Please help, pinched nerve, mini pill, HRT

[LimeLemonOrange]

I'm feeling so desperate and sad.

Since June I've been unwell with what's been diagnosed as inflamed / pinched nerves in my neck.

The symptoms have been weird, sometimes a weird dizzy, out of it feeling plus mild headache and neck ache then as it got worse I got weird tingling burning pains in the top of my back. I've also had pain and weakness in my arm and pins and needles in my hand. The dizzy out of it feeling plus weird sensations make it hard to do normal things, plus symptoms are triggered by me moving my arms, so on my worst days all I can do is lie in bed or walk around like a zombie not daring to move too much. Sitting can trigger it as well.

I've had to give up work (I'm a contractor).

Whenever I make progress and start gradually recovering and feeling optimistic that I could get back to work, I then have a period and it all flares up again and I feel back to square one.

I'm not one for taking hormones but should I take the mini pill to get rid of my periods so I don't get flare up at period time? Or could HRT somehow help with the period flare ups?

Anyone got any experience or advice?

Ps I have a physiotherapist who says recovery will be zig zaggy rather than a straight line, but I'm getting so fed up with it getting so bad during my periods which are now 3 weeks 2 days apart.

Also I can't tell yet whether I'm improving overall or just going round in cycles of improvement then regression.

I just want my life back so much.

Oh god. You poor poor thing. That sounds unbearable.

I'd definitely request something to stop your periods - hopefully that will make an enormous difference for you 🤞🤞🤞

HRT or the minipill could definitely help, but have you seen a chiropractor about your pinched nerve? My dad had exactly what you're suffering with 10 years ago, and he was referred by a friend to a chiropractor. He's been tip top ever since, only needing occasional adjustments.

I had pretty much the same thing about 5/6 weeks ago. I called the doctor and was prescribed naproxen. After about 2 weeks that wasn't working so decided to go to a chiropractor. Had 3 treatments and I am fine now. Still have a slight numbness in my thumb, but that should go away eventually.

I recommend a chiropractor. Cost money, but can help fix your issue a lot faster than physio can.

After my first chiropractor treatment I started feeling better after a day. I highly recommend it!

Interesting that a few of you mentioned chiropractors. I did try one at the start of symptoms (before I knew what the issue was) but then my symptoms all got worse!

Interesting that a few of you mentioned chiropractors. I did try one at the start of symptoms (before I knew what the issue was) but then my symptoms all got worse!

When my dad first started being treated by his chiropractor, he was told it would take 3-4 treatments before total relief was achieved, and they were correct. The chiropractor worked in stages to relieve the pressure on the nerve. Now, when my dad feels any warning twinges, he has an adjustment and that sorts it. I think he goes every 4-5 months or so.

Thanks Aquamarine, did your dad get the dizziness as well as pain?

I think the thing that bothers me most is the dizzy / not right feeling, plus the odd tingly sensations, I'd feel more clear if it was straightforward pain.

It all feels so peculiar and has been going on so long I can't imagine it ever being fixed!

My dad's dizziness was horrible. To the point he couldn't drive and had to be careful even walking around. As well as the pain, he had the awful numbness down his arms.

Go see a chiropractor as soon as possible for a consultation. You've got nothing to lose.

I second going back to a chiropractor. They couldn't work on releasing the nerve on first treatment for me as the area was too tight/inflamed. Second treatment he did some acupuncture on the effected areas to incourage healing. I think you should give the chiropractor another go as they do know what they are doing.

The longer your nerve is trapped the greater the risk of permanent damage.

Thanks aqua and squiglet.

Aqua I'm really encouraged that your Dad had the dizziness too and has managed to fix it. Is his chiropractor anywhere near Berkshire?

No, nowhere near Berkshire. Also, my father had physio for nearly six months before going to a chiropractor, and the physio had done fuck all. Didn't help whatsoever.

Thanks, I'm glad he got it fixed eventually.