Cures for a pinched nerve?

[Chainsaw13]

Anyone have an suggestions how to get rid of a pinched nerve in the neck? I've had them before and seen the doc who normally prescribes physical therapy. Work's got me too tied up right now for that, although if it goes much longer, I may have to go that route. Right now vicodin's about the only thing taking the edge off the pain.

[awsmith4]

Chiropractors have always helped me

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by awsmith4

Chiropractors have always helped me

Welcome to my world. Good chiropractor is the best solution you will find.

Finding a good one is tough. They'll recommend stretches and possibly dietary changes. Foods and supplements that lower inflamation will "cool" the nerve some along with straigtening the area so there is no compression on the nerve.

As others have posted, stretches found online will help. Figuring out why you are in this situation more than once is the most important. Is a muscular or spinal imbalance causing this?

Whatever you do, don't get caught up in taking in perscription to help you. Short and isolated one is one thing. Everyday and open ended is bad for pain med's.

My neck is aching right now and my Chiropractor is in Italy for a couple of weeks. I considered flying him back just to work on me, but that would not be fair to him, and I can't afford it.

[akumushi]

You could look up some neck stretches online and try a few to see what works for your condition, or go find a good yoga instructor and do a private lesson where you focus on your problem areas. Massage only helps moderately. I have a nerve condition in my shoulder (thoracic outlet syndrome) and I go to physical therapy for it and stretching/PT seem to be the only things that do anything good for it, especially in the long run. For some reason vicodin barely even touches the pain, and it's usually worse the next day because I agravate it by moving too much once the pain goes away.

[Chainsaw13]

Awsmith4, I used to go to a chiropracter years ago, but quit after it started bringing up new issues with my back. I will say it helped with what I originally went for.

akumushi, stretchings been helping some. Although I think that's what aggravated it tonight. I really should go see the doc anyway as these seem to be a regular occurrance with me. About every six months or so I seem to get one.

[akumushi]

If you've got decent insurance and your doctor writes a prescription you shouldn't have to pay too much for PT. It's really the way to go.

Originally Posted by Chainsaw13

Awsmith4, I used to go to a chiropracter years ago, but quit after it started bringing up new issues with my back. I will say it helped with what I originally went for.

akumushi, stretchings been helping some. Although I think that's what aggravated it tonight. I really should go see the doc anyway as these seem to be a regular occurrance with me. About every six months or so I seem to get one.

[joeobx]

Chiropractors have always helped me

Snap,crackle and pop helped me.....took a few visits but my fingers quit tingling

[CBI_2]

If you can find a chiropractor that does what they call an upper cervical adjustment instead of the full manipulation it may help. It did for me a few years back after 3 different full manipulation chiros did not help.
They use some slight pressure to put the atlas and axis back in place and then everything else will shift back where it belongs.

In the meantime some ice should help. It will help reduce any inflammation from the nerves being irritated hence ease pressure on the nerves.

will pray for your health and relief.

[Volt]

A few years ago I had a pinched nerve in the c6/c7. Pain, numb left hand first 2 fingers etc. 8 weeks of drugs, PT in a traction device (heaven!!!!), preceded by heat and electro stimulation. That helped out with the major pain and numbness but I still get the tingling and tightness.

I looked around and found a air traction device for the neck. Here is a link to one similiar to the one I have

http://www.necksolutions.com/air-neck-traction.html

I heat the neck up with a heating pad designed for the neck ~15 min. Then about 10 - 15 reps with the air device. Works like a charm! I can feel the tingling/pain disappear imediatly and saves me on the getting to PT and doctors visits. I do it about 3 times a week or when my neck reminds me that I have gotten off sched. Good luck to ya.

[Blueface]

Not a doctor...
Didn't stay at a Holiday Inn....
Have just lived with herniations at multiple levels for 20 years.

When one speaks of a "pinched nerve", one must understand what generally causes a "pinched nerve".
Generally, that is as result of herniations.
The disc protrudes from its pocket and impinges upon the nerve, hence a "pinched nerve".

What cures it? Hopefully having the disc recede and stop putting pressure on the nerve.

Chiropractor..............over my dead body for a herniation. I wish to still walk. I tried them. Not what you need for herniations. Would you want your knuckles cracked while nerves are in there, irritated, with a disc swollen and protruding? I don't think most want that.

What has worked to keep me walking for 20 years and avoid surgery as has been recommended:
Anti infflammatory medication coupled with muscle relaxers
Physical therapy to help strengthen muscles around the disc and help it back in
Accupuncture - best cure I have found in recent years. Totally got me from barely walking one day to dancing the night away after the treatment.
Epidural blocks to help reduce the inflammation with direct medication into the area.
Traction devices - there is an awesome one now that runs about $4,000 for the complete treatment.

Just want to add that while the symptoms may be clearly identified as that of a herniation, only via an MRI will it be confirmed.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Blueface

What cures it? Hopefully having the disc recede and stop putting pressure on the nerve.

Chiropractor..............over my dead body for a herniation. I wish to still walk. I tried them. Not what you need for herniations. Would you want your knuckles cracked while nerves are in there, irritated, with a disc swollen and protruding? I don't think most want that.

Just want to add that while the symptoms may be clearly identified as that of a herniation, only via an MRI will it be confirmed.

I my case, the spine not being aligned probably contributed to most of my pain after the herniation. I had 3 cortisone shots, electromyograhpy, acupuncture, drugs... The only thing that ended up working was the chiropractor. You need to believe in what the chiropractor is trying to accomplish and be on board with that theory. I am a believer in that theory.

If the spine is not straight, there will be undue pressure where it was not straight. Before I went to him, my right leg was over a 1/2" longer than my left which was twisting my hips and putting pressure on the sciatic nerve- not fun at all. It actually got worse for the first two months with chiro, but after the alignments stayed in place, it was like being re-born.

I was in such pain for like 3-4 years, that people who haven't seen me in a long time, they first ask me how my back is doing. Fine now.

You are correct on the MRI for sure. I have 3 of them and after the inflamation went down, my doctor said "You'll just have to live with the pain; that's life" FU jack, on that. I don't have pain now. I did and did live with it, but it made me a whiny bore.

[IBQTEE1]

I see a Chiropractor and the best neck stretch that I do is sit on your hand on the side your neck pain and tilt your head the opposite way. It stretches the muscles out. Just my

[shilala]

Carlos is right on the money. Ice takes out swelling. As soon as the pinch starts, it aggravates. Aggravation causes swelling. Ice and anti-inflammatories will pull out the swelling and give some relief.
At times, I've had really good luck with a tens unit.
Good luck, brother!!!

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by shilala

Carlos is right on the money. Ice takes out swelling. As soon as the pinch starts, it aggravates. Aggravation causes swelling. Ice and anti-inflammatories will pull out the swelling and give some relief.
At times, I've had really good luck with a tens unit.
Good luck, brother!!!

Scott,
TENS is awesome as the tingling fools the nerve to stop hurting.
Only thing that sucks about it is that it is so temporary.

I had a TENS and didn't really pay attention to the Dr. when he gave me directions.
Went home and started using it.
Day by day, I found myself cranking it up a notch.
Eventually, I went back to the Dr. and told him the darn thing didn't work very well any longer.
Turns out I got numb to it and had it at a level that should have had me jumping, yet I got use to it. They took it away from me.

[Old Sailor]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Scott,
TENS is awesome as the tingling fools the nerve to stop hurting.
Only thing that sucks about it is that it is so temporary.

I had a TENS and didn't really pay attention to the Dr. when he gave me directions.
Went home and started using it.
Day by day, I found myself cranking it up a notch.
Eventually, I went back to the Dr. and told him the darn thing didn't work very well any longer.
Turns out I got numb to it and had it at a level that should have had me jumping, yet I got use to it. They took it away from me.

Tried Tens once, forgot what setting Dr. said to start at...went the highest and bam......twiched so badI could'nt turn it off!!

[Chainsaw13]

I finally went to the doc who sent me to get an MRI. Got those results back yesterday. I have two bone spurs and a bulging disc which is pinching the nerve. I go see the specialist Monday.

[mosesbotbol]

Chiropractor can help with bulging disks. You need length in the spine to reduce the compression and set the vertabrae even so it can reduce is it's most optimal alignment. Physical Therapy will do traction and try to decompress the spine which will give you relief. The Chiro can do that too.

There's a method of hanging a towel over the top of a door and leaning back, holding the towel that will decompress the back. Looks almost like a squat holding the towel.

Not sure on the bone spurs?

[Chainsaw13]

A followup to my situation.

I incorrectly wrote about the results of my MRI. Besides the bone spurs I have (had) three herniations, c3-4 to the left, c4-5 and c5-6 to the right. The c5-6 was the worst of the three. Since seeing the neurosurgeon, I've done 6 weeks of physical therapy and been taking anti-inflammatorys. About 75-80% of the pain has been relieved. There's still some numbness and tingling in the right arm down to the hand. I can really step it up by tilting my head back which presses on the nerve. That also elevates the pain. So there's obviously still an issue.

Yesterday I saw the NS for my followup visit. He offered two suggestions, steroid injections or fusion surgery. And of course my PT says to keep coming to them and they can work out the herniation. So now I"m starting my research as to what I"m going to do next. The everyday pain isn't that bad provided I don't move my head backwards. Sleeping is the worst part. I can no longer sleep on my right side which was my normal position. I can sometimes sleep on my left side, but I usually end up on my back using two pillows to prop my head up. Because of all the tossing and turning hasn't helped my sleeping much, I don't think I've had a full nights rest since this started.

Looking into the injections, i don't think I want to go that route. Seems many people have some severe side effects. Also my NS told me it's only works 50% of the time.

Surgery scares me, but might be the best option. I'm definitely going to get a 2nd and probably a 3rd opinion.

So if anyone's gone through the surgery I'd like to hear your story and whether you think it was worth it.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw13

A followup to my situation.

There's still some numbness and tingling in the right arm down to the hand. I can really step it up by tilting my head back which presses on the nerve. That also elevates the pain. So there's obviously still an issue.

Looking into the injections, i don't think I want to go that route. Seems many people have some severe side effects. Also my NS told me it's only works 50% of the time.

Surgery scares me, but might be the best option. I'm definitely going to get a 2nd and probably a 3rd opinion.

So if anyone's gone through the surgery I'd like to hear your story and whether you think it was worth it.

The numbness in your right arm could be do to tension in pectoral muscles. Try stretching your chest with an elastic. The pec's put pressure on veins and can cause this as it did on me. My primary thought I might has MS, but that was hardly the case.

I would be scared of surgery too and would opt to live with a little pain than opening the body up. The potential of scar tissue is not worth it unless it really affects your life big time.

The steroid shots work great, but are just temporary. I had three of them and may not have done them in retrospect. They are not a cure. A herniation does not go away. You can try some dietary enhancements that lower inflammation like tumeric amoung other things.

Keep stretching and perhaps look into building more muscle in the back, legs, and abs to support the body better. PT does a lot of the same things you can do on your own. If you have been, you know this.

Does your Chiropractor do the Graston technique? It's incredible to remove soft tissue scar damage that could be pressing on the nerve.

[Chainsaw13]

I"m not seeing a chiropractor presently. I saw one many, many years ago, but stopped when new problems started cropping up. I do believe in the theory behind chiropractics, but just leery about going back.

I hear what you say about the stretching. Been doing a lot of that in PT, including the pecs. A couple more weeks and I might be able to touch elbows behind the back. :-D
I'll definitely continue with that on my own.