years ago. I’ve never known pain like it. My GP thought I’d pulled a muscle but it radiated down my arm.

I tried a very basic TENS pad from Boots at a colleagues recommendation and it helped hugely. I never got a formal diagnosis but I think mine was related to muscular tension around a nerve rather than trapped as such. I was in a redundancy process at the time so carrying a lot of tension generally, might be worth a try if you can’t get a chiropractors appointment,

Thanks Desmond I might have to try. DH doesn't drive which makes it difficult.

Good luck. I hope that you find something to relieve the pain.

@chutneypig beat me to it, I also got a basic model tens machine when I hurt my shoulder and it was great. It came from argos if I remember correctly. The physio also recommended putting the pads at the front and back of my shoulder.
Diazapam is also very good, but it's prescription only.
Hope it feels better soon.

Tens machine is a good shout chutneypig, thanks.

Hope it helps. I still remember the pain with a shudder and it took the pain down almost immediately.

Where in Scotland are you?

Not Aberdeenshire by any chance, my other half is a chiropractor (mctimoney)

Sadly no Gobbycop, thanks though.

Diazepan helped me enormously. Massage balls have helped hugely too.I suffered horribly for two years and was sent these by friend. Helped so much. Am using one right now, as soon as I get a tweak I sit in high backed armchair and massage around for ten mins. Huge relief.

Sit in high backed chair, with massage ball, wriggle around and then after a bit I find the trigger point and wham! It hurts but helps all at the same time.

Amatriptolene (spelling) is your friend. Doctor only prescription though I'm afraid.

DH has a nerve which does this. Usually has 5-7 days of agony, can't move his head, lift his arms etc. He has to use diazepam and/or naproxen and/or codeine.

He saw an osteopath for it 18 months ago who said it was actually his lower ribs that were the problem though the pain is in his neck/shoulder. They sorted it and he had no problems for 13 months and then a less serious flare up. He saw a different osteopath who also said it was rib related. He has mild scoliosis so it will always come back but osteopathy has been the most successful treatment with diazepam a good back up.

Thanks all, I managed to get hold of some amitriptyline last night and actually slept!

Waiting for a tens machine to be delivered today and will look into the massage ball MuttleysSnigger, thanks.

That's interesting ShowOfHands, I quite often get a muscle spasm in my ribs, so maybe there's a link.