how do i get relief from a trapped nerve in my neck? its driving me mad with pain.?
367480
A Chiropractor does wonders,your neck it probably out and it will and can pinch a nerve,you need to go see one you will feel better,meds don't fix the pain because it will always come back.All they want is your money for making you feel like crap.
1012215
Ouch! Nerve pain like that is just awful. If you haven't experienced it, you can't explain it to someone else. It is so intense! When I was in my forties, I wrenched my lumbar vertebrae helping a service man move a 300-lb. gas cylinder. I even heard it when my back went out. I went to a chiropractor, and he cleared that out in ONE visit. Until you find a way you are willing to try, use ice to reduce the inflammation. When you do that to your back, everything gets swollen up and pushed tightly together. The ice pack makes the muscles contract and open up inside so all the parts can move again. This tightening up is called "splinting," and is a natural mechanism your body uses to protect that painful place in your back. The ice pack should be kept on twenty to twenty-five minutes per hour, possibly four times during the day. You will notice it getting much easier to bear. The ice pack also tells your brain to send more blood to that area, which helps to flush all that congestion away from the sore spot. I strongly urge you to see a chiropractor. In ONE visit, you will be able to immediately find relief to a very considerable extent from what has probably been driving you up the walls. The problem with this kind of pain is that it is relentless and does not stop while you are trying to sleep at night. If you begin to miss your sleep cycle, you will get strung out, crabby and irritable, and that just adds to it. So - if you are not keen on chiropractors, go to your family doctor instead, but do not sit home, in agony and immobilized in a chair. That would be just too stressful. Call a best friend to drive you to and from, if that would help you. Reach out. I am hoping others in this column at Yahoo! Answers will also offer you ways to get better really quickly. Please accept this huge load of love and support from Chris in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A. (I am 63 years old.)
863558
If you haven't seen a doctor since the accident, I would suggest seeing one sometime next week.  Since this has been going on for 6 months, the urgency of an Emergency Room is unwarranted.  The possiblity of a pinched nerve does exist and massage therapy would do wonders as well as making the rest of your body feel good.  \n\nAlthough I'm not a big fan of chiropractors, a simple neck adjustment may be all that is needed.  I was involved in a rollover car accident a long time ago.  I would get throbbing headaches whenever I would stand up.  I saw a chiropractor out of the suggestion of my lawyer, and the headaches went away after one visit.  I hope this helps....good luck to you.
407293
well i know first hand what he is going thru, i also had surgery in L4 and now the scar tissue is hardened and pushing on the nerves, it really does hurt, i was told that further operations would only further the scaring, he could try going to a pain clinic and get the injections in his back, i have done that but it didnt help me much and other people i have talked to swears by it,i also took the soma and codien among other crap like that,i now have 4 discs in my back shot due to an injury last summer, but the pain clinics can and do help, they know what is best in your personal situation, and give proper meds that dont make you feel crapy, as far as the tens meters they only annoyed me, and did nothing to ease the pain,i have lived with pain since 1993 and all one can do is to try and cope with it,one has a hard time sleeping when u hurt so bad\ni would suggest he go to a pain clinic cos they are so much more advanced nowadays\n\ngood luck\n\nADD;\ni also have two discs in my neck removed and held together with a titanium plate, ,i waited to long to get medical help, i hope he dont keep putting this off cos it will only get worse
1052136
Hi Kim, with neck problems the list can go on and on.  If you have neck problems it can be something as simple as a pulled muscle to something more complex like a swollen thyroid gland.  \n\nSeeing a proper doctor can help you fix your medical ailments.  If you feel a slight burning sensation in your arm or finger tips whenever you move your neck, it is probably a pinched nerve.  It's no big deal, it can happen sometimes when a muscle knots up in your neck or upper back and it may be unpleasant but will go away in a day or two.  If you've had it for a couple of months, your doctor may ask you to have surgery to fix it.  \n\nMost commonly your doctor (IF the pain is severe enough) will prescribe to you a light muscle relaxer or suggest you take Aleve or extra strength Tylenol to relieve the pain.\n\nIf you feel like you can only move your neck to one side, you probably have a really wicked cramp that needs to be worked out.  If you cannot go to a massage therapist, I recommend doing the following:  Sit in a tub of warm water as hot as you can stand it for as long as you can stand it (obviously not so hot it can burn you and not too hot if you have heart problems, are taking blood thinners or have a pacemaker) and slowly work your neck starting with your chin turned to your shoulder and then touching your chest and then over to your other shoulder.  Do that a few times and step out and it should help.  NEVER do full circles with your neck as you can do permanent nerve/spinal damage with this.  \n\nAlternating hot packs/cold packs for 15 min at a time can help loosen the muscle group.  Inbetween switching, just make sure to stretch your neck out a bit each time.  \n\nYou can also take a tennis ball and hold it between your upper back and a wall and roll it across your back that way (or have someone else roll it for you) and slowly massage your neck with it.  The tennis ball is hard enough to work out your muscles, but soft enough to not hurt you.\n\nI recommend a good family practitioner if you need to see a doctor.  You can also see a Chiropractor (M.D. with extra musculo-skeletal training) an Osteopathic Doctor (a doctor who uses a full body approach to healing and who also uses the same chiropractic movements), an Ear Nose and Throat specialist, (Otolaryngology Doctor), they can help you determine if it's something more serious than a muscle glitch, however they usually require a referral from your primary care doc.  You can also see a physical therapist who can prescribe certain exercises for you to do.  Massage therapists also work well for that (massage school students often charge less for massages and are always observed by an instructor).\n\nIf it is a simple sprain, you can also learn simple stretching exercises that can help you avoid the injury in the future.  \n\nI also want to add that you may need a new pillow or a new mattress.  If you are not getting proper spinal alignment while you sleep, your neck can start to hurt from the weight of an improperly positioned support system.\n\nIt's also possible you may need new shoes.  When you are not getting proper support for your feet, you can have all sorts of alignment problems in your body and before you know it, you hurt all over.  If you can't afford new shoes, try getting arch support or memory foam inserts for your feet.  You can also see an Orthopedic Doctor (skeletal doctor) or a Podiatrist (foot doctor) for that.  If your injury is related to sports a Sports Medicine Doctor (who usually has training in all of the above) can help you out also.\n\nI hope this helps you and that your road to healing comes as painlessly as possible.  Good luck!
855313
my friend just recently had this problem, he went to his chiropracter who realigned his neck and waht not, he received a couple of massages over a couple different days and feels beeter.  he said the doctor used different pressure point and when the doctor pushed on the nerve that gave him the headache the doc was able to fix it.  i know this might not be much help, but i would reccopmend that since my fiend tried to to let it go and see if it would go away to no evail.
923032
At worst its a pinched nerve, but I'm pretty sure its a sore muscle.   I've had those feelings pleny of times because I slept wrong.   It may not feel like it, but its ended up that way many times for me. Take some motrin or tyenol and make sure not to strain that muscle any more and it should go away (in a couple days).  If it doesn't you should see a doctor.
766763
You should see your doctor right away and have your neck xrayed.  I hope he refers you to a spinal specialist.  Could be a pinched nerve, and that's not fun.  It will run down your across your back, shoulders and arms if let go too long.  Sometimes the damage doesn't show up right away.  \n\nIf not, maybe a vertabra is damaged.  Either way, please have it checked.
189867
it's a nerve thing alright, but probably not in your elbow . . the nerve stretches up and back to your shoulder blade and probably it's your posture and work habbit at the computer . . . if you go to a doctor they can't do anything except try to aleviate [sp] the pain . . . \n\nyoga or stretching is a very good thing . . . a physical therapist or massuse (legit one) is also a really good recomendation . . .\n\nto relieve a pinched or pressed nerve you need to remove the tension in your muscles and figure out a way to reposition your body placement.  \n\nHeated yoga (yoga in a heated room)  a very warm bath with epsom salts.  A massage, stretching and if you can be inclined it would be a good idea to do some sort of daily excersize (doesn't have to be anything extreme, even a walk for an hour)  \n\nAnd if you really want to get into it do some local research and see if you can find an Alexander Technique teacher.  It's a body movement and control technique mainly used for actors and dancers . . but the process is just a familiararity of the body and obtaining full awareness & control of it.
592472
Yes, the obvious solution is to see a doctor. I trust my doctor much more than I do these people on here. Most have little or no medical training.  I hope you recover soon and with as little pain as possible.\n\nTerry
8535
Find a good chiropractor. It may take a bit of looking, but a good one will get you back in alignment. Your body is trying to get your back and neck into alignment. The stretching of the muscles and the pinching of nerves between the vertebre is the pain you are feeling
342291
Sounds like you have a pinched nerve. I've had that before... you could go to a doctor, but there isn't really anything they can do. They will just tell you to "give it time, and it will stop"....
513529
I had a knotted up nerve in my neck one time that was driving me insane.  The doctor gave  me some pain killer but that just made the room spin, so finally out of desperation I went to a chiropractor for the frist time in my life.  He crunched my back in several places and then practically twisted my head off from both sides.  The amazing thing was that within minutes I could feel a noticable difference and after going back a couple of more times it fixed it completely, something pain killers cannot do.
182062
Personally, I have had Fibro since I was 16 and am now almost 36. I have seen more doctors over the years than I can count from Neurologists to Rhuematologists to Chiropractors to Psychiatrists to Pain Specialists. In my experience pain medications do not work. A muscle relaxant is much more helpful. I have also tried biofeedback, steroid shots, trigger point injections, two sleep studies, nerve blocks, accupuncture, foot braces, wrist braces, carpal tunnel release surguries, and so much more. All just torture and I felt like a guinea pig.\n\nMy best advise is make sure to get plenty of sleep, take a multiple vitamin, remember you are what you eat, keep active in at least low impact sports, and consider Magnesium and Malic Acid supplements (consult the doctor or a nutritionist to have your Magnesuim level checked- it is a simpe mouth swab and not painful), meditation does help some in keeping the pain back if you can seperate your mind from the pain, and try to take 2-3 warm Epson Salt baths a week (Epson salt contains Magnesium and soaking in a warm tub of it helps to get the mineral into the body. Magnesium aids the muscles in using oxygen and when the level is low which is typical in Fibro it can cause are cramps, spasms, and pain.) \n\nAlso, Fibromyalgia is a neurotransmitter disorder and certain foods can trigger similiar symptoms to Fibro. Try eliminating Monsodium Glutamate from your diet. I did and some of my symptoms (chronic headaches and nausea) went away. It is in everything from Doritos to chicken soup. A few key finding's of an FDA study found MSG to cause a "burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest". Otherwise, learn your limits and pace yourself.\n\nGood luck!\n\nHere's some of the best information available.\n\nTreatment of Fibromyalgia in Detail\nRobert Bennett MD, FRCP\n\nIf you are reading this you probably have a common syndrome of chronic musculoskeletal pain called fibromyalgia. This chronic pain state is now appreciated to be caused by abnormalities of sensory processing within the spinal cord and brain. As such you will usually experience a bewildering (both to you and your doctor) array of bodily and psychological problems that can seldom be “cured”. However, armed with both patience and knowledge, many fibromyalgia patients can be helped to live with less pain and be more productive. In my own evolving experience of dealing with this problem I can identify 7 aspects of management that are of importance for your doctor to successful manage your fibromyalgia.\n\nMy Advice to Doctors who care for Fibromyalgia Patients\n\n1. Realize that FM patients are going to be a chronic challenge.\n2. Be non-judgmental and prepared to be an advocate.\n3. Understand the pathophysiological basis for symptoms.\n4. Analyze and treat pain complaints in a systemic approach.\n5. Recognize and treat psychological problems at an early stage.\n6. Recognize associated syndromes of disordered sensory processing.\n7. Involve all FM patients in a program of stretching and gentle aerobic exercise.\n\nTreatment of pain in fibromyalgia \n\nPain is the primary over-riding problem for most of you. Many of the problems you experience are largely a secondary consequence of having chronic pain. When pain is even partly relieved, fibromyalgia patients experience a significant improvement in psychological distress, cognitive abilities, sleep and functional capacity. A total elimination of pain is currently not possible in the majority of fibromyalgia patients. However worthwhile improvements can nearly always be achieved by a careful systematic analysis of the pain complaints. As a generalization fibromyalgia related pain can be divided into general pain (i.e. the chronic background pain experience and focal pain (i.e. the intensification of pain in a specific region – usually aggravated by movement). The latter is probably a potent driving force in the generation of central sensitization. Attem
567595
you possibly have a "pinched nerve" or small disc protrusion in your neck. mine healed with rest, heat and ibuprofen.\n\nif it does not get better in the next few days or gets worse, see a doctor asap. imho, do not go to a chiropractor or let someone "crack" your neck.\nI am not a dr. or nurse: but have had this same thing happen to me.
487201
For the lower muscular pain, try laying back on a volleyball or soccer ball. With your pelvis off the ground, balance yourself with your feet flat on the floor, and shoulders/arms. Roll yourself around on the ball. When you find a particularly "ouchy" spot kind of hover over that area. It is surprisingly effective in ironing out sore back muscles.\n\nFor the neck, this trick is better done by a friend, but you can do it yourself if you have to: Pinch the meaty part of the neck firmly between your fingers and the palm of your hand (try not to use the tips of your fingers, but instead use the "palms" of your fingers). Hold this for about a minute. Then do the same thing to both muscles on each side of the neck called the trapezius muscles. This is an acupressure technique that is very effective.
330840
is there a free clinic  near you so you can go see a doctor? i would try to do some relaxation techniques or yoga type stretches. Shoulder shrugs- raising your shoulders up and holding and releasing and bring them down and hold- as well as neck rolls with holds may help. if you cna go online maybe check out a yoga website for tips on helping neck pain. One such site is www.yogajournal.com. I just looked for you and am copying the link here: http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/529_1.cfm. \nIt begins like this: \nJudging from the complaints of my physical therapy clients, chronic neck tension is a modern American epidemic. Even the more benign consequences—the painful crick in your neck, the dull headache radiating from the back of your skull—can be mighty annoying. The more serious ones, like pinched nerves, arthritis, and damaged discs, can be debilitating. Fortunately, yoga can do wonders for neck problems while simultaneously teaching safer, healthier posture habits. But some of the poses that can help you, like Sirsasana (Headstand) and Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), can also do harm if performed incorrectly. It's important to approach them with knowledge of proper alignment.\n\nLet's take a look at the muscles of the back of the neck. Why do they cause so much trouble, and how can we use yoga to help them function better? The primary muscles of the back of the neck are the levator scapulae, which extend from the cervical (neck) vertebrae to each inner upper scapula (shoulder blade). Lying on top of the levators and also inserting on the shoulder blades are the upper trapezius muscles, which originate on the base of the skull and the neck vertebrae. Together, these muscles lift the scapula and backbend the neck. The levators and trapezius muscles also help to turn the head and sidebend the neck.\n\nThe stress of a busy lifestyle with deadlines, difficult people, and lack of sleep certainly tightens neck and jaw muscles. A forward head posture is also a factor for many people. An average head weighs 12 to 15 pounds; when that weight sits forward of the central line of the spine, the muscles on the back of the neck have to work very hard to hold the head up against the pull of gravity. Whether due to stress or poor head-neck alignment, chronic tightness in the levator scapulae and the upper trapezius can lead to significant neck pain. As the muscles pull down on the base of the skull and upper neck, they also pull up on the scapula. All this adds up to compression on the cervical vertebra. Such tightness and compression can lead to arthritis, cause nerve pressure that makes pain radiate down the arm, and increase the likelihood of neck muscle injuries. \nHope this helps.