Be Excellent To Each Other

Not sure if we've got any medical types (or people with access to good medical types) on here, but here goes:

About 6 weeks ago, I started getting some pain in my right arm, shoulder and the right hand side of my neck every time I lay down. To begin with, it was tolerable and I could ease the pain by lying on my right side.

After it hadn't cleared up a week later I went to my GP and he told me it was most likely to be a muscular issue, probably a strain or sprain - and indeed this did seem to tally up time-wise with when I performed some particularly "involved" punching movements in our taekwon-do lessons.

Then it started getting worse, and it reached the point where the pain was bad when lying down, regardless of which side I was on, and it became almost impossible to find a position that was comfortable. Then getting up from a lying position meant that my right arm was basically unusable for 5 minutes, giving me constant pain while I tried. The pain in my arm can best be described as a dull ache, but sometimes it feels like my bones are aching from the insides.

I went back to my GP just over a week ago (may have been two), who continued with the diagnosis that it was muscular, but that he had expected it to go by now. His insistence that it was muscular seemed to be because I had the full range of movement in my arm - but that's just because I'd not recently been lying down.

It continues to get worse - the last few nights, I have trouble getting comfortable, then manage to drift off to sleep, then wake up a few hours later in indescribable pain and can't find anywhere to escape from it. This morning I got up and although the pain in my arm wasn't as bad as it has been (I think because I was very careful with it) it's still hurting now and I've got pins and needles in the tips of my fingers.

Painkillers, regardless of type and dosage, seem to do sweet FA. I've tried ibuprofen, co-codamol (in various strengths up to 30mg), the combination of those two, and also naproxen. Nothing's helping.

I think I've screwed a nerve in my neck, or have a herniated disc in my neck or something. My GP doesn't seem interested in any diagnosis that isn't his original one, and even if I thought I could get him to change his mind it'd take 2 weeks to get an appointment with him anyway. He gave me a physio referral for a back problem a few months ago which I've not used yet, and he suggested I use that - which I'll dig out tonight, but does anyone here have any suggestions?

can you change GP.?

Keep pushing. Ask to see a different GP, or turn up at A+E and prepare for a loooong wait.

had to change my GP as the thought everything was diabetic related.

Walk in centre, during the week. Afternoon probably.

Went to a walk in centre last week, and saw someone who "wasn't a doctor" by their own admission. They just said I had to go back and see my GP, and gave me the stronger 30mg co-codamols.

Go to the physio, they'll have a good idea of whether it's muscular or not.

My worry with that is that after I "activate" the referral it'll take weeks to get an appointment, I'm not sure I can put up with this for much longer before I go certifiably insane.

//edit: Although yes, obviously the sooner I activate it the better

Can you go private?

I'm not sure putting this in the members only forum would help.

Give the maddocks in Madely a call, not that expensive. They have patched me up after rugby many many times

Gaz has arm AIDS.

RIP Gaz. U R wiv da angles now.

I'd say you already are worried, which is why you're thinking about a second opinion. To be honest, it probably is muscular, but I'd try for a second opinion at least for peace of mind. Is there anyone you know locally who could recommend someone, who's had this sort of problem before? You may as well activate the referral, telling the GP that fingers crossed he's right and that it'll go away by then, but to yourself it seems particularly and unusually acute and long lasting and that you feel you really need that option, just in case. I'm sure they won't be offended.

In the meantime, if it gets to be a real worry, you can investigate the option of a quick private check-up.

I vaguely understand that pins and needles can be a sign of the injury stretching up into the neck, not severely or OMG kind of injury, but swelling and strain up in the neck and around that rotator cuff area can sometimes cause pins and needles in the arm, and mild jolting electric shock style sensations in the arm. I've had a mild case not long ago, but mercifully it went away quickly for me.

Best of luck with it anyway, buddy. Better switch to half pints in the meantime for ease of lifting.

Also, I see from your avatar that you are perpetually doing a funny shimmying form of dance that is placing severe strain on the neck muscles and shoulder tendons. Try to cut down on that.

My wife has all sorts of pain issues (not least me). Let me see if she can shed some light.

At the very least get some muscle rub on it for short term relief.

Edit: And ice/frozen peas.

Wow a lot of people changing docs ! I thought that was only me...

I used to belong to a small practice that was really nice and laid back. You would go to the waiting room and they would call you by name and come and get you.

Then when we moved I had to change docs and we were sent to this modern center where they have a scrolling display. It beeps and your name comes up and you get about two seconds to see it. If you miss it that's it. I was having issues with that and when they (the surgery) continued to fuck up my prescriptions I saw red and changed docs.

Basically every time I visit the psychiatrist he sends a fax/email to the docs telling them what meds I am on and so on. Due to stresses/variations my meds change constantly. Right now for example I am literally being sedated all day so that I can handle the stresses of having to look for a new flat etc. Well with my old docs the prescriptions were four months old. So what I had to do was make an appointment, go down there and remind the lazy bastards to update the system. Then I could go home, log in and order my meds and get them a few days later. Literally every month I was doing that with both them (the docs) and my psychs playing the blame game as to who hadn't done their job properly.

In the end after a very rude doctor I decided enough was enough and changed to another place. It's even busier but it's like a mini hospital and the staff are very friendly. Oh, and they come and get you so you don't have to sit and stare at a fucking scrolling display for up to an hour waiting for that two second fucking window.

My psych and I both agreed that it was probably better we didn't rely on them so he now gives me my prescription every month himself.

As for your problem Gaz.. Trapped nerve maybe?

Has anyone suggested wankers cramp yet?

he is married....

Haven't tried ice yet, but ibuprofen gels and muscle rubs do jack shit.

Left them a voicemail earlier.

Have you been driving a different car?

Nope.

Have you been shooting lately?

Have you tried tapping your shoulder and listening carefully to the sound? It could be termites.

Exactly...

Gaz, I had something very similar a few years back and ended up being rushed to A&E after waking up in the night delusional from pain. It ended up being diagnosed as torticollis, and I was sent away with a heap of pain meds and physiotherapy which set it right. It may also be related to RSI, which I have in both hands and causes immense shoulder, arm, and neck pain.

The following things helped me:

• Proper posture whilst sitting. Or a standing desk.
• Heat instead of ice. I used to wrap hand warmers in a cloth and attach them with medical tape.
• Switching to a tablet instead of a mouse. This made a significant improvement for me.

Hope you feel better <3

I rubbed Deep Heat into my shoulders and neck before I went to bed last night, and also changed my pillows for some others that we had.

It was still painful, but I didn't have as much trouble finding a comfortable spot and I didn't wake up in agony.

I assume it's the pillows rather than the Deep Heat, as I imagine that would cease to make a difference after an hour or so.

I've got a weird elbow today. I'm blaming you, GazChap.

Hows your arm?

I have BUPA so in this case would just ask them what the best specialist was and ask for a referral.

If you don't have this and given that your GP sounds a lot worse than mine (I can get an appointment same day I call always but usually a 40 minute delay each time) then maybe pay £40 to see a sports physio.

Sounds maybe like you have trapped something and sleep posture might be the issue.

I always have 2 pillows at night, around 6 months ago I could hardly move my neck all day, pain killers helped but it didn't go away

Then I slept down stairs for a few nights as my son was acting up with a cold and it went away.

My wife then tells me she had removed my nice goose feather pillows and swapped them for others and the issue was 2 of them were messing my neck up.

It's still hurting, but it does seem to be slowly improving.

I went to see a private physio who poked and prodded for a bit and told me my neck posture was all off, apparently my neck "leans" forward at rest when it should be straight up, so I need to work on that.

He's given me some exercises to do, which are easier said than done as they hurt like hell.