Severe nerve pain

[Runaround50]

How the actual fuck do people manage this kind of pain??

I was diagnosed with nerve damage in my left arm in January. Been prescribed amitryptyline which does nothing. This latest flare up is off the scale. Pain in my hands, wrists, shoulder, neck, chest ( referred pain?)

I've tried every pain killer, deep heat, deep freeze and CBD oil and now I feel sick with pain. Consultant says nothing can be done? Really?? It's horrid. I'm thinking of cannabis next !

Please help someone. I've got another GP appointment in just over a week but don't want more painkillers.

I would be cautious and not see an osteopath or sports therapist etc until you have been properly reviewed by neurology and have a diagnosis.

The nerves are a complex thing and if someone doesn't know what they are doing they could make things worse.

Definitely going to ask for a referral to a neurologist. It's flaring up again and not a lot I can do but ride it out

Getting cramp and spasms in the hand too. Something isn't right.

Your GP should have already put a referral through! I'm shocked they haven't with those symptoms.

My hands are bad at the moment too. I'm convinced it's the change in weather. They keep cramping and going into weird positions.

You definitely need to go back to the GP and push for that neurology!!

It is much safer to have a diagnosis before you see a physio or osteopath

and download the Curable app

Thanks again.
So sick of it now. The pain sucks and it's constant. I'm convinced I've got some nasty incurable disease.
That and the bloody menopause are brutal !

Honestly I've been there.... When I started doing curable and seeing the hypnosis doctor - that was a game changer for me.

Hope you get relief

It could be a trapped nerve or a disc problem, I would get an MRI. My dr wouldnt believe me with my pain so I paid for a private scan which found a shoulder impingement which was cured with surgery.

@HappyHamsters how much did you lag for your scan if you don't mind me asking? Where did they scan you?

The trouble is, I seem to be riddled with pains now. Back, hips, shoulders and the arm. I'm thinking a full body mri now?

Meant pay ( sorry)

Demand, we’ll ask nicely first, Gabapentin.
I have nerve damage in my hip and it was the most excruciating pain ever.
Amitriptyline did not touch it at all, but Gabapentin has saved my sanity.
Good luck xx

Hi OP
your symptoms sound really similar to mine. I woke up with it one morning no obvious injury or incident. I had a strong suspicion that it was neck/ back related and after seeing a spine Dr I had an MRI last week which confirmed a disc at the bottom of my neck had herniated. The failed disc is compressing the nerve that serves parts of my shoulder and arm/ hand.
in my case knowing whats wrong is psychologically helpful and also knowing there are treatment options if it doesn’t resolve itself is helpful too. I’m also on amytriptiline, not actually sure how much its helped with the pain (research does prove it to be helpful for a large number of people but not all). I have been advised to rest and i use ibuprofen both orally and rub on which also helps a bit.
but basically you absolutely need to know the cause of your severe pain-and only an mri is going to move things forward for you!

Just to add my scan was private, it was both my upper and lower spine as i also have some pain lower down, it cost just over £800 which was money very well spent for peace of mind.

Thanks again all.
I'm more determined to push for an mri now, as I'm absolutely sick of it.

Speaking to the GP on Tuesday; do i ask for a different drug or not, until I can get this MRI?

I would think it is worth trying a different medication while you look into the mri, as hopefully something else will alleviate the pain. My GP prescribed gabapentin from the start and I was referred to a neurologist (a long wait) who referred me to the pain clinic which was quick. They then increased the gabapentin, and also added in capsaicin cream to try, and suggested trying pulsed radio-frequency treatment - so there are various things to try that might help while you hopefully get the cause identified

@Runaround50

Definitely push for MRI to rule out herniated discs which are massively painful but can be fixed. Have had both this and unrelated neuropathic pain elsewhere in my body which was and continues to be at times the most horrendous pain I've ever felt, with burning, stabbing etc etc... was hospitalised at one point due to lack of oxygen because it was too painful for me to breathe... am heavily medicated now and will be forever according to my pain consultant - the damaged nerves can’t be fixed (and they don’t know how they were damaged).

Once they assess your spine and neck and work out if there's anything there which can be resolved, push for a pain consultant - if you have the means, ask for a private referral to one from your doctor - this was what I did - for me I would have sold the shirt off my back to get some proper relief. I was subsequently referred back into the nhs and see the same pain consultant there.

Pain which is invisible is incredibly difficult to live with, because no one really gets it unless they're going through it, and it seeps into every part of your life. Wish you every bit of luck 💐

Thanks once again all. I feel less alone with it all now. The pain is unbearable and as such definitely need to push for answers. In the interim, pain relief is required.

Has anyone used any particular balm or cream to get relief? I'm even contemplating THC oil today!

If the pain is really that unbearable I would call 111 for an out of hours doctor .

With your history of breast cancer, I would insist on scans to check for secondary breast cancer which typically can go to the spine, as well as long bones like the arm. I’m not sure what scan that might be - MRI, PET? Sooner rather than later. You need to know what is going on here.

I paid £450 for a private one shoulder MRI 15 years ago. It was that or a 8 month nhs list. With your history I would expect the doctor.to investigate
Is the pain the same side you had breast cancer.Did you have surgery.

A brain scan too.

The pain is the same side as the breast cancer was. It started in the arm last October. Tests revealed some ' nerve damage'.

I am mindful of SBC and will be highlighting this to the GP next week. I had a full mastectomy with reconstruction on one side.

I have sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy in both legs & feet due to a combination of neurotoxicity from Nitrofuarantin & B12 deficiency. I take 300mg Gabapentin 4 times a day & dihydracodeine 2 x 30mg 4 times a day, I find that changes in temperature make my pain worse, I can feel a draft from a mile away, I always make sure my feet are warm, I wear warm slippers when I am up & about & Heatholders 2.3 tog socks in bed, I wear M & S Heatgen plus leggings during the day.

@HappyHamsters hoe do you cure a shoulder impingement

Keyhole surgery cured me, 2 days in hospital followed by intensive physio, still good 15 years later.