Pinched nerve in neck. What next?

Hi Everyone.

Hope you are all having a nice 4th of July weekend.

I could use some info/advice. The back left side of my neck has been sore for well over 6 months. It has gotten progressively worse over time. At first, I thought I was just tense or in need of a massage or something. Then a couple of months ago, I began getting tingling in my left thumb. It has since spread to my index and middle finger as well as traveling up my arm all the way to the upper part of my shoulder/into my neck. The tingling happens more often now. I do not really have significant weakness in that arm. The neck pain and even some shoulder pain has increased quite a bit. Often it seems that the positioning of my head/neck does have an effect on the tingling sensation. It goes from no tingling to really strong tingling from my fingers/thumb all the way up in seconds. If I move the right way, it's gone quickly too.

I saw my primary care doc about the tingling nearly 6 weeks ago. She diagnosed me with inflammation of a nerve in my wrist (near the thumb side) after doing a quick physical exam. I told her about the neck/head positioning affecting the tingling, but she sorta ignored that. I was sent to the hand clinic and fit with a splint to wear during the daytime for 6 weeks. Doc said rest would likely solve the problem. It certainly didn't, and things are worse now.

On Weds. next week, I go back to see my doc (internist) to discuss this problem and also mild to moderate joint pains that began about a month ago. As far as the thumb/arm/neck goes, I really don't know what to expect or have any idea of what should happen next. Any ideas? She's sometimes pretty passive in her approach, and I almost feel like I need to go in there with an idea of what I want her to do because if I don't say anything, I'm afraid I will get the "let's wait and see what happens" treatment. I have several pretty big chronic medical problems, and I really want to try to be a bit aggressive with treating this...I cannot deal with another medical issue. I need this to be taken care of before it gets worse.

Does anyone have any suggestions of any tests, treatments, referrals, or diagnosis to ask the doc about? I have tried looking things up online, but I'm having trouble finding a clear answer. At this point, I do not feel that I need additional pain meds (I already take pain meds for chronic low back pain resulting from surgeries for Spina Bifida), and I have no history of neck problems. I do have a history of my shoulders partially dislocating (when I move my arm a certain way, like over my head).

I'm sorry this got so long. Just wanted to give a clear picture of what's going on. I would greatly appreciate any feedback anyone has for me.

thanks for listening,


Sunny

An MRI needs to be done, I have very similar symptoms Sunny and it's a herniated disc at C7-T1, have pain/tingling in my left arm and mostly middle finger, sometimes thumb and pinky.

My awful old Dr had the "wait and see" thing going on for months and I suffered so much and everything got worse.

I asked for an MRI.

Sometimes the pain/tingling is not too bad and other times it's awful.

If your Dr will not send you for an MRI, I'd change Dr's, I did change and should have done it much sooner.

Definitely MRI, possibly muscle relaxer if your not on one and no,more pain meds (narcotics) would likely do much good with the tingling neuropathic type pain but there's those meds like neurontin, lyrica, cymbalta to be considered. Most often the pressure on a nerve can be relieved nonsurgically if its not associated with a loss of disc space from vertebrael collapse.

Anyway finding out what it is will be the first step.

I had an MRI of my neck done maybe a month ago, and my symptoms sound quite similar to yours.

I'm not a doctor, so please know I'm just spouting off my personal opinion, okay?

Going to a hand doc is akin to trying to treat a symptom, not the cause, You have nothing to lose and everything to gain in information by getting an MRI of your c-spine.

I'd definitely inquire about following up about that diagnostic.....before you let a hand doctor do any procedures on you.










M.

Just wondering, if it is a pinched nerve in my neck (which I assume it is), does it matter whether I use heat or ice on my neck? Is one better than the other? I have been using ice mostly, on my neck as well as on my wrists, hands, and fingers. Partly because it feels good for a bit, and also because of the warm weather--I didn't want to make myself any warmer than I already am!!

Thanks for all the responses/advice. Greatly appreciated!