Dockside Chat - Pinched Nerve in Lower neck

Man this sucks! Got a pinched nerve in my lower neck and the pain is excruciating! Doc says it's from stress.
Neck, shoulder and down right arm to the wrist. Was in ER last night till 1:30. Doc gave me a shot of Z'something and a shot dilaudid. After 20 minutes only change was in addition to the pinched nerve pain I had two sore arms so they gave me another shot of dilaudid. That helped a little bit but not much. Got a script for percocet and prednisone that seemed to help today. Anyone else have pinched nerve like this?
How long did yours last?

Yup, had same thing years ago down left arm. Mine was/is from sitting slouched in front of a computer my whole life.

Tried therapy but the pain was so bad I couldn't do anything they told me too. Eventually got an epidural to calm it down then decided to try the Chiropractor route and after a few months of regular visits I was 90% pain-free and been so ever since. Still see the Chiro regularly and have relapses when I don't go enough or take care of myself . Seems like hocus pocus but figure all they have to do is back off the pressure on that nerve 1/16" to get you relief and it makes sense. Convinced me for sure.

I had numbness in my left arm and tingling in my fingers, from a pinched nerve in my neck. The only way I could get relief before going to the doctor, was to hold my left arm over top of my head. The family doctor sent me to a chiropractor. I was sceptical, especially since after the first few visits, I was more sore from the visit than the original problem. After a few visits that cleared up, and the numbness has been mostly gone since.

My little brother and I had this discussion yesterday. The "little" guy (6' 2" 225 lbs) has had surgery and regrets it. He uses heat and stretching and sees the chiro whenever necessary. He got shot up about a week ago by the ortho guy when the pain became unbearable. I ruptured my achilles about 15 years ago and it still aches.

Most back pain is for the rest of your days - sorry to say that.

Stay away from surgery until it's the last resort.

I had two pinched nerves in my neck. Sucked big time as the pain was horrible. Numbness down my arm down to finger tips. I had to go to a pain management place. Gave me a series of 3 injections directly into the nerve in 3 weeks. Those shots lasted for about a year and did then for three years. Been two years now since my last and 99 percent pain free so I think the nerve corrected itself. Thank god cause it really sucked horse poo!

My partner deals with this all the time. She is a deep tissue, trigger point massage therapist.

I was skeptical of the whole massage hoodoo voodoo at first also, but I am truely a believer now. She has done some incredible things to folks that are astounded how good they feel after just having a deep tissue, trigger point massage.

She couldn't tell from your description exactly, but thought maybe your scalenes are compressing nerves against your clavicle. There are 3 scalenes right there that pull up towards your clavicle. Thorasic outlet syndrome she mentioned.
Trigger point to release the tension is what you need.
good luck, back pain sure does suck.

I actually ruptured a disc in my neck, excruciating doesn't come close to describing the pain. Couldn't move with out intense pain, plenty of numbness to go along with it. The solution for me was surgery, found a great doctor and was pain free immediately following the surgery. Months of PT and I was almost as good as new.........not fun

My partner deals with this all the time. She is a deep tissue, trigger point massage therapist.

I was skeptical of the whole massage hoodoo voodoo at first also, but I am truely a believer now. She has done some incredible things to folks that are astounded how good they feel after just having a deep tissue, trigger point massage.

She couldn't tell from your description exactly, but thought maybe your scalenes are compressing nerves against your clavicle. There are 3 scalenes right there that pull up towards your clavicle. Thorasic outlet syndrome she mentioned.
Trigger point to release the tension is what you need.
good luck, back pain sure does suck.

Yup. I had similar pain and my massage therapist fixed it over a few months. Before I went to her, I want to my regular doctor and he couldn't help me. I still get a massage every month even though the pain is completely gone.

Going to chiro now for same thing-took a bouncing shot on bow friday running at 30 knots and tough to sleep last two nights. Really flared up worse than it was before.

Meloxicam in am and motrin later in day evening , Need a pm tonight to get less fiftfull sleep tonight

Thanks for the input Fellas. Going to a spine specialist tomorrow. Woke up this mornig and it was worse then it has been since it started Thursday. Can't believe the amount of pain! Sometimes it takes my breath away!!