Trapped/pinched nerve how long will this agony go on for?

[LittleMissedTheSunshine]

I have had a trapped/pinched nerve in my neck for one week now, causing pain in my shoulder/arm OMG I have never felt pain like this, burning/crushing/throbbing pain.

I'm on a cocktail of drugs - naproxen/amitryptyline/diazepam/codeine and it's just about bearable in the day but at night time even on the codeine I am waking up in tears with it. It's got no better and I'm getting seriously scared as I've just started a new job so no sick pay and still in probation, the timing couldn't be worse.

Has anyone had this and can give me a light at the end of the tunnel. was allowed to 'work from home' last week which was very generous of my new boss but I know I can't expect this to continue so will have to drag myself in next week and suffer.

Please please somebody help me from giving in to despair, feels like the pain is never ending and trying to cope with all this plus a brand new job is very hard.

See a chiropractor.

Or an osteopath.

I'm having physio which includes acupuncture and massage, not made a massive difference yet but will check out the suggestions above thank you.

would be interested to hear from anyone who's had this and how long it took to get better.

I’ve had this before OP & it’s horrible. I tried a physio but things only improved by about 20%. In the end I went to an experienced chiropractor and was right as rain after 3 appointments. No painkillers make any difference to it in my experience. Hope you get sorted soon.

Thanks missedmoments how long did it take in total from onset to being better? Its so confusing to know what to do - chiro/osteo/physio and I could get free physio on my health insurance so went for that initially but I can check out the chiro option. Anything to be better!

I had it for about ten days before I realized it wasn’t getting better. Tried physio as a next option but nothing changed. As a last resort I went to the chiropractor and I had immediate relief after the first app.It was fully better after the third. I had two appointments in the first week and the last a week later. I think the pain originated in my shoulder ( rotator cuff syndrome). When it’s particularly bad the pain spreads to the back of your head & causes headaches. It’s SO painful as I’m sure you know well !

Hi, missed not sure we have/had the same thing, mine is definitely a trapped nerve with pain down shoulder and arm and numb fingers. Not spreading to head.

I've heard mixed reports about chiro if you have spine problems (as opposed to muscular/joints) , there are a few scare stories out there but I may ask my doctor what they think.

I'd love to be fixed in three sessions but don't want to risk it getting worse!

Which finger are numb? Thumb and first few or just little finger? If its the thumb side, its your median nerve, if its your little finger then your ulnar nerve. Google nerve glides for the relevant nerve, they are stretches to unstick your nerve where it has got trapped, pinched or caught up on the muscles etc. If they cant get it moving after a few days, then ask for muscle relaxants, and try some more. If your hand is numb for more than two weeks, you need to try and get seem by a neurologist because you can get permanent nerve damage quite quickly

Its the thumb side.. . I have Bupa but wasn't sure if it's an Orthopaedic doctor or Neurologist to see for pinched nerve. I may go get tested as I'll lose my Bupa if lose my job and then I'll be back on the NHS which is not too speedy for this kind of thing I hear!!

Slightly better today but the pain is still there in the background a long with the tingling.

So it's the median nerve. It could be caught at the spine, neck, elbow or carpal tunnel. Give the nerve glides a go, they may well help and then if they don't try muscle relaxants to unstick things. Neurologist after that. They can test the nerve speed and compare it to normal ranges for your age.

Stop taking the pills and see a chiropractor or physio.
The pills are no good because they allow you to carry on, when you should be getting it better.
My dh suffers a lot with this and has it now, I usually massage it better for him.

The innervation of the upper limb is a little more complicated than suggested above (which probably explains the confusion re. the median nerve). I'd take the advice of the people who've examined/will be examining you as they're much more likely to work out where the problem is.

Yep lots of conflicting advice on the tinternet! wasn't looking for a diagnosis as I've already had one- cervical radiculopathy, or pinched nerve in the neck spine in layman's terms. just wanted to hear from anyone else who's had this and how long it went on for.

Slightly better today so either the meds are beginning to work or it's getting better, although I had a 'false dawn' before and it got worse again. Work tomorrow, so will have to man up for that and put my game face on.

Ah, something different so. I had nerve impingement aswell so it sounded similar. In my case my shoulder to elbow was affected. Hope you get sorted anyway

OP, spoke to my son earlier and told him about dh trapped nerve.
Son told me that at the local hospital they'd had people going with what they thought was a trapped nerve and it was flu.
My dh has been fluey for a week or so now.
Thought it worth a mention, we are NW if this makes a difference. it is a weird sort of virus.

Hi OP, I have no idea if I had exactly the same thing or not but here's my story anyway and I truly sympathise with you!
Last February I woke one day with an aching all down my arm which progressed over a couple of weeks (I thought I'd pulled a muscle at first) to tingling and numb fingers. I had X-rays and pain killers and later an MRI scan which showed a pinched nerve in my neck. By this stage I was completely fed up by the pain and had almost forgotten what it was like to just feel normal.
In the end what fixed it was a big dose of cortisone (tablet form) for a period of 21 days...this apparently reduced the swelling and allowed the nerve to be free. If that hadn't worked they were going to do a guided infusion of cortisone by injection into the nerve in my neck.
I'm in France so the treatment may well be different here but it was so painful and intrusive and it was the cortisone that sorted it in the end.
Good luck and I hope your improvement continues!

Hi everyone, feeling less pain today although the cocktail of amitriptyline, naproxen, diazepam and codeine has turned me into a slightly giddy zombie. Emotions all over the place and important work meeting today but I've found my blitz spirit and ploughing on. I had a chat with my manager about not feeling myself and concerns re probation period at work, she said not to worry. Anyway feeling much better.

Thanks Romany definitely not flu, it's a trapped nerve, the tingling in my fingers gives it away. Sometimes it almost feels like there's a buzzingsensation, very 'electrical' feeling.

It took me two months to feel normal last time
It's just started again - no pain killers work
The constant burning, aching pain is driving me nuts
I find stretching till it hurts give some relief, but it soon starts to sneak back
I hope you start to feel better soon

Thanks - I dragged myself into work today, seems I have a choice between being in pain, or being a spaced out fuckwit.
Which is better in probation? I've only been there 2.5 weeks.

Can't quite tell if my boss is sympathetic, or just a bit freaked out by it all. She seems to be pretending its not happening.

My vote woul be spaced out, I want to hacksaw the arm off

Does it help to wear a soft neck collar to keep your neck straight and supported, I had this but in my shoulder, nothing touched the pain. Went on for months but hope you feel better soon, can they some steroid injection into the nerve.

I have spinal problems and still see a chiropractor. As long as they know about it and are aware of the details of your condition, they won't hurt you. Worth trying as the relief is immediate. Most work alongside massage therapists too so will get you loosened up then go in for the kill.

Felt like I was drunk today... it's so hard when you're new and they don't know you.

Managed to get through my meeting on naproxen, and then necked some codeine on the train home like a real junkie!

I had it for 6 weeks or so then it eased off. A few weeks later it came back, but for about three weeks that time. I found heat helped a little, so I used a microwaveable wheat bag on my neck or round my shoulder/down my arm at work. I think my nerve impingement is caused by osteoarthritis in the top of my spine, which I take 30/500 x 8 daily for anyway.