Nerve pain in arm -need some advice to survive sleeping until APPT

SevenSamurai

SevenSamurai

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I've been out of the country the last week and am not seeing a specialist until this Friday so I need some advice from anyone with experience.

I strained my back and chipped my elbow several weeks ago (about 3) -since then my back has healed and the spot on the elbow is fine. -but in the last 2 weeks I've got nerve pain/numbness aching from my shoulder to my fingers -mostly in the upper arm. This aching is accompanied by a sharp pain when I move my neck in certain places.

So naturally I'm thinking a pinched nerve or perhaps a cubital or tunnel nerve problem.

I need to figure out how to sleep the next 4 nights -drugs are doing nothing and I can't seem to find a position to rest the arm that works.

Any experience with this?
 
Just keep trying, you'll find some contortion you can sleep in. I had a pinched nerve for months, shoulder to fingertips felt like electrocution. I slept on my back, sitting up a bit on several pillows, with forearm across my belly and elbow propped on yet another pillow. Worked for me. Go pillow crazy :)
 
n...not crazy said:
Just keep trying, you'll find some contortion you can sleep in. I had a pinched nerve for months, shoulder to fingertips felt like electrocution. I slept on my back, sitting up a bit on several pillows, with forearm across my belly and elbow propped on yet another pillow. Worked for me. Go pillow crazy :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, ...weird you suggest that position -that's basically what I'm doing now which has the best results so far.

Weird thing is that it hurts worse when my are is straight (180 degrees) and less when my arm is around an acute 30-45 degrees -which is counter to what some web advice suggests I should be experiencing.
 
I've basically stopped taking any painkillers or muscle relaxers because they keep making me accidently roll into a position which sends a shockwave so painful it's not worth the mitigating effects they have of the less painful constant aching.
 
Stretch. Not a 5 minute high school PE stretch but a good 20-30 mins in sets of three. Different arm, shoulder, general upper body stretches
 
lakersfan45 said:
Stretch. Not a 5 minute high school PE stretch but a good 20-30 mins in sets of three. Different arm, shoulder, general upper body stretches
Click to expand...

I probably haven't done enough of this TBH -at least not in the durations you are recommending.

thanks
 
Get that book I PM'ed you about: Somatics, by Thomas Hanna.


Shit will help you dude, I'm not kidding.
 
SevenSamurai said:
I probably haven't done enough of this TBH -at least not in the durations you are recommending.

thanks
Click to expand...

I have terrible back and shoulder problems. I stretch for 30 minutes a day and the pain is alleviated. If i go three days without stretching the pain is unbearable on my k
left side. All the stretches I learned were from various physical therapists I work out so I dont have any good online sources for good guides but I am sure they exist. Sometimes after a good stretch icing helps as well. Good luck!
 
Without knowing any further info, it sounds like you might have a lesion in you're upper brachial plexus.

This usually occurs when you're neck is stretched beyond normal limits. Probably also explains why moving your neck exacerbates it.

Are you having any muscle weakness? Or is it just the numbness?

OTC painkillers probably aren't strong enough. I've read that capsacian is pretty good for neuropathic pain. Might wanna try that and see.
 
Try some Vicks on it. It won't cure the pain, but lessen it. I partially severed a nerve when I broke my humerus and my pain doctor recommended it, it may have been a placebo but it took the edge off. If it doesn't work you're not out much.
 
Sounds possibly like a pseudo thoracic outlet syndrome. If you have access to a foam roller or lacrosse or tennis balls, try rolling it out. Pec major/minor, levator scap, rhomboids/mid trap, clavicle area. Might help.
 
I was in a accident and ended up with a bad injury to my median nerve. It developed into a somewhat rare condition called Complex regional pain syndrome. Basically I've lost 90% of the strength in my hand, hair has fallen out of the affected area, thinning of the skin(cuts easily), can't really move my thumb, and it hurts like hell.

I've been through several surgeries and treatments, and about 30 different meds. Other then the standard pain killers, sleeping pills, and gabapentin/lyrica ype drugs(treat nerve pain). My pain get worse through out the day, and really spikes at night, so I have some major sleep issues due to it. Heres a few things I would do.


Try to elevate your arm. I try to keep at least 2 pillows under my arm.

Get a wrist/arm brace or see a hand thearpist to make you one. I have one that was custom molded to my arm and hand, that covers my fingers to my elbow. It takes some getting used to, but it help protect your am during the night and helps elevate the pain.

Find the right meds that will work for you. Nerve injuries are tricky, and there isn't really a cure all.

If you need surgery, make sure you consider all options first. I had a carpal release, to help the nerve, and it actually ended up making my hand worse, and my pain and loss of function increased.

Try to get a prescription for Lidoderm patches. These are lidocaine patches that will help numb up the nerve pain, and are a huge temporary relief(can only wear for 12 hours a day) They can be expensive, and insurance coverage can be a issue. They are about $400 for a box of 30....

Get some topical stuff like Bio-freeze. Its cheap and can give temporary relief.
 
I jumped off a 2 story roof into a pool at a party and smashed my foot into the bottom of the pool so hard I crushed the C4/C5 disc in my neck into crumbs and have the exact same symptoms you describe. It comes and goes in intensity, but just something thats got to be dealt with if that's what you did.
 
Is something painful if you don't remember it? I have at least a couple scars on my body that says no.

Drop $200 on the hotel concierge to make sure you make it to your appointment on Friday.

Till then, hookers, blow and booze.
 
Thanks for all the advice so far-

it was a rough night -just constant aching with glorious shooting pains if anything moved -fell asleep with HBO on too -which made for some awful dreams about boxing and the circus????

I stretched hardcore this morning and took a Motrin -seems tolerable right now
 
def1 said:
Without knowing any further info, it sounds like you might have a lesion in you're upper brachial plexus.

This usually occurs when you're neck is stretched beyond normal limits. Probably also explains why moving your neck exacerbates it.

Are you having any muscle weakness? Or is it just the numbness?

OTC painkillers probably aren't strong enough. I've read that capsacian is pretty good for neuropathic pain. Might wanna try that and see.
Click to expand...

More numbness and pain than actual weakness, I sat on the beach last week and played guitar with no problem (it's my right arm -or strumming hand) -as long as I finger picked and didn't actually strum with the arm. I went to a doctor who gave me an opiate, muscle relaxer, and steroid regimen then too.

Capsacian is a good idea.
 
Doughbelly said:
Is something painful if you don't remember it? I have at least a couple scars on my body that says no.

Drop $200 on the hotel concierge to make sure you make it to your appointment on Friday.

Till then, hookers, blow and booze.
Click to expand...

never thought to tip the hotel concierge for such.****files for future use*****
 
Go look in the grappling forum for the thread: "Herniated Discs: Do they ever heal?"

Try not to get too down, but there are some good suggestions there. What helped me was getting a buckwheat pillow from amazon (the one with nearly perfect 5 stars; its around $60 I think) or get a memory foam pillow (the generic ones are ok; you don't need the $200 ones).

Also, DON'T STRETCH!!! unless you know what you're doing. Some positions can make it much worse.

Loo up the McKenzie exercises for your neck on youtube or google them. They should relieve a lot of pain.

Also, avoid surgery and give it at least three months to heal. Most issues should resolve in 3-4 months.
 
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