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Shoulder pain - like it for 2 months

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Posted 5/15/2017 10:16 AM (GMT 0)
GP is saying pinched nerve or spine related. Given me codeine and naproxen.

Other than that there is a large waiting list for futher treatment. (NHS).

Pain is not good. Radiating down my shoulder. Causes me problems sleeping and driving to work (and working!!)

Paid for sports massage and that helped a little.

So far I've tried heat pad/cold pad - not sure.
TENS machine - not sure.

Planning to see chiro soon. Is this a good idea?

How long should it take for something like this to heal?
Posted 5/15/2017 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul & welcome to the forum. You could potentially have two separate issues going on so both areas need to be checked out & a proper diagnosis made.

Neck problems, including a pinched nerve can cause pain all the way to the fingers. An MRI Scan can confirm if this is cervical spine related. Regular xrays will have absolutely no value except to show if there is a fracture or break. If this is a shoulder problem, then again an MRI can tell what is going on. I do understand what you mean about long waits where you live.

If this were me, I would not see a chiropractor until MRI Scans are done. If this is spine related you are exposing yourself to possible further damage by having manipulations done. There is a great deal of force applied when having manipulations done. A chiropractor can do his own xrays & they never read an xray like a traditional dr will. I have read their xray reports for 20 some years when I worked. Someone always had a rib out of place, one shoulder higher than the other or a leg longer than the other & blah, blah, blah. I do believe they have their place & I am not anti-chiropractic, but a patient needs to have a proper diagnosis before venturing off on that trail. I would spend my money paying for private care before paying for chiropractic care at this time.

No one can say how long it will take for you t heal because you don't have a diagnosis. Your GP is guessing based on your symptoms, at this time nothing is definitive.

Take care.
Posted 5/15/2017 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Susie. Trouble is, at the moment, there is no way my GP is going to send me for an MRI scan. Even if they did the waiting list is likely to be long.....

I agree my GP is guessing. LOL. Standard practice for the NHS in the UK I'm afraid. Might be the best free healthcare system in the world but its far from the best :-(

I'm currently looking into the private idea. Won't be cheap. Know what you mean about chiropractor. To be honest, I'm on the fence with it all in general.

Its pretty cheap for the chiropractor though. Where I work have got a deal with a local one - its £20 for two sessions. But thanks for the advice - I dont want to make it worse!
Posted 5/15/2017 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Paul, I totally understand the need for relief with the pain. I will soon be 65 yrs old & have traveled the path of chronic pain half of my life. I believe you mentioned the dr giving you codeine for the pain. If there is a pinched nerve you will not have little relief with a narcotic, pain meds do not work for nerve pain.

These forums are full of individuals that live in countries where medical care is free which is great as long as you don't need to see a specialist or need any testing or treatment. What is the point of it if a person cannot get timely treatment, such as your situation? I do know some people are lucky enough to get the care needed & of course they marvel about how well the system works. The problem is they have never experienced what you are going through & millions of others, if they did they would not be happy. I will stop here & not get on my soapbox, discussing politics is against the forum rules, lol.

I hope you can come with something to see about getting relief. If you decide to go the chiropractic route out of the need to have help now, let me caution you about something. Generally when starting chiro care you hurt a good deal more in the first few visits. It seems to aggravate things & if that continues you know it is not helping & you need to stop.

Take care.
Posted 5/15/2017 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul.

You might try looking into Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. It could be that the way you are sleeping is putting pressure on nerves and blood vessels in the shoulder area. You were not very clear about describing whether the pain starts in the neck and then goes through the shoulder and down the arm?

One of the things suggested to begin to determine if it is T.O.S. is to fold a bath towel in half, then roll it up, lay it on the floor and lie on it, positioning your spine along the rolled towel. In this way, the thoracic outlet is "opened" and some people experience immediate relief of symptoms. Most sites will show recommended sleeping 'postures' to help keep the outlet open. They also show some simple exercises to do at home. Rarely does T.O.S. require surgery.
Posted 5/15/2017 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Please, by all means, stay away from chiropractic "adjustments" or "manipulation" for the cervical spine.

The vertebral artery threads through the foramen of the cervical vertebra. The risk of insult to the vertebral artery with chiropractic handling can result in a stroke and/or paralysis.

Chiropractic care of the lumbar spine is far less vulnerable to adverse events.

The cervical spine has essential nerve bundles and vascularization that pass in close proximity. A kink of the vertebral artery can be devastating.

As a physical therapist, I had the sad responsibility of rehabilitating several individuals who suffered vascular occlusion of the vertebral artery due to chiropractic manipulation. I can still remember on woman, who was 23 years of age and a new mother. She suffered a brain stem stroke after chiropractic handling gone amiss. Her life was forever changed . . . as was the life of her newly formatting family, husband and infant daughter.

Please pause . . . and give weighty consideration to the risks of chiropractic handling of the cervical spine. My strongest of recommendation is to not pursue chiropractic care.
- Karen -
Posted 5/16/2017 9:19 AM (GMT 0)

straydog said...
Paul, I totally understand the need for relief with the pain. I will soon be 65 yrs old & have traveled the path of chronic pain half of my life. I believe you mentioned the dr giving you codeine for the pain. If there is a pinched nerve you will not have little relief with a narcotic, pain meds do not work for nerve pain.

These forums are full of individuals that live in countries where medical care is free which is great as long as you don't need to see a specialist or need any testing or treatment. What is the point of it if a person cannot get timely treatment, such as your situation? I do know some people are lucky enough to get the care needed & of course they marvel about how well the system works. The problem is they have never experienced what you are going through & millions of others, if they did they would not be happy. I will stop here & not get on my soapbox, discussing politics is against the forum rules, lol.

I hope you can come with something to see about getting relief. If you decide to go the chiropractic route out of the need to have help now, let me caution you about something. Generally when starting chiro care you hurt a good deal more in the first few visits. It seems to aggravate things & if that continues you know it is not helping & you need to stop.

Take care.

Hi Susie,

Thanks so much for your post. Much appreciated the info you've given.

To be honest, the codeine does take the edge of the pain but thats it. Interesting that.

NHS is great if you're in need of URGENT help. Anything else and its poor.

PAul.
Posted 5/16/2017 9:25 AM (GMT 0)

pitmom said...
Hi Paul.

You might try looking into Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. It could be that the way you are sleeping is putting pressure on nerves and blood vessels in the shoulder area. You were not very clear about describing whether the pain starts in the neck and then goes through the shoulder and down the arm?

One of the things suggested to begin to determine if it is T.O.S. is to fold a bath towel in half, then roll it up, lay it on the floor and lie on it, positioning your spine along the rolled towel. In this way, the thoracic outlet is "opened" and some people experience immediate relief of symptoms. Most sites will show recommended sleeping 'postures' to help keep the outlet open. They also show some simple exercises to do at home. Rarely does T.O.S. require surgery.

Thanks pitmom. Yes pain starts in neck and then goes through shoulder and down the arm. Mainly shoulder and neck though.

Do you mean towel rolled up along the spine or 90 degrees to it (i.e. creating an arch)?
Posted 5/16/2017 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting post on the pros and cons - http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/06june/Pages/debate-on-spinal-manipulation-neck-click-stroke-risk.aspx

Must admit at the moment I'm unsure....
Posted 5/16/2017 9:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Paul. Position the towel lengthwise, along the spine. If you Google Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, the videos are quite clear on the method. Best wishes.
Posted 5/16/2017 10:00 AM (GMT 0)

pitmom said...
Hi Paul.

You might try looking into Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. It could be that the way you are sleeping is putting pressure on nerves and blood vessels in the shoulder area. You were not very clear about describing whether the pain starts in the neck and then goes through the shoulder and down the arm?

One of the things suggested to begin to determine if it is T.O.S. is to fold a bath towel in half, then roll it up, lay it on the floor and lie on it, positioning your spine along the rolled towel. In this way, the thoracic outlet is "opened" and some people experience immediate relief of symptoms. Most sites will show recommended sleeping 'postures' to help keep the outlet open. They also show some simple exercises to do at home. Rarely does T.O.S. require surgery.

Whoa. Just googled this and the symptoms are spot on. Time to try the towel thing I guess.
In work at the moment, so better wait till I get home.... smile
Posted 5/16/2017 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
I look forward to hearing the results.
Posted 5/17/2017 7:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm. If anything its worse when lying on the floor with the towel like this. Its as if my shoulder is not supported and is "pulling".

To be honest, I visited the dentist recently and that was the same. I guess lying back etc.
Posted 5/17/2017 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear you didn't get the result we were all hoping for. At least you have more information now regarding what helps and what doesn't. It is another clue for the doctors to work with. Write it down, all of it...what helps, what doesn't, what makes it worse, how much something helps, how much worse it is.

A few years ago I had a horrible flare up with my cervical spine. I hadn't 'done anything' and couldn't figure out why it was so bad. Turned out it was because I had bought new pillows! Luckily, I hadn't thrown the old flattened ones out yet and was able to go back to using them while I searched for a 'new flat' pillow!

Three years ago, my left hip was suddenly exploding with pain. Ultimately we figured out it was because I had been wearing flip flops alot and not supporting my feet properly!

Every piece of information we can bring with us to our health professionals helps them help us.
Posted 5/17/2017 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks - at least it rules something out smile
Posted 5/17/2017 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Not necessarily a rule out of T.O.S., just more info for the doc. Obviously neck and shoulder are still quite involved. Your shoulder feeling like it's not supported and 'pulling' may be just the info needed to guide the doctor to what is going on. Let us know how things progress.
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