Trapped Nerve in Shoulder.

Thriftkitten

I too have been suffering for about 2 weeks now with a trapped nerve and my trapezius muscle in spasm toward the bottom of my neck.... Boy is it sore!!!! mine is caused from sleeping in a strange position with my left arm up aside my ear,almost like I need a higher pillow... this is so frustrating because I am asleep I don't know I'm doing it and hard to rectify other than sleeping in a straight jacket:rotfl:....I past the twinging stage now but I feel like my shoulder on the left side is stuck up near my ear it's that tight... I have been using hot wheat packs and water bottles including loads of hot baths, no ice as I was told only heat by the doc... He did try to get me to take Diazepam which I refused as I'm very strange with tablets and know I wouldn't take them... Doc suggested neck exercises bending head slowly ear to touch shoulder, which is getting easier with more success... have had frozen shoulder before from nursing daughter years ago so previous advice and exercises also done... I hope you get some relief soon, it is rather miserable x

Andypandyboy

Mine was cused by the same thing.....trying to sleep high due to sinus problems.I am a bit like you with tablets, so I am careful what I take.

Pyxis

Andypandyboy wrote: »

Mine was cused by the same thing.....trying to sleep high due to sinus problems.I am a bit like you with tablets, so I am careful what I take.

One way to keep your head higher without kinking your cervical spine is to put blocks under the headboard feet, so that the bed is tilted. This means you will be lying on a slope with your head higher than your shoulders, but your spine will still be in a straight line.

The use of heat is not recommended if the problem is due to a sprained cervical vertebral joint, as there would be inflammation around that joint. That is why I strongly recommend seeing a Chiropractor so that the actual cause of the problem can be ascertained.

mr_rush

there is no evidence for chiropractor or osteopath based treatments. they are great at performing a wallet biopsy and that's about it. if the pain isn't controlled on current meds then go back to your doctor. supplements - again, no evidence.

globalds

mr_rush wrote: »

there is no evidence for chiropractor or osteopath based treatments. they are great at performing a wallet biopsy and that's about it. if the pain isn't controlled on current meds then go back to your doctor. supplements - again, no evidence.

Absence of evidence is not evidence of Absence

Your really think that prescription painkilling medicine is a cheap way of treating people ? ..:rotfl:

mr_rush

That's not true.

There have been a number of studies showing that osteopathy and chiropractor treatment does not work.

Evidence based interventions are probably best.

Do let me know if you can show good RCT data for such sham treatments.

kerri_gt

Just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery - I have had several trapped nerves (well same one multiple times) in my neck/back to the point where I couldn't even raise my arm without severe pain and curled up in a ball crying...which sadly also was agony. Only thing that worked for me was paracetamol and codeine (unfortunately which I guess you can't take). The pharmacist also gave me the generic equivalent of voltarol. None of which actually took the pain away but I just didn't care quite so much about it.

Last year I trapped a nerve (other side) which caused my arm to go numb / itchy (knows as drinkers palsy). Got referred to pysio on that, ultrasound and gentle massage really helped - the physio also gave me some really good tips about checking seating posture, giving some gentle exercises which I'm sure you do. I've also been doing yoga for just over a year and since doing that I've have (touch wood) no such serious re-occurrences of trapped nerves on either side.

Oh, and I ended up using a hot water bottle, whether recommended or not for some pain relief.

Pyxis

mr_rush wrote: »

there is no evidence for chiropractor or osteopath based treatments. they are great at performing a wallet biopsy and that's about it. if the pain isn't controlled on current meds then go back to your doctor. supplements - again, no evidence.

Actually, there is evidence.

mr_rush

Please post the data.

mr_rush

May help lower back pain but no head to head high quality data versus physio