Hi All,

I need a little medical advice.  I'm not sure how I did it but Monday morning I woke up with my left shoulder hurting a bit.  As the week progressed  the pain became much worse and I realized that the source of the pain was actually in my neck.  The pain radiates from just to the left of my spine then down the shoulder and into my arm.  Occasionally the pain ramps up and then radiates up to my head or down to my chest muscle.  

The only doctor I have right now is my OB/GYN.  He was kind enough to prescribe a muscle relaxer and Vicodin  to help me through the nights.  What a mistake!  All that did was make me sick.  

Anyway... do you think this is something that will correct on it's own or should I go find a doctor?

Thanks for your help!

Jeannie

Hi Jeannie-

Sounds like a pinched nerve in the neck.  The pain can be pretty bad in other areas the nerve innervates.

Motrin works well for me with these kinds of pain.  Try and keep your neck warm.

-P.

I certainly would not mess with it.  It has been a long time to still have the pain.  I would probably try a chiro.  I know a lot of people don't like them, but they sure have helped me.  Or, probably, the first thing I would do is a massage.  A chair massage would probably be all you need and they are usually not too expensive.  Of course, if my husband heard that, his response would be "well, you are a HO for rubbing anyway".  I do love a good massage.  Try one of those before forking out the millions an MD would want.

Louise

Jeannie wrote on Jan 30^th, 2009 at 11:03am:

I'm not sure how I did it...

I do.  Hoisting those fishbowls of beer at Rigazzi's.  They must weigh 20lbs.  

We have a little TENS unit that we picked up when I had my house-building accident.  Not a month has gone by that someone in the house does not find a reason to use it.  To say it rocks for discomfort such as yours is an understatement.    
This exact one here...
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Get better.  We all need to hit Rigazzi's sometime soon.

Hey... I saw that The Pageant has two great shows next month.
Joel McHale (the host of Talk Soup) on Feb 14.
Lisa Lampanelli on Feb 20.  
This weekend I will see if any reserved seating is left.  

A chiropractor might help you.

Thanks for the suggestions!  I've never been to a Chiropractor before.    I'm not certain that I could stand having an adjustment.  I tried to rub the spot on my neck that seems to be the source of my pain.  It hurt a lot.  

It must be a pinched nerve.  Now my thumb and first two fingers on my left hand feel sorta numb, like they are asleep.  Does anyone know if it will correct itself if it is indeed what it is?

Jeannie

A bit of physical therapy will help.  It takes a while to pull out those muscles and get things back in line.  There is probably a repetitive motion that is the culprit making it hurt.  You'll have to track it down and do it differently or build up some muscle to compensate.

The stretches they give you seem really whimpy but boy they work!

Get to feeling better soon!!!!!   [smiley=hug.gif]

Kimberly

Sorry to hear you are in pain Jeannie.  The chiropractor may not do an adjustment.  I went one time because of neck pain and was put on the awsome water jet bed.  That worked wonders for me.  They will probably start by hooking you up to a machine like the one in Lobsters link.  It's worth a shot, but if they tell you they can cure your clusters...RUN.   :D

Beth

Jeannie, get a gel pack, and put it in the fridge, wrap it in a towel, and put it on your neck, where the pain starts. Keep it on for 20 min, off for 40 and on for 20. Since it's been awhile since you felt this come on, you may want to try heat. Get a pack you can microwave (moist type heat is best), and put it on.

Keep your neck warm at all times. If I get a chill in my neck, it will do the same as yours. I go to a chiropractor, and he is great. You may have pressure on a nerve that needs to be released. Ask around about chiro's... see who's name comes up. They have all kinds of therapies, and most insurances will cover most of a visit. You'll have to get a set of x-rays. But, IMO, a chiro will help more than an MD. And a good chiro will tell you if he can't help you.

Lobster wrote on Jan 30^th, 2009 at 11:20am:

Jeannie wrote on Jan 30th, 2009 at 11:03am: I'm not sure how I did it... I do.  Hoisting those fishbowls of beer at Rigazzi's.  They must weigh 20lbs.

LOL!  yeah, that would do it!  I don't drink fishbowls though.  The beer gets warm then I can't finish it!  I practice 12 oz curls!

Just let me know when you want to have dinner again!  

Jeannie

Don't go to a chiropractor. See a real doctor and good luck.

Charlie

Charlie wrote on Jan 30^th, 2009 at 5:17pm:

Don't go to a chiropractor. See a real doctor and good luck. Charlie

Don't generalize.  They help some of us.

Jeannie wrote on Jan 30^th, 2009 at 11:03am:

Anyway... do you think this is something that will correct on it's own or should I go find a doctor?

I've had a couple instances like that, one from a car accident long ago.  They have gone away on their own but it's taken a lot of time.