Pinched nerve, how can I fix it?

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I'm in so much frickin pain right now and this is the 3rd day it's been going on. I've got this nerve in the top-left vertebrae of my neck that's been damaged for years, and usually it gets pressed on a bit and gives me general neck pain. But now the nerve is just stabbing, sending huge pain through my neck, shoulder, and head. It's like there's a knife stuck in there, it hurts so friggin bad and I just wanna make it stop.

I've already tried taking 75mg pregabalin, 500mg acetaminophen, 200mg celebrex, 300mg tramadol, and 600mg ibeprophen. With all these the pain is, at best, slighty more bearable (probably just because it's numbed my brain, not the pain). But the painkillers aren't stopping the actual nerve from being pressed and sending this very direct and acute pain through me.

I've also tried ice packs which help while they're on, but in a few minutes the area thaws and the pain is right back. I've been taking a hefty dose of cyclobenzaprine ("flexeril" in my area) every night but obviously muscle relaxants aren't the answer since it's making no difference.
I also went to the chiropractor yesterday but it hasn't done a thing.

Frigging hell I'm running out of ideas here. Somebody suggest something please!

Gandalf_The_Grey Reviewed by Gandalf_The_Grey on 08-08-2007. Pinched nerve, how can I fix it? I'm in so much frickin pain right now and this is the 3rd day it's been going on. I've got this nerve in the top-left vertebrae of my neck that's been damaged for years, and usually it gets pressed on a bit and gives me general neck pain. But now the nerve is just stabbing, sending huge pain through my neck, shoulder, and head. It's like there's a knife stuck in there, it hurts so friggin bad and I just wanna make it stop. I've already tried taking 75mg pregabalin, 500mg acetaminophen, Rating: 5

[Mississippi Steve]

Make an appointment with you friendly neighborhood neurosurgen. I had a herniated disk (L4/L5) that was incredably painful....the only thing that kept me semi functional during the day was flexeril and fiorinal.... at night it was meprozine and flexeril. I had the surgery....the first couple of days after was pure hell, but after 2 weeks I was back to normal, and 6 weeks after surgery, I was pain free, and back to work full on with no restrictions. That was 4 years ago... have not had a problem since.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I don't actually have a slipped disk though, they've done x-rays and MRI's on me and found they're all fine. That, and surgery on the neck is extremely risky because of all the important nerves around there. They won't do it unless it's an emergency. I'm planning to pester my doc (yet again ) for a cortisone injection, but I really need something that can help me right now.

[Blindman0v0]

I find when I've gone to a chiropractor it takes about 2 days for the realignment to kick the pain level down to a bearable level.

[Dr. Bloor]

Find a neurosurgeon. I put up with that sort of thing for a year. 6 years after the surgeon fixed it now. Pain free

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Find a neurosurgeon. I put up with that sort of thing for a year. 6 years after the surgeon fixed it now. Pain free

Actually I've seen a Rheumatologist, who referred me to the neurosurgeon, who referred me to the neurologist, who referred me back to my docs. They all seem to have a mutual concensus somewhere around the lines of "I dunno".


I did get my cortisone injection though, a couple weeks ago. It helped massively for about a week, but sure enough my pain has returned fully again. Ugh, and now that I'm finally almost completely off the tramadol (which I needed to quit because I was harshly addicted), the pain isn't covered up anymore and I'm back to my old pain-ridden self. But my plan right now is to stay off it, get my tolerance back to zero so I can get effective analgesia off smaller amounts and not be addicted (and thereby take days off here and there).

Frickin' useless medical science! :cursing: Where's Jesus and his magical healing when you need him?

[Dave Byrd]

Not all medical science is useless. You must realize that during your calmer times, right?

It certainly seems that you need to seek a consult with another type of specialist who can help you with the emotional aspect of your pain issues. If nothing else, it'd help you obsess less about what's going on.

[killerweed420]

All those drugs you're taking are about worthless. See if the dog can step it up to at least 20md of morphine.That'll take the edge off and then go back to the neurologist and get him to do his job and diagnose where the pain is coming from.Sometimes he have to beat them with a wet noodle till they understand you're really in pain.

[THClord]

Sleep on the side that hurts. This works for me. 95% of the time I don't feel a thing the next morning. But then again yours is much worse than any I've ever had.

BTW, don't do ice, it'll just make it worse later.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Not all medical science is useless. You must realize that during your calmer times, right?

haha, of course I do, I only meant useless for my particular problem. As Dr. Hibert said in the simpsons "oh medical science has done wonders for the front, but the back... that's a whole other story. You should see a chiropractor"
Homer: "Wait, don't you medical guys hate chiropractors?"
Hiberb: "Well that is our official stance, but between you and me; they're miracle workers!"

haha, if only chiropractors were miracle workers.

It certainly seems that you need to seek a consult with another type of specialist who can help you with the emotional aspect of your pain issues. If nothing else, it'd help you obsess less about what's going on.

Yeah I've definately recognized how much I need to stop obsessing over the matter. Endless hours of researching google scholar haven't turned up much (though I did get some interesting studies abotu collagen injections). I've discovered playing the guitar is a wonderful distraction.
I have considered going to a psychiatrist since I'm constantly worried about going into relationships, seeing as most people wouldn't want to be with me and deal with all my pain crap. But then I can't stay alone forever based on this, the thought (of a potential mate finding out) just scares me shitless.

All those drugs you're taking are about worthless. See if the dog can step it up to at least 20md of morphine.That'll take the edge off and then go back to the neurologist and get him to do his job and diagnose where the pain is coming from.Sometimes he have to beat them with a wet noodle till they understand you're really in pain.

Nah, tramadol in a high enough dose is pretty effective most of the time, it's just a matter of building up tolerance and morphine builds tolerance like anything else. But man, one time a friend got some morphine and gave me a pill, it was 3 or 4 hours of total relief. Like getting a breath of fresh air and relaxing for the first time, there's nothing like it. Unfortunately though I still won't go for it because I fear the addiction, tramadol withdrawal was hell enough.

And you're totally right about having to kick doc's in the ass, they won't offer any type of treatment unless you do the research yourself and pester them 10 times before they finally give it to you. I think there's a lot of stigma on a 22 year old guy who's fit and healthy-looking, they obviously thought I was just out to get high on meds for the longest time. Thankfully I've finally convinced them otherwise by pestering them 3x a week for any and all other treatments.

BTW, don't do ice, it'll just make it worse later.

That's an interesting claim. Do you know why it would make it worse? it seems medical professionals are always telling me to ice.


And thanks to all you guys (and gals) for the advice, I'd feel totally alone dealing with this if it weren't for all of you. + rep on me!:jointsmile: