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| Need advice on neck pain |
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Question:
I really need some advice on pain on one
side of my neck. This pain seems to originate in the neck but also
causes pain in the shoulder and arm. I have had this problem for
several months now and have had x rays and an MRI. These show some
spondylosis from aging and a small bone spur.
I have had one cortisone injection and have gone to the chiropractor.
These have not really helped me. I also get massage this is very
temporary relief. This pain is relieved when I am sitting down and is
better when lying down if I can get into the right position. When I am
up, there is an area in my upper shoulder that is very prickly-like pins
and needles.
I also must say that I have been under a great deal of stress this past
year with two family members being diagnosed with lung cancer.
I would appreciate any help you can give me. This totally wears me
out and the pain is almost unbearable at times. Does anyone have any
ideas as to what I can try next ?
Answer:
I find that this neck/shoulder is the area that ALL my stress settles. I have
been given neck stretching exercises from my chiropractor and a massage
therapist that relieve it the best. I do them constantly all through the day.
You slowly tip your head to right, then left, then back and then forward. Also
left and right as if you were looking over the shoulder. Do them really
slowly and only a few at a time in the beginning. It will hurt, and do not
force how far you can tip.
As you do them over the days, it gets easier and the muscles relax.
One thing that really helps in doing these exercises is to do them in
the shower with a hot spray directly on the neck. I find I get more
movement sooner and without a lot of pain after.
I've got a herniated disk in my neck and a torn rotator cuff and a
partially torn rotator cuff with possible impingement. I've been under a
lot of stress for some time, too.
I've tried PT and Lortab and the doctors haven't given me anything else
to help me with the never-ending pain. I get the best pain relief when I
wrap one of my Lidoderm patches around where-ever I hurt the worst. They
even seem to relieve the pain in a muscle or joint that's caused from my
stress. I can wrap them around my neck or shoulder and keep on going and
have no problem getting my doctor to prescribe them, since they're not a
narcotic. Thet usually give me relief within less than five minutes
after I put them on.
I use them just where-ever I want to use them, too. If my leg hurts,
that, where I use one. If my back hurts, that's where it goes, I even
cut them in half and wrap them above and below my knee or elbow and get
good results.
I also have fibro, and a bone spur in my left c-span. also some degenerative
problems with neck and back. I have a neck wrap, I bought at a craft sale that
has eucalyptus, pepperment leafs, and some rice. it has drops of euculyptus
essential oil on it. I put it microwave and heat it for a couple minutes or a
little longer. I wrap it across my shoulders, and it is very soothing.It helps
me. I also take pain meds.
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