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chronic nerve root irritation (clicking sound)

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Posted 7/4/2009 7:52 AM (GMT 0)
Anyone have any experience with this? How did you go about fixing it?

My doctor thought that my disc is herniated but MRI came back negative. He tell me to try to straighten up with good posture. But, good posture is impossible for me, If I try it I end up irritating the nerve so badly I'm crippled. So I'm stuck with hunched posture since the only way I get relief.

After sitting or lieing flat on my back for some time when I stand up I hear & feel my neck make a rapid click, click, click sound, usually three times in a row over a few seconds. Then a little bit time after I feel aching pain down into front part of shoulder and start getting spasm that sometimes so bad it makes my whole body freeze(like electric shock).

The darn Clicking just goes on and on, When I wake up in the morning after sleeping I start day off with clicking sound. Nerve just keeps getting irritated.

After I saw chiropractor, he did neck adjustment where he cracked my neck to side, I felt short term relief for 3 days but then suddenly it just tightened up so badly and clicking/spams got worse taken to another extreme level of pain I hadn't felt before.

God I can't take this pain much longer I'm having suicidal thoughts as I suffer with it for years and seen so many doctor who thinks im crazy and making my symptoms up.
Posted 7/4/2009 8:53 AM (GMT 0)
You are not making up your symptoms. I had popping and or cracking and or snapping in my neck area. My chiropractor pushed my shoulders down and would tell me to push up toward my ears. He would do this a few times and then he would pull my head back toward him and stretch my neck out. It felt like he was going to pull my head off. But it worked a little longer than just 3 days for me.

The last time I went to him for him to stretch my shoulders and neck out I just about came off the table when he touched me. I felt awful and he didn't charge me a thing.

HARA - I hope this helps

Posted 7/4/2009 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Greg,
Welcome to the chronic pain forum of Healing Well. We're not doctors, but can share a lot of our experiences and support. It's a great group.

As one who's had lots of spinal problems for decades, I can say I make all kinds of noises! I've been told the sound is from ligaments not bone, but it's the ligaments that hold the bones in place. First, I learned the hard way - and after reading a study from Harvard - never to let a chiropractor touch my neck. They do better with the lower spine, but there are too many nerve connections in the neck that can be damaged. My suggestion would be to work with a good physical therapist. And there are good ones and bad ones. I've had both, and the good ones have been a godsend. It's not easy work, but since the MRI is negative they can help you slowly straighten - remember I said slowly.

Please also talk to your doctor about help with your depression as you move through this. Chronic pain and depression go hand in hand, and I'm NOT saying your pain is in your head, but it can certainly make us feel like we don't want to go on another day at times. But there is always hope. Maybe not a cure, but at least ways to learn to manage the problems we have. A good pain psychologist main also be very helpful at teaching you some skills that can help you learn to relax your muscles.

Stick with us and others should come along and add more info. Old threads are also a great source of info.

Hope some of this helps.

Again, welcome.

PaLady
Posted 7/4/2009 10:56 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Greg,

I too would like to welcome you to Healing Well. You have come to the right place, all of us here have pain in some fshape, form or fashion. We understand pain like no one else can.

Many years ago I was dx'd with nerve root irritation. I had injured my lower back somehow and it was very painful to say the least. My dx was based on the fact that I lost all the feeling in my big toe on my right foot. My dr said that was one of the symptons of actual nercve root irritation. I was seeing an orthopedic at the time. He put me on Naprosyn, for the irritation, a pain pill and a muscle relaxer and I also went to physical therapy for a while and it took care of the problem. Just because you had a normal MRI does not mean you do not have a consition going on. Have you tried anything like Naproxen which is available OTC? Just do not take anything else that contains Acetomenophen in it if you try Naproxen.

I have nothing against chiropractors at all, but if one does not help you, its a moot point in continuing to treat. Who gave you the dx of nerve root irritation?

I am like PaLady, my body makes alot of noises. I get alot of popping in both my neck and lower back. But, it does not hurt when it pops either, suaully feels a little looser after it pops.

I would go back to my PCP and ask for a refferal to a pain mgt dr. Most pain mgt drs work on referrals only. Let us know what happens.

Posted 7/5/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
       

*huggs*

 

 

             Dear Greg82,

   

     Posture!I heard that before, and let me tell you don't waste one minute even entertaining such ideas. Trust me. Please.

 

    Looks like your gonna have to take charge of things best you can then. For the time being anyway. They arnt offering up much help right now.

 

     For my posture (My curves!) was a mixture of things for a few years. Chriopratic therapy coupled with physical therapy. The chiropractor would popp my upper back / neck. Stimulating the muscles along spine. Then physical therapy to build up the same muscles along the spine. Every week for chriopractor. Later was chiropractor once every other week and modified exercises. (Mix of pilates and yoga)  :-)

 

      Eventually (almost 3yr) was down to exercises + TeNs(Mr. T!) + Wet heat heating pad + Bio Feedback. (1hr. 20mins every other day)

 

      Just a tought. Maybe a combination your might want to try.

 

*huggs!!!*

dani

 
Posted 7/5/2009 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
  mad  

 

 

    Thinking about the x2 Poo head told me

 

       "Your posture is bad."

 

    My posture is pretty hott for a scoli girl.

 

     I'd give my left foot to be a fly on the wall when 20yrs down the road someone says to them

       "Your posture could use some work." devil

 

 

*huggs*

  

Posted 7/5/2009 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
I want to be the other fly on the wall to...lol My trunk barely holds me up on good days and doesn't at all on bad days. Posture what's that?!....lol

HARA

Posted 7/5/2009 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Greg,
In my case, my pain was causing the bad posture (something about self-protecting). Once my PM got my pain under control, my posture automatically improved about 90%. I did have to do some PT to improve it a bit more & it will never be 100% due to mild scoliosis, but definitely getting the pain under control helped me straighten out quite a lot.

Just wanted to share that with you in case you might be in a similar situation. My PM told me that pretty much whatever helped when I was in severe pain was okay. The nurses would harp on me to "sit up straight", but fortunately my PM was more understanding & now the nurses have seen what a difference getting the pain treated can make. :)

peace,
frances
Posted 7/5/2009 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Greg,

You might also consider seeing a craniosacral therapist, or an osteopath (but make sure they do body work, as some these days don't). This type of body work is similar to chiropractic, in the end result of the work, but it is much more gentle & you might find it more suitable or more comfortable for your neck.

Best of luck! I know how hard it is to be unsure of what is happening to your body! Just keep at it, you will find someone one day who will help you!

Skeye
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