Do I have a "pinched nerve" in my neck? And what to do about it?!
Question: I must have slept wrong a few days ago because I woke up not being able to move my head from side to side (without being in VERY bad pain). It is so bad I almost feel like I'm going to vomit when I move my head. The pain is in my neck & shoulders. I have been taking Advil to ease the pain & a heating pad (when I can), but it's been 4 days now & I'm still in agony. I don't have insurance, but I am willing to go to whoever can help me at this point. Should I try a chiropractor? I've never been to one, what can they do for me? Thank you.
Answers: I must have slept wrong a few days ago because I woke up not being able to move my head from side to side (without being in VERY bad pain). It is so bad I almost feel like I'm going to vomit when I move my head. The pain is in my neck & shoulders. I have been taking Advil to ease the pain & a heating pad (when I can), but it's been 4 days now & I'm still in agony. I don't have insurance, but I am willing to go to whoever can help me at this point. Should I try a chiropractor? I've never been to one, what can they do for me? Thank you.
I reccomend a D.O. that is basically a chiropractor with a medical lisence.Ive had bacl problems for years and I wont see any doctor that cant also adjust me if need be.If you lived in my area I would refer you to my doc.He charges 50 bucks a visit.period.If your near Portland Oregon send me an email
The pain you are experiencing is most likely a combination of several things. I agree you may have dinged a nerve in your neck. The pain is most likely a combumation of inlammation and a muscle spasm/overuse syndrome. Since you have no arm problems, and the pain is causing a secondary nausea with head movement, this is a temporary and fairly common thing.
You need to be a little more focussed in your self care approach.
Starting with medicine. Advil is a perfect medicine for your symptoms, but I suspect you need to take it differently. Take it on a schedulded basis and in high doses. 800 milligrams of ibuprofen [advil] taken by mouth three times a day with food for 10 days. You are trying to take advantage of the anti-inflammatory effect of advil. This is actually a subtle thing. You will need to take the medicine consistently for 3 to 5 days at the dose I stated before the inflammation settles down. Once it is settled down, take it for a full 10 days to keep it from coming back. This technique is called an NSAID burst, and is used all the time by doctors for your kind of problems. Side effects: Rare, but if you start having a loud ringing noise in your ears or if you start bleeding from your rectum, stop. HIgh dose advil is not for you.
Second, you may need new pillows. Also consider a body pillow. Some folks find that a pillow they can hug or wrap between their knees helps prevent the neck pain thing.
Third, let's talk about the heating pad.
In sports medicine there is something called RICE, which means rest-ice-compression-elevation. Essentially, it is a format for muscle pain injuries. The first 48 to 72 hours of an injury, you need to rest the injured part, take advil or the equivalent, and put ice packs on it to reduce swelling. After that you use the RICE protocol for a week or two. In your case, though, you need a variant. Your head is already elevated, and compressing the neck is not a smart idea. First, yes, you need heat to reduce the pain and increase mobility. Since there is a spasm, you will need to add movement. Place the heating pad on the area for 30 minutes, then gently and slowly turn twist and rotate your neck and head in different directions. Turn till it hurts, hold for 10 seconds then turn the other way, repeat. Do this twice a day, heat before and after. Also, you will need to do some alternating ice packs to keep down the swelling. Ice 20 minutes, heat 20 minutes, do this 3 to 7 times a day.
Finally, reference chiropractors. They are awesome, and you may end up needing one. But you said you had no money. Try my way first. If, after 4 days, it still is simply awful by all means see a doctor, preferably an osteopath or family medicine practitioner, or a chiropractor. In either case you will spend $100 to $200. BUT. If you went to a doctor now, he woild tell you exactly what I just did. AND, a chiropractor or osteopath will indeed make it feel better right away but it will only last 3 to 6 hours. It is not a cure, only a treatment. Ultimately, time, rest, moderate activity, and medicine such as advil [there are others that work just as well] are the cure.
Chiropractors can help. Initial visit about $150.00 and probably about 4 to 6 revisits, they can do wonders. Dr. will just give you drugs to mask the pain. Good Luck, and you may need new pillows.
You can go to a chiropractor, they are great. I used to get migraines and after 3 sessions they were gone. However, it can be an ongoing treatment. My mom goes about every other week to be adjusted. I don't know how much they cost without insurance. And I'm not sure exactly what they would do, or can do for you. Only they can figure out whats wrong and fix it.
I would also recommend just getting a massage. (Not a feel good massage from the beauty salon) but a good deep tissue massage from someone more on the medical side. I used to go to massage school and you won't believe all we learned to help injured people. And for about 60-100 dollars you should be able to find someone who knows what they are doing. Try somewhere like 4 seasons or sports clubs and see if they will accept new clients. And ask what they specialize in. And be specific in what hurts and what you want taken care of. A good massage therapist will be able to work out some of the kinks for you. Hope you feel better soon!
Go to the doctor and have it checked out. Don't go to a chiropractor. You need a GP or an orthopedic doctor. Probably a general practitioner would be first choice.
Your first try should be with a chiropractor, they ex ray and usually find the problem then and there. If it is more than they can do to fix it. They will recommend a Neurologist. Good Luck. I had the same pain in my neck and eventually had a neck surgery it still gives me pain but not as severe and constant.
Go to a doctor. Nerve problems are not something you want to trust just anyone with a computer and access to Yahoo with. Here are a few links that will help you with info from medical professionals
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSI...
http://health.discovery.com/centers/pain...
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/neck-pa...
And go to a MD before trusting a nerve injury to a chiropractor. If you want to know why I say that just e-mail me and I will tell you what one did to me.
Go with the links to the medical professionals. I've checked out that discovery channel one and it is great. Nerves are nothing you want a chiropractor messing with. I also had a very very bad experience with one, and yes he did hurt me, forever.