Pain Mgmt PAIN HELP, Past my limit!

[Kathy in WV]

About 3 weeks ago I had this HUGE awkward sneeze and damaged myself somehow. So bad I went to the ER two days in a row for pain. I tore my rotator cuff, the muscle around to the breastbone, and my arm has shooting electric type pains going down into my fingers. It feels like something is pinched between the vertebrae about bra level. The constant pain is wearing me down. I can't even get up and walk around because standing makes the nerve pain in my at / back unbearable. Help. I don't think I'll get much pain management care here because WV is having to wage a war against opioid abuse. We have the highest overdose rate in the lower 48 at is point. I understand the issue but I'm not and and never have been a druggie.
Anyway, I'm in such pain I'm having trouble researching something herbal to use...can't concentrate. Please suggest something.

 

[Pinecone]

Sounds like you need to see a doctor and get x-rays. Do you have a Primary Care physician? ER docs aren't always the best. Other than that, arnica for the torn muscles. Sorry you are in such pain.

 

[Kathy in WV]

I should have added I had xrays and CT both nights at the ER. They first thought I had torn my upper lung! Even morphine couldn't kill all the pain. Also was diagnosed with Spondylosis??? from C2-7 and again from T2-? can't remember. They brought my xrays in and said my neck is basically a train wreck... Yay me.

 

[Kathy in WV]

I've got homemade Arnica oil, does it get old?

 

[Pinecone]

You should PM Summerthyme. I think she would have a better idea. She also has dealt with trauma and knows her stuff.

Until you can talk to her, I think that if the oil is less than a year old and kept in a cool dark place it should be good. May be good longer, but I don't know for sure. It will ease pain as well as help heal. At least the stuff I buy does. I'm not sure what it will do for your neck but it should help with torn muscles. It's great stuff. Wow, you really did hurt yourself. So sorry to hear that you are in so much pain.

 

[CGTech]

I would suggest a chiropractor

 

[Pinecone]

I would second that, if you have a good one in town.

 

[JF&P]

I would suggest a chiropractor

Try to find a "Palmer Graduate"....the best chiropractors.

 

[Raggedyman]

Kathy - lets go over the possibilities:

pain into the fingers sounds like nerve root compression - would like to know WHICH fingers are involved. torn rotator cuff would NOT cause pain into the fingers. your imaging shows "spondylosis" - big word for degenerative disc space narrowing and spurring. when sneezing hard like that it is possible to herniate a disc - but it's not a certainty that you did. even tho you had the CT and it didn't show a disc there is that possibility you could have a disc. MR is a much better way to image the neck - CT without contrast isn't likely to show a disc. the greatest likely hood is that you have a very inflamed cervical nerve root bc of "jerking" your neck when you sneezed.

pain meds are going to quite you down some but it sounds like you really need to be on a diminishing course of steroids for a few days. perfectly ok to see a chiropractor - he/she will take a good look at your neck and determine if it is safe to manipulate or if you should be referred to a surgeon. it would be good if you could be started on some steroids and then see the DC.

in the meantime: NO HEAT - that would make it worse - use ice 30 on 30 off. IMO if you are not on a diminishing dose of steroids you are better off with OTC NSAIDS like Ibuprofen or naproxen than opiods. unless there is a medical reason NOT to put you on steroids - or you weren't presenting with pain into the fingers when in the ER they could have been given there. herniated cervical disc or "pinched" cervical nerve root can refer pain to your shoulder blade or in between your shoulders before it goes into your arm - and maybe that's how you presented when you were first seen.

hope that helps you chart a proper course over the week end

 

[packyderms_wife]

About 3 weeks ago I had this HUGE awkward sneeze and damaged myself somehow. So bad I went to the ER two days in a row for pain. I tore my rotator cuff, the muscle around to the breastbone, and my arm has shooting electric type pains going down into my fingers. It feels like something is pinched between the vertebrae about bra level.

Have you had an official diagnosis? If so it sounds like surgery may be necessary. If not then you need a diagnosis. If nothing else the doctor can give you a cortisone shot in the shoulder to help with the pain. You'll need some extensive PT to get your arm moving again. shooting pain into the fingers with a torn rotator cuff is pretty standard, tore my right RC twice, have yet to have surgery though.

 

[packyderms_wife]

pain into the fingers sounds like nerve root compression - would like to know WHICH fingers are involved. torn rotator cuff would NOT cause pain into the fingers.

Actually I had pain in my ring and pinky fingers both times I tore my rotator cuff.

 

[kyrsyan]

I agree with RaggedyMan with two additions. First, put the arm in a sling and tighten it against your chest. This is to keep you from using it for anything. That will help decrease the nerve inflammation that it sounds like you are dealing with. Even minimal use is bad on a severely inflamed nerve and you'd be surprised how fast they calm if you completely stop the use of the arm.
Two, arnica. Both oil and internal. If it's a bad spot to reach and you don't have help, the smooth back of a hairbrush is great for spreading it.

And number 3 (yup I miscounted), get yourself to a chiropractor and/or a spine doctor. Let someone with a heck of a lot more experience, in this area, than an emergency room doctor take a look. An ER doc cannot prescribe heavy duty pain meds but a spine doctor can.

 

[Raggedyman]

Actually I had pain in my ring and pinky fingers both times I tore my rotator cuff.

indeed you did - but you probably didn't tear your rotator cuff sneezing did you? her history is consistent with a cervical nerve root impingement - in her own words this followed a HUGE sneeze. worst case is herniated cervical disc - unlikely but possible - most likely case she aggravated her degenerative discs in the sneeze and has a flaming hot cervical nerve root.

I saw this as I was running out to dinner with in-laws and I am just now back.

the first thing Kathy should do is get a soft cervical collar and immobilize that neck - the next is get on ice - aggressively - and also get on some NSAIDS - 72 hrs minimum unless she's got access to diminishing dose of steroids - preferably a dose pac (unless there is a medical reason she should NOT be on steroids).

IF she's not seeing major gains at the end of 3'rd day with immobilization of her neck, the dose pac and ice then MR c spine is reasonable way to proceed because she is sounding more like cervical disc at that point.

as for the chiro - a good chiro will see this and after looking at her will know whether he/she should mobilize/manipulate that neck or refer her. the chiro may even get the MR and Kathy will hit the surgeon with imaging in hand and a firm diagnosis - ready to go.

what Kathy CAN'T do is "wait it out" because unless I misunderstood she's hit the ER twice and this isn't going to magically disappear on it's own.

KATHY - SOFT CERVICAL COLLAR- ICE- NSAIDS or STEROIDS

 

[Kathy in WV]

Actually I had pain in my ring and pinky fingers both times I tore my rotator cuff.

That's what I'm having, tingling pain through elbow down into pinky and ring finger!

 

[Kathy in WV]

Getting appointment now...
And yep I did the worst thing possible, I used heat which is what probably made it so bad that I felt like I couldn't cope and posted for help. My big thanks to you all!!

 

[Raggedyman]

That's what I'm having, tingling pain through elbow down into pinky and ring finger!

that's also the C8 root level - if you have degenerative cervical disc disease and based on what you said at #3:

They brought my xrays in and said my neck is basically a train wreck...

and what you said in the OP:

About 3 weeks ago I had this HUGE awkward sneeze

it is very possible that the sneeze aggravated the arthritic spurring in your neck. the fact that you have a torn rotator cuff is interesting- but unlikely to be contributory to the tingling in those two fingers - unless that tingling is myofascial pain referred from trigger points associated with the 4 muscles that comprise your rotator cuff.

here's something else you can try to determine if its nerve root - try extending your neck (looking up to the ceiling) and at the same time rotating to the involved side. pain/tingling increase in between your shoulders or into the fingers? highly suggestive that's a nerve root.

have you tried ice (applied to the root of your neck) and a soft collar to limit the motion? you may be shocked at how quickly and much relief that will give you.

 

[Raggedyman]

Getting appointment now...
And yep I did the worst thing possible, I used heat which is what probably made it so bad that I felt like I couldn't cope and posted for help. My big thanks to you all!!

glad you're getting an appointment Kathy bc truth be told without seeing you hands on, correlating physical findings to history and films we are all shooting in the dark. anad don't feel bad - using heat is a VERY common boo boo -

keep us posted and prayers up for your pain
RM