I've been battling a pinched nerve several years that results in "7-8" scale (I know that is relative/individual, however, I'm pretty tough!) pain in my right elbow/forearm, to numbness in several fingers. Epidurals have been hit and miss. I just had one last Wednesday (2/12) and it missed and my bennies will not pay for another one for a month. I have a Purple Heart, which avails me to a higher tier of VA benefits and have a call in to the Erie VA Hospital to see if they do epidurals. Sadly the VA Hospitals are so overwhelmed (indeed no call back since 9:55 AM), even if they do them, it might be PSU Football season before I could get an evaluation appointment, let alone the epi anyway! My question is, who has experience receiving acupuncture therapy and do/would you recommend, thank you!
The most popular salutation: "All knowing board!" Pain management?
- Thread starter emertmakeshiteup
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Acupuncture and scotch.
Seriously, I would try the acupuncture, but I would not consider it a "final remedy". But it may be the best for pain management. Had similar issues with pinched nerve in my lower back, and it helped until the issue finally resolved itself. (As far as I know).
Seriously, I would try the acupuncture, but I would not consider it a "final remedy". But it may be the best for pain management. Had similar issues with pinched nerve in my lower back, and it helped until the issue finally resolved itself. (As far as I know).
Sucks. I have no idea, actually, how people deal with this kind of pain. I hope my “Hang in there, buddy” helps a little bit.
Getting a second opinion is usually a good idea, especially if it is with a specialist who sees more atypical cases. Did anybody ever discuss a surgical remedy ?
FWIW, I see people who say acupuncture helps them with chronic pain. Acupuncture works via the body’s endorphin pathways. Some get the benefits of opioids from it without all of the really bad stuff.
Sleep is really important with chronic pain as well.
FWIW, I see people who say acupuncture helps them with chronic pain. Acupuncture works via the body’s endorphin pathways. Some get the benefits of opioids from it without all of the really bad stuff.
Sleep is really important with chronic pain as well.
Try it. also look into McGill stabilization work and soft tissue work. The stabilizing exercises might help strengthen the area safely while the soft tissue work around the hips and lower back areas should help mobility, strength, and stability.
Try these Physical Therapists' exercises. Someone recommended this video, I had a horrible pinched nerve and did this for two weeks straight and it worked
I had RFA done on my lower back last fall and it is amazing! I'm not sure your pain would be treatable with this but if it is I would really recommend it. It's done through a needle and takes less than 30 minutes.
https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-rf_ablation.htm
Have actually have had C5,6,7 fused, but last MRI a couple of years ago showed impingement above and below the fusion! Thanks for all the replies!
My wife has severe back problems and tried nearly everything - epidurals, acupuncture, physical therapy, muscle relaxers, megadoses of Advil, etc. Experts say surgery won't work. She now takes a small opioid dose every day and has gotten a lot of pain relief. She takes it at night and now she can sleep.
My wife goes for acupuncture treatments for arthritis pain and it helps a lot. Also purchase a small TENS unit. You may get some temporary relief from that. We use ACCURELIEF. Works well
Oxy is your best friend. Not only is it cheap and readily available, but along with its pain killing properties, it’s non-addictive. It’s the best drug ever. A wonder drug. Eat them like Tic-Tacs and enjoy!
Very interesting, and not expensive! Thank you!My wife goes for acupuncture treatments for arthritis pain and it helps a lot. Also purchase a small TENS unit. You may get some temporary relief from that. We use ACCURELIEF. Works well
Anesthesia physician here, while I'm not specifically in pain management I do have a few colleagues that specialize in this area. Epidural injections are the semi conservative approach the more aggressive being full blown ACDF on the adjacent segments. The difficult thing about the ESI is that it is pretty indeterminate on the duration and success of its benefits, as you probably already know.
Other more conservative treatments include PT and accupuncture which can help a lot with symptoms. TENS unit can help distract the pain but won't do anything with regards to the neurological symptoms of the numbness in the hands.
I assume that you would already be placed on some neuropathic medications such as gabapentin/pregabalin, which can help a lot with any burning/nerve type pain. That and NSAIDs would probably be the best combo with regards to oral medications for you.
Hope you get this figured out
Other more conservative treatments include PT and accupuncture which can help a lot with symptoms. TENS unit can help distract the pain but won't do anything with regards to the neurological symptoms of the numbness in the hands.
I assume that you would already be placed on some neuropathic medications such as gabapentin/pregabalin, which can help a lot with any burning/nerve type pain. That and NSAIDs would probably be the best combo with regards to oral medications for you.
Hope you get this figured out
You are kidding. If "Oxy" refers to Oxycontin then you are woefully mistaken. Oxycontin is highly addictive. If that is not true for you then you are quite an outlier. You should certainly not be advising this in general.
Any opioid is addictive. I know because I take Tramadol and would never consider moving to something stronger like Oxycontin. If you are eating them like tic-tacs then you have developed quite a dependence. In other words, the drug has lost its effectiveness and you need more to get the same effect.
This is the case with all opioids if used over an extended period of time and on a continuous basis. The receptors in your brain change over time and that is what causes the drug to lose effectiveness. Then, when you withdraw the drug, your brain is not prepared for the change. This is how it works in layman's terms. Any neurologists on here can chime in with more specifics.
Easy there big guy. I'm pretty sure the post was tic.
You should know better than I, but my understanding is that NSAIDs are really to deal with tissue aggravation/damage. (The reason they are called anti-inflammatories.) I'm not seeing this in the case of a pinched nerve.
Gabapentin/pregabalin are effective in some cases but it really depends on the type of damage. I take Gabapentin for peripheral neuropathy but it accounts for only a small improvement in pain relief and requires massive doses -- doses that are no longer even permitted by my insurance. As a result, I take more Tramadol than I might otherwise need. It comes down to a matter of cost. The war on opioids seems to have reduced demand and cost, but not without great hassles and restrictions on life for those that need them. (Take it from me.)
Sorry. Chronic pain is nothing to joke about.
I don’t see humor in a drug that destroys families and lives either, but maybe I’m too sensitive
You sound like my twin brother. Sorry the epidural didn't work for you, they never worked for me either.
I don't know what you are trying topically but you may want to look into lidocaine patches for some temporary relief meaning down to a 4 or 5 on the scale. I've never got down past a four at any time, ever since my accident. Beyond that I can't add much beyond other posters. At this point any reasonable trial of a process is worth a try. When you have chronic pain 24/7/365/20+ yrs you are or have tried everything.
Given your pain is focused to one area would a stimulating unit be of help? Most focus on the spine, I don't know if they have localized units. Since you've had some success with epidurals a stim unit may be of benefit, who knows. I use an intrathecal pump but that is for large areas, not localized pain.
I don't know your location but there are some reputable pain management practices around, less now since the opiate hysteria has run some off but still a few. If you are limited to the VA I have no suggestions. You may need to look outside that org. to find what you need.
I wish you the best, I have an understanding of your situation and pray you find some relief soon. Hang in there.
When used improperly the drug "destroys families and lives." When used properly the drug brings pain relief to people who desperately need it.
I've done accupuncture. You're looking at 80-100 per tx. Not cheap but it worked for me. Also some massage therapy people might be able to help. Good Luck.
The pain a numbness you describe is exactly what I experienced about ten years ago. Turns out at a point between my shoulder blades some muscle(s) knotted up which pulled everything out of whack on my left arm causing excruciating pain. Pain that would wake me up nightly to get more pain meds.
As someone else mentioned, go see another doctor. If you have a pinched nerve, something is causing it. Get that fixed and go from there. Don’t just treat the pain.
Indeed, always have a script for gabapentin and have great bennies, as retired PFC, just kind of hate the idea of drugs. Obviously, can't have it both ways! Again, appreciate all the input!
I can't speak to acupuncture but based on your description of where you have the pain, it sounds like you have a compressed ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve is in your elbow and the pain starts in your elbow and terminates usually in your pinky and ring finger. You could also lose grip strength in that hand. It occurs a lot when you're a side sleeper. I have the symptoms in my left arm and feel your pain. There are several PT videos on youtube.com that may help.
RFA is a great option for lower back pain caused by joint facet arthropathy. This procedure targets the small nerves that innervate the joints of the lower back, however does not really make sense for pain caused by impingement of a larger nerve root causing peripheral pain.
RFA is again a procedure like epidural injections in the sense that its hard to predict the efficacy and the duration of the effects, some patient get great relief for 2-3 years before the nerve regenerates, others only a few months.
Correct, NSAIDs will take away the inflammation, but in the sense of a pinched nerve think of any space impinging the nerve as a method of causing pain or symptoms like numbness/weakness. If there is joint arthropathy causing the impingement any type of tissue inflammation or overuse of the joint will cause that area to be inflamed. That inflammation, in effect, constricts the area the nerve has and impinges even more. So NSAIDs can help in this case by freeing up some space for the nerve.
You also have to take into account the reason for the impingement which sounds like in this cause is arthritis due to increased range of motion from a previous fusion on the levels above and below the fusion.
I never had symptoms as severe as yours, but you should consider buying an inversion table, worked great for me.
Edit: Inversion tables aren't for everyone, some people should avoid them if they have high blood pressure or certain eye conditions.
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