D.B.
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I have been suffering for several years with pain down the right side of my neck, across the top of my shoulder, a bruised feeling in the upper arm close to the shoulder, pain on the underside of my elbow (in the grove), on both the top and bottom of my forearm from the elbow to the wrist and into my fingers. I also experience a slight numbness in all those places at times. The pain was slight at first and over time has gotten much worse.
It seemed to begin during my last pregnancy. I can remember taking off a T-shirt over my head. When I put my arms back down, I experienced severe pain from my neck to my upper arm. The pain continued for several days and then gradually faded to almost unnoticeable. About 2 months later the pain in the elbow began and moved on from there. About six months ago, I was carrying groceries in on a wet night and slipped on a muddy walkway brick. When I fell, I landed on my right elbow and the fingers that the grocery bags were hanging on went numb for about 30 minutes. The fall caused my shoulder to jam into my neck and my neck and head received a good hard jerk. Since then the pain has begun to get worse to the point that it is almost unbearable at times. Also, my neck, shoulder and elbow make a popping noise quite often.
My PCP said it sounded like a pinched nerve and sent me for an neck X-ray that came back normal. She then sent me for a MRI on Monday. I have not yet got the results for the MRI even though the tech promised that my Dr. would have the results in hand by the next day. I called the office today and the results are not in yet and the nurse thought that it was odd. She said she would call with the results as soon as they arrived.
My PCP prescribed a mild muscle relaxer and prescription strength Ibuprofen. They really don't help much.
Has anyone ever suffered these symptoms and it NOT be a pinched nerve?
I have been to a Chiropractor and told her about the pain, but she could not help.
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I had several whip lash injuries as a result of several car accidents when I was in my 30's. I still have pain in my neck and shoulders. Then I had bursitis and tendonitis in my right elbow several times from using a repetitive motion. My entire right arm hurt. Tests ruled out a pinched nerve.
Eventually my pcp sent me to a neurologist who told me that I may have the beginning of carpal tunnel syndrome but my nerves otherwise tested OK. There was some deficiency but it's been too long and I don't remember what it was. I don't remember hearing the term pinched nerve tho. He prescribed neurotin or neurontin, which several years later I learned is a pain medication. He said he was prescribing it off label which still confuses me. Anyway over a period of several weeks all the pain, except for in my neck and shoulders went away.
The pain in my neck is caused by a minor amount of arthritis and an inadequate curve of the spine in my neck. I also have a mild scoliosis between my shoulder blades which contributes to the lack of curvature in my neck. I didn't learn about most of this until I was in my 40's. Too late to do anything about my neck.
It did take several years for doctors to figure this all out. I suggest that you insist on getting to the bottom of the cause for pain now and not let the pain linger until your body is more set by age.
I do take a muscle relaxer when the pain in my neck and shoulders advances to a chronic headache. After a day on the muscle relaxant my headache is gone.
I also know that I need to be doing regular exercise to strengthen my neck and upper back muscle. The pain gets to be less while I'm in physical therapy. I just don't follow thru with the exercises. Once the doctor figures out a possible cause for the pain or if he's still not sure, he should be sending you to physical therapy. These therapists are much better trained about the body and it's muscles and bones than a physician. The will most likely be able to help you.
If it's a pinched nerve, physical therapy will most likely unpinch it. I was referred to a neurologist only after physical therapy did not totally relieve the pain. I had to accept that I'll always have some pain. Multiple whip lash injuries combined with scoliosis and the need to carry heavy objects and then arthritis has done my bones in. You're young. I'd be optimistic and if the doctor doesn't follow thru with more tests and treatment, insist that he does.
go to a chiropractor
do you sleep on your side? I used to have a lot of neck pain, and I'm a side sleeper, so I went and bought a pillow at bed bath and beyond specifically for side sleepers. It has been extremely helpful, and now the only pain I get is when I accidentally roll over onto my back in the middle of the night, which happens very rarely. It looks like this one: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=14925546&...; except I bought a cheaper brand because I didnt want to spend a ton when I didnt know if it would even work.
