Nerve pain management- help!!
Jul 29th 2010 | 5:45 pm
#17
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 10,222
From: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Jul 29th 2010 | 9:15 pm
#18
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 744
From: Guelph, Ontario
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
Has anyone had nerve damage (or helped someone with nerve pain) and found a treatment that actually works?
Ok, I know this is not really anything to do with Canada but I know a lot of you guys are medically trained, worldly and sooo helpful...
Since the accident I've had pain in my right arm (and neck, shoulders and right knee) but mainly the upper right arm. It just gets worse and worse during the course of the day, to the point where I'm pretty much writhing around in agony each evening.
My doctor has put me on a cocktail of naproxen, lyrica, diazepam and hydromorphone contin. I'm getting a mixture of ice and heat treatment at physiotherapy plus 15-30 mins on the TENS device as well as doing some gentle stretching exercises. The heat treatment today made my arm feel like I'd been carrying a 50lb weight for hours, in fact each time I've come out of physio recently I've felt worse than when I first went in
For the last few evenings (and this is the bit I'm a getting a little worried about), I've been having a few beers then gravol (only 1-2) just to get me off to sleep.
The arm mostly works but writing is still almost impossible. The doc called it "radial neuropraxia" (crushed nerve). He reckons it'll probably be there for three months.
Has anyone been through something like this and has been able to find a way of actually managing the pain? It seems crazy that I'm taking so many different drugs and treatments but, for the arm, they all seem ineffective.. and it's been three weeks since the crash.
Ok, I know this is not really anything to do with Canada but I know a lot of you guys are medically trained, worldly and sooo helpful...
Since the accident I've had pain in my right arm (and neck, shoulders and right knee) but mainly the upper right arm. It just gets worse and worse during the course of the day, to the point where I'm pretty much writhing around in agony each evening.
My doctor has put me on a cocktail of naproxen, lyrica, diazepam and hydromorphone contin. I'm getting a mixture of ice and heat treatment at physiotherapy plus 15-30 mins on the TENS device as well as doing some gentle stretching exercises. The heat treatment today made my arm feel like I'd been carrying a 50lb weight for hours, in fact each time I've come out of physio recently I've felt worse than when I first went in
For the last few evenings (and this is the bit I'm a getting a little worried about), I've been having a few beers then gravol (only 1-2) just to get me off to sleep.
The arm mostly works but writing is still almost impossible. The doc called it "radial neuropraxia" (crushed nerve). He reckons it'll probably be there for three months.
Has anyone been through something like this and has been able to find a way of actually managing the pain? It seems crazy that I'm taking so many different drugs and treatments but, for the arm, they all seem ineffective.. and it's been three weeks since the crash.
Jul 30th 2010 | 12:38 am
#19
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 366
From: Lincs, UK
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
Good luck and i hope you are on the road to recovery soon......How's your Daughter? All better i hope!
xx
Jul 30th 2010 | 1:13 am
#20
Thread Starter
Pictou County Superstarâ„¢
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,219
From: On top of the Green hill, NS
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
She's doing great, just a couple of scrapes left and they're healing well. She's really enjoying her "celebrity" status, lots of hugs and attention everywhere she goes 
For a week or so after the accident she had some major trust issues (probably caused by the IVs being forced on and off her) but I think she's recovered from that now as well. Other than that she says she doesn't remember anything, her first memory after the crash was "the eye doctor poking my eye" - which was probably about 6 hours after they cut her out of the car.
For a week or so after the accident she had some major trust issues (probably caused by the IVs being forced on and off her
) but I think she's recovered from that now as well. Other than that she says she doesn't remember anything, her first memory after the crash was "the eye doctor poking my eye" - which was probably about 6 hours after they cut her out of the car.
Jul 30th 2010 | 1:25 am
#21
Thread Starter
Pictou County Superstarâ„¢
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,219
From: On top of the Green hill, NS
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
Thanks for the replies everyone. I really don't like having to take all the drugs and the "benefit" they have is definitely questionable, I'll see how desperate I get over the weekend and take it from there.
There was some talk of getting me a TENS machine for home - I find it works as a good distraction. I didn't know you can wear it "all day" so that's something I'd like to try out.
There was some talk of getting me a TENS machine for home - I find it works as a good distraction. I didn't know you can wear it "all day" so that's something I'd like to try out.
Jul 30th 2010 | 1:27 am
#22
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 366
From: Lincs, UK
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
She's doing great, just a couple of scrapes left and they're healing well. She's really enjoying her "celebrity" status, lots of hugs and attention everywhere she goes
For a week or so after the accident she had some major trust issues (probably caused by the IVs being forced on and off her) but I think she's recovered from that now as well. Other than that she says she doesn't remember anything, her first memory after the crash was "the eye doctor poking my eye" - which was probably about 6 hours after they cut her out of the car.
For a week or so after the accident she had some major trust issues (probably caused by the IVs being forced on and off her
) but I think she's recovered from that now as well. Other than that she says she doesn't remember anything, her first memory after the crash was "the eye doctor poking my eye" - which was probably about 6 hours after they cut her out of the car.Pleased she is on the mend though. Fingers crossed you follow soon!
If you try Acupuncture, let me know how you get on...
xx
Jul 30th 2010 | 1:28 am
#23
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,146
From: St. John's, Newfoundland
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
I have a TENS machine purchased locally from a medical supplies distributor. It didn't cost a fortune IIRC (<$150). I bought it during a visit here in 02 after I had slipped a disc and was suffering from severe sciatic pain. I use it from time to time these days as an when needed. It is a wearable unit, comes with a belt clip etc.
Jul 30th 2010 | 1:40 am
#24
Bon Vivant
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,956
From: Nova Scotia
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
Thanks for the replies everyone. I really don't like having to take all the drugs and the "benefit" they have is definitely questionable, I'll see how desperate I get over the weekend and take it from there.
There was some talk of getting me a TENS machine for home - I find it works as a good distraction. I didn't know you can wear it "all day" so that's something I'd like to try out.
There was some talk of getting me a TENS machine for home - I find it works as a good distraction. I didn't know you can wear it "all day" so that's something I'd like to try out.
Give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised. I also went to water therapy with the local arthritis sufferers. That helped too. Good luck with whatever you do.
Jul 30th 2010 | 3:41 am
#25
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Posts: 352
From: Was: Cullicudden, Scotland. Now: Hammonds Plains, NS
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
Another idea - I had a car accident several years ago and was in agony with nerve pain in my back. I had never felt pain like it so can sympathise - nothing seemed to work until I went to a chiropracter. I'd never thought of trying chiropractic but was totally desperate. I noticed an improvement within a few days and major improvement after only a couple of weeks - I'm was sceptical but it was amazing!! may be worth a try. Good luck - saw the pictures of your car and can't believe the injuries weren't much, much worse.
Jul 30th 2010 | 4:10 am
#26
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,092
From: Calgary
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
I was hit by a Lancia 20 years ago. I needed 5 knee ops, but the chronic pain came later in the damage it had done to the soft tissue in my back.
I spent years going to a chiropracter which gave only temporary relief. I also took lots of pain relief meds which ended up hurting my stomach.
After years of sleepless nights I finally found a great physio who spent the time to teach me exercises that would strengthen my core. This has decreased the pain.
I also found that swimming really helps me (your body weight is supported and you can work on your range of motion without gravity getting in the way).
I spent years going to a chiropracter which gave only temporary relief. I also took lots of pain relief meds which ended up hurting my stomach.
After years of sleepless nights I finally found a great physio who spent the time to teach me exercises that would strengthen my core. This has decreased the pain.
I also found that swimming really helps me (your body weight is supported and you can work on your range of motion without gravity getting in the way).
Jul 30th 2010 | 7:35 am
#27
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,284
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
Another idea - I had a car accident several years ago and was in agony with nerve pain in my back. I had never felt pain like it so can sympathise - nothing seemed to work until I went to a chiropracter. I'd never thought of trying chiropractic but was totally desperate. I noticed an improvement within a few days and major improvement after only a couple of weeks - I'm was sceptical but it was amazing!! may be worth a try. Good luck - saw the pictures of your car and can't believe the injuries weren't much, much worse.
Jul 30th 2010 | 7:39 am
#28
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
Going to any practitioner that before they do anything makes you sign a disclaimer not to sue them if they injure you would make me nervous.
Jul 30th 2010 | 8:42 am
#29
Bon Vivant
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,956
From: Nova Scotia
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
They claim to be able to cure all manner of things. There is presently a libel suit going on in the UK where the Chiropractors' Union, or whatever they call themselves, is suing a journalist because he wrote that there was no scientific proof to support their claims of being able to cure all sorts of ailments, including childhood ones.
Jul 30th 2010 | 8:45 am
#30
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Posts: 7,284
Re: Nerve pain management- help!!
Well said Fled. I wouldn't go near one either.
They claim to be able to cure all manner of things. There is presently a libel suit going on in the UK where the Chiropractors' Union, or whatever they call themselves, is suing a journalist because he wrote that there was no scientific proof to support their claims of being able to cure all sorts of ailments, including childhood ones.
They claim to be able to cure all manner of things. There is presently a libel suit going on in the UK where the Chiropractors' Union, or whatever they call themselves, is suing a journalist because he wrote that there was no scientific proof to support their claims of being able to cure all sorts of ailments, including childhood ones.
