Tell me about trapp...
 

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[Closed] Tell me about trapped nerves and how to stop them turning you mental

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Pretty sure I have one, and it sucks [i]balls.[/i] Started with a very stiff neck with no obvious cause, then intense pain deep in the shoulder with much the same quality and feel as a broken bone- same unignorable, nauseating wrongness. Bit of weakness in the hand, lots of pins and needles right up and down the arm, can make it stop if I find the right position but then it comes right back, sitting makes it worse... No neck pain, all in the shoulder. Prescription painkillers, masssage, stretching, etc do **** all. Preexisting back problems. Oh I promise I wrote that before googling it but now I have and I might as well have copy and pasted from Web MD

Going to go to the docs, in the meantime, anything to do? I'd independently figured out that it's more comfortable if i put the arm on my head, and then just read about the Bakody sign position so I guess I'll be spending quite a lot of time looking like an absolute fanny. Heat packs when I can... Anything else?


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 9:24 pm
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How long have you had it?


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 9:44 pm
 aa
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Can't offer any useful information but will watch thread with interest. Am currently on naproxen to reduce inflammation and subsequent nerve issues in my dominant elbow. A carry over from broken olecranon (and two subsequent operations). I find careful positioning with support, but no pressure helps.

Hope you find a solution!!


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 9:53 pm
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I feel your pain Northwind. I have same in hip and leg after acute back injury. I find keeping moving helps: running and cycling are no problem all day, but after 1 day sitting in the office it's back,and by end of a week in office it's worse. Has definitely lessened over last 6 weeks ( happened at Easter) so hoping it continues to abate.
Either that or I'll give up my job and ride all day everyday 😕


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:00 pm
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Yep, sucks balls big time.

Did mine spinning the kids on a roundabout at Crieff Hydro 4 years ago.

Physiotherapy gradually made it better but it still hurts most days. Heat and ibuprofen can ease it. Sometimes.


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:00 pm
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when you say massage, is this something you are doing/partner is doing or professional massage?

My first port of call would be a massage, see how that goes, might be a trapped muscle?

I was told going to the gym would help and I've had far less issues with my neck/shoulder issues since i've been working out. This of course needs to be done once the issue has gone away.


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:02 pm
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Had a trapped nerve in my shoulder. Went to see a man and he put his finger on my shoulder and said " it hurts right there" he was millimetre perfect.
Couple of weeks of massage and some exercises and I was right as rain.


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:05 pm
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Perchy - I did my back lifting dog into the car because she had a knee problem and didn't want her to exacerbate it. These things always happen when you least expect it!


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:06 pm
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Had pretty much exactly the same thing a couple of months ago, including the arm above shoulder

Went in about a fortnight and hasn't come back

I did it by doing something stupid, can't even remember what but akin to pulling on a pair of trousers while lying on your side without lifting your head off the pillow. Twinged a tiny bit at the time and then pain about 2 days after that


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:13 pm
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Cougar - Moderator

How long have you had it?

It's been developing and worsening for a few weeks but it's only been the complete bag of symptoms for I think 6 days, and only really worsened to the point that it's messing me up yesterday. Today I'm not sure if it's worse or if I've just run out of manliness.

Whathaveisaidnow - Member

when you say massage, is this something you are doing/partner is doing or professional massage?

Actually, glad you asked, it made me think again- I'm wrong to rule it out. I went to a sports physio I trust totally based on past miracles. But in this case I had pain and stiffness but it hadn't quite developed to where it is now so he was trying to treat something that was presenting very differently. Consider massage comment deleted, and thanks!


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:16 pm
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I had trapped nerve in the Brachial Plexus the web of nerves in the shoulder and it sounds the same as what you're experiencing. My GP tried to find the trigger point but didn't find it and just ended up giving me Tamazipan which didn't do any thing either. What worked in the end but not straight away was a yoga stretch from a Ryan Leach video which he called childs pose. Kneel on the floor sitting on your heels and lower your head to the floor resting on your elbows and let your spine relax. Then walk your fingers forward stretching your arms out as far as they can go.
The delightful Abi Carver does similar but calls it [url= http://www.yoga15.com/puppy ]puppy pose[/url]her version of [url= http://www.yoga15.com/child ]childs pose[/url] looks like a good start though. Obviously if it hurts to much stop


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:23 pm
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A trip to an osteopath or chiropractor might help


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 10:59 pm
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stretches, its all about stretching ime


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 11:00 pm
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dumbbells worked for me for a bit as did a few yoga type stretches, but ultimately my biggest solution was actually posture sitting at my desk at work. Recently moved office I had a curved desk before which ment I was always slouched to one side, Last few months before I moved were terrible, I think my sitting position was just compounding the problem. Now at a straight desk with a chair that pretty much forces me to sit up straight on. My trapped nerve issue went away overnight. I think some weight loss and getting bit fitter also helped mind.

For pure pain relief, pain killers are useless.

Weed is very good for it btw, talking pure pain relief. (not advocating drug use, just state some personal experience.) But that's just a mask and not a solution, it's also very good for cubital tunnel syndrome, but again, just a mask, finding the right exercises is a better solution for that and getting to the source of the problem is better.

I think the ultimate problem is that it is actually just a trapped nerve, you need to find the nerve and exercise it, that's the difficult bit, no usually where the pain is.


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 11:18 pm
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conkers - Member

The delightful Abi Carver does similar but calls it puppy pose

Well if nothing else comes of it, at least I can fap to this


 
Posted : 06/06/2017 11:47 pm
 poly
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Northwind - IIRC your are Type 1? Mrs P is also. She has suffered from similar symptoms for months which Physio briefly alleviates but hasn't cured. Sports massage helped but only for a short time. Affecting sleep so doc prescribed medication for "neuropathic pain" which is a apparently more common in diabetics. Certainly hasn't cured it but does seem to break the cycle.


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 12:21 am
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You are correct poly and yep I understand us defective humans are more susceptible to nerve sheath damage and the like. Hmmmm. Possibly valuable thought that, even though I'll find it harder to fap to.


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 12:31 am
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McKenzie technique exercises can be helpful.

Massage, stretch, strengthen should also help. A decent physio should be able to put you in the right direction.


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 6:17 am
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Well if nothing else comes of it, at least I can fap to this
Ah, I think we may have unearthed another risk factor

Step away from the Jane Fonda workout tape


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 6:33 am
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As Mary says, the McKenzie routines might be what you need- I had EXACTLY your symptoms and they worked for me.

Under the care of a physio initially to make sure they weren't going to make things worse, and then I was off and running. I noticed a big reduction in pain in about 3 days of doing the exercises hourly or so for a minute each time.


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 7:41 am
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A trip to an osteopath or chiropractor might help

You'd be better off seeing a medical professional.


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 8:36 am
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You'd be better off seeing a medical professional

My mum was referred to an osteopath by her GP


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 5:23 pm
 grey
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My occupational health friend says sports massage and acupuncture?.


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 5:36 pm
 jwh
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I had al out the same symptoms.
Went to see a chiropractor who after a few seasons gave me gentle traction on my neck.
2 days later I stretched and my disk in my neck decided to escape and fired right into my nerves. 10 days later I had a new disk in my neck.

Just take it easy and go get it sorted.

I tried the mtfu route, but ended up with a free ambulance ride and a lot of gas and air


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 5:57 pm
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If it doesn't cause too much pain YTWL exercises and hanging from a bar, take it easy to start with.
These exercises should be done by everyone, the antidote to hunched over a desk all day.


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 6:02 pm
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Find a physio. Not a chiropractor or anything else. A physio .

Get a diagnosis. Then if it's muscular get some tools (trigger point tools from Amazon like a ball and theracane) and get to work 🙂

Me leg was 2 cm shorter and that coupled with office work caused serious issues with posture and BAD lower back and shoulders pain. The offending muscle causing the leg length issues and subsequent shoulder issues? The inner thigh and outer thigh! Sorting those muscles out and
let my legs are the same length. As cyclists you probably too have shortened muscles. Physio for diagnosis then if muscular read up on myofascial release and get to work. Life changing stuff. I did a lot of pilates for posture, but only when o solved the leg issues am I nearing a normal functioning body.

If you're in Newcastle I know a very good physio .


 
Posted : 07/06/2017 6:22 pm
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Gabapentin is ****ing awesome. I am a cloud.


 
Posted : 10/06/2017 12:19 am
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orthwind - Member
Gabapentin is ****ing awesome. I am a cloud.

It is good. Had this when my big toe was amputated. You have no idea how irritating it is when a body part that is no longer there is itching and you can't scratch it! 😯


 
Posted : 10/06/2017 1:32 am
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If it's painful enough for you to be taking gabapentin then it is definitely painful enough to warrant a trip to the physio.

Try not to get too hung up on it being a 'trapped nerve', it could be that but it could also be something else. Self diagnosis using the internet will almost always lead you down an inhelpful path!

The key thing is that you want to work with your physio to put a plan in place that will allow you to be pain free without having to use gabapentin 😉


 
Posted : 10/06/2017 4:53 am
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hermer75 - Member

Try not to get too hung up on it being a 'trapped nerve', it could be that but it could also be something else. Self diagnosis using the internet will almost always lead you down an inhelpful path!

GP was pretty sure tbh. It could be something similar but it's definitely nerves and has the same symptoms so I think we're just saying it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

It's actually much improved but I think what's happening now is that the pain management, and actual pain reduction, is possibly letting me aggravate the nerve more as I've got a bit more loss of sensation. But I can type with the left hand again without feeling like I'm going to throw up so that's good. Can't ride a bike but can spanner again so that helps the general wellbeing (I go mad in pretty short order if I can't do something physical like that)

oink1 - Member

You have no idea how irritating it is when a body part that is no longer there is itching and you can't scratch it!

You are Leon from Bladerunner and I claim my £5


 
Posted : 10/06/2017 5:00 pm
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Northwind - Member

oink1 - Member
You have no idea how irritating it is when a body part that is no longer there is itching and you can't scratch it!

You are Leon from Bladerunner and I claim my £5

😆


 
Posted : 10/06/2017 5:12 pm
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Northwind - you can see my problem with that particular pinky itching!! When they tell you as a T1 to be extra careful with your feet - Listen!! This started as a knick on my toe 8O[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4213/35054564252_da2c447717_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4213/35054564252_da2c447717_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/VpDNEQ ]IMG_0011[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/145571820@N03/ ]Paul Tarrant[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 10/06/2017 6:02 pm
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Well that's certainly improved my appetite for the meal I'm going to eat in 2 minutes.


 
Posted : 10/06/2017 6:05 pm
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Sorry!!


 
Posted : 10/06/2017 6:12 pm

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