Chronic pain - now barely able to use arm

[Orangesandlemons82]

I am currently having various tests including an MRI scan on Friday to find out the cause of my joint and spine problems. The issue with my neck seems to have caused nerve pain down my left arm and I can now barely move my arm. It has got considerably worse over the last few days. Tramadol, gabapentin and nortriptyline arent touching it. Heat is helping a little. I'm scared that whatever is causing It will permanently damage the arm and I am going to be left with permanent damage to my arm. Has anyone had any experience with this? Did your arm recover or do I need to push for something to be done quicker if the nerve is at risk of permanent damage. The joint and spine problems were bad enough but I can't live with this too.

Sorry to hear you are going through this - it's awful

My DP had awful joint pain that persisted for years. He was on gabapentin and Naproxen, but they didn't really do anything, and they're not recommended for the long term anyway, I believe.

Eventually he tried gyrotonic therapy, which was the only thing that really helped. If there's a gyrotonic studio near you, I would recommend this. It was designed for dancers who end up with nerve/muscle/joint/bone problems from their jobs.

good luck!

Cansu
No it did drag on a bit - but not that long. I also had private health care with my job so once I had the MRI which diagnosed the issue ( although the doctors had already guessed the diagnosis from my symptoms) I was able to book in for the operation immediately. I was only in hospital for 5 days.

But you need to be aware that nerve pain down your arm can often be the same as sciatica in your leg / caused by the disc pressing on your spinal cord - which causes the nerve pain. It's only by taking the disc off the nerve cDNA you relieve the pain.

If the disc protrusion isn't too severe this can be put back I place by osteopathy / physiotherapy. But if it's really protruded then the best course of action is it's removal.

God I wish I had private health care.
Sledgeski
They say it is unnecessary. The private physio I have seen said she thought it might be an idea and she has (lovely lady) actually booked in to talk to my GP about me. The NHS physio who rings me said she couldn't imagine why that had been suggested and it was completely unnecessary. I have tbh started googling other conditions and scared myself that I may have MS. I have had some speech problems and one corner of my mouth droops and doesn't move correctly when I speak but I just keep getting fobbed off.

@Griffo123 that sounds awful! But amazing the pain in the arm had gone straight after the operation. What was your recovery like once you got home?

@sledgeski that's really interesting as when I have had asthma flare ups and have needed oral steroids for a few days all my symptoms improve and then return a week or so later.

@cansu how was the pain for the rest of the day? Mine is always there but somedays are definitely better than others. I have a consultant appointment a week on Friday for all the results.

It has calmed again. It is still worse than it has been but not so bad that I couldn't get up at all. That said, I have spent most of the day on the sofa or in bed and have added another 300mg of gabapentin.

The great thing with PMR is 80% of pain and stiffness will usually be gone in 48 hours with high dose steroids so it is a quick easy diagnosis and definitely worth trying for a couple of weeks to rule it out after what you say about asthma medication. If you dont see improvement in couple of weeks you can then stop steroids and seek other diagnosis instead. However if you are under 50 they will be very reluctant to diagnose it. Dont let them say it cant be PMR if your bloods are normal and dont forget your bloods may be improved when you have steroids for your asthma. Good luck.

Orangesandlemons82 how was your appointment?

@scottgirl it took a bit of a twist to be honest and it looks like I have thyroid cancer. I'm booked in to have a partial thyroidectomy next week. The consultant has said that it can be completely cured and the worst case scenario is that I need a second operation. Thank you for asking.

Orangesandlemons82 wow that must have been such a shock! Hope all goes well next week and I shall keep an eye out for any updates.

Best wishes to you, thinking of you x

I had this. Neck pain radiating down my shoulder snd arm and into my fingers. My fingers tingled. My arm ached relentlessly to the point of tears. No pain killers touched it. It was a nerve pain.

I had an mri which showed I had a slipped disc in my neck - C 6/7 level.

I was admitted to hospital and had the disc removed.

The pain in my arm had gone when I woke up!!!

So please do ask about slipped discs in your neck.