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Trapped nerve?

4 replies

halloumi1 · 17/02/2023 17:48

Hi everyone,

Was wondering if anyone has had experience of a trapped nerve and whether this sounds like one?

I woke up in the early hours of yesterday morning (2 week old newborn!) with a sharp pain in one shoulder. It was very difficult to lie on but as the day went on, seemed manageable.

I’ve woken up today in excruciating pain. I’ve given birth with no pain relief, twice, and I’d choose to do that again tenfold over this.
My husband had to manoeuvre me out of bed as anytime I tried to move or get myself out of bed, it was a horrendous sharp, stabbing pain in my shoulder. I can’t lie down again because it’s so severely painful, the type of pain that almost stops you completely.
It’s a constant pain too - even if I’m just sat still, it’s there giving me agony. I’ve been in the car today (passenger) and any turn towards that side or a roundabout brought pain and I couldn’t open/shut the car door.

It’s started in my chest and the top of my back/side too so I can only take shallow breaths - any deep breaths, sniffs or sneezes cause more pain. It gets where the pain builds in my chest and I find myself panicking that I won’t be able to breathe, which makes it worse!
I’ve taken naproxen and codeine but nothing is touching it. It’s bringing me to tears as it’s so painful.
I have my baby who I can’t even lift or hold and it’s incredibly distressing plus a husband who’s got baby and nearly 3 year old and telling me he can’t look after me too.

I’ve rang 111 for advice as I really worry about being someone taking up time or space when they’re so stretched but their advice was to go to a pharmacy within 24 hours for a consultation. I don’t have much experience with pharmacies but not sure what they could offer aside from what I’ve already tried pain relief wise.

Does this sound like a trapped nerve and if so, is there anything I can do to alleviate the pain as I am literally useless and feeling very sorry for myself!

OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 17/02/2023 19:16

It doesn't sound like my experience of a trapped nerve - that was initial pain when the injury occurred, followed by weeks of numbness in the area as the nerve gradually repaired itself. That's not to say yours isn't a trapped nerve, it's just not what I had.

It's really bad that you have been fobbed off - your chest pain sounds very worrying - I think you need to see someone, a doctor not a pharmacist. I would call 111 again and see if you can get a GP appointment or failing that, A&E.

Wafflesandcrepes · 19/02/2023 08:27

I’d go to A&E straight away if I were you. Back pain should always be investigated properly as it can be the sign of something more serious. All the best and let us know how you’re getting on.

Fairysilver · 19/02/2023 09:28

I have a trapped nerve in my back. It causes some intermittent pain but mostly numbness.
Yours doesn't sound at all like my trapped nerve.
Ring GP first thing tomorrow.

halloumi1 · 19/02/2023 09:44

Hi,

Just an update on this thread - I posted in AIBU yesterday querying if I should go to A&E due to the symptoms and pain I was in.
Lots of helpful replies that it sounded like a PE or other lung related issue.

I spent 10 hours there yesterday with tests/scan/x Ray and have been diagnosed with a blood clot and minor chest infection. Very scary but just thankful to the people on MN who raised a PE as I wouldn’t have even thought of that.

OP posts:
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