A while back I asked about issues and possible diagnosis regardingsome issues I had. Basically I had numbness, pins & needles and pain in my whole left side (arm, leg and hip)… I seem to remember a few health professionals replied. Well it seems I have a few problems with trapped nerves, some have shortened (wtf??)specifically in my neck, spine and shoulder. I am getting referred pain but apparently the main issue seems to come from my back, below the shoulder to the left of the spine, when the physio pushed there pain almost had me pass out… when pushing I had instant numbness and pins & needles in my left arm & leg and sharp pains in my shoulder, apparently it is all knotted resulting in trapped nerves. I have to do exercises to stretch the lot out and also put a walking stick crook over my shoulder into the back and pull to get the bones etc moving. Now its been 5 months since this started and despite stretching and glide exercises for the shoulder I am actually worse now. This seems too long to me and at its worst I have had to take slow release morphine as I have lost use of my arm….. So any doc’s or physio’s here with any advice?? Any other exercise I can do to help. I don’t want to do anything which may aggravate it. Im still not sure what the name is for what I have done! Any advice appreciated as I want some normality back and 5 months of bad pain is too much now! (ps my physio is great but not that proactive)

Have you tried a different physio / oesteopath / chiropracter. Often a 2nd / different opinion / view is a good thing.

try seeing someone who is 'sports' orientated as they will understand the 'need' to get things moving along

I think I remember the original thread. Perhaps its time for another opinion. What does your GP say? Orthopaedic or neurology referal maybe?

Well 4 gp's and 1 physio… she keeps saying its notted and trapped nerves but from my research physio often does not reslove such actue cases… I have read; a lot of these are solved better with an MRI and possibly seeing a nurologist? how true this is I am not sure, im just at my wits end of 5 months and being no further forward. left arm and shoulder are now constant pain with loss of feeling and numbness every 10 mins, neck is stiff and sleeping I wake 10 times a night. as for riding, last ride over the quantocks was a nightmare of torture! who should refer me to nuro, the gp or physio?

I'm no great advocate of unproven / anecdotal medicine techniques…..BUT…

I suffered a radial nerve palsy about 8 years ago and lost the use of my right arm (slept on it funny!). I went through all the usual channels and like you, after six months of not working and beginning to believe a normal life was never going to be possible, I put my faith in an accupuncturist.

Within a week of treatment, the feeling began to return. I had two weeks of intensive treatment and by the end of week two, I had full mobility. Full strength took a lot longer to return. Treatment consisted of being stuck all over with needles (doesn't hurt), lots of deep tissue massage and drinking vile potions twice a day (I began pouring these down the sink on day two!).

It really was a last resort – the western medicine 'system' had pretty much given up on me after trying everything at their disposal.

If you really have tried all else, all I can say is that it most definitely worked for me – Dr Ming Chen Robertson, Leith, Edinburgh.

EDIT: don't just pick a practitioner at random – there are a huge number of total quacks out there – I did a LOT of research before picking Ming Chen – I had a lot of time on my hands!!

Sounds like you need a referral for an MRI if you want a definitive diagnosis.

your gp should be refering you on.

Doesn't sound like your having much luck.

I took a long time to get an ACL problem diagnosed. I found an private appointment with a well recommended physio helped get things going in the right direction and gave me leaverage with my gp to get me refered to a specialist sports orientated knee clinic that solved the problem very efficently.

GP's have a very general knowledge. Seeing as you've only seen one, not very proactive, physio I would ask around and see if you can find one that comes recommended. As I said in the earlier post it would be worth looking into Oesteopaths and Chiropracters too. They both specialise in the muscular skeletal system and so should be able to help. As with any profession there are differences in ability so its worth asking round to find out who comes recommended before parting with your hard earned dosh.

So what did your GP actually do?

Get referred or go private if you can afford it.

I would change my GP.

Back to your GP tell them your concerns if your still not happy then see another GP. You shouldn't be worse could well be what they originally thought so seek another Physio too.

My GP tested for stroke etc but decided it was either muscle or nerve so referred after 6 visits to Physio… physio gave some exercises 2 months ago.. follwed them to the T.. no better now more recent located where the pain originates and said all else is referred and gave more exercises. I said I was not happy as it was worse and could I be referred to a specilist! but physio said.. do the exercises should be better in a week or 2.. I have an appointment again in 2 weeks so if its no better I want to demand a referral from the GP. I will give it the 2 weeks and see what happens!

you don't give very clear picture of your symptoms other than there's a lot of them – numbness, pins and needles and pain really are three different things. plus trapped nerves (plural) – i'd be looking at something a bit more causative as the areas you describe cover a big range of nerve supply.

the advice above is good. get a second opinion. get referred on by your gp. if you have insurance now's the time to be thinking about using it but only if you're certain what specialist it is you need to see tho a neurologist would seem sensible.

that said, chronic pain issues are something the western model doesn't deal with very well so if, and it could very well turn out to be that way, 'conventional' medicine isn't working for you then some investigation of alternate therapies might be the way to go. and obviously if you're going down that route cut out the drugs/booze/fags, stay properly hydrated and eat well.

Sorry after last time I'm not going there – can you go for a private appointment with all you notes etc – poss about £100 to a private orthopod or neurologist – if you need further diagnostics then they can refer you back to the NHS – Thats what my wife did to get seen sooner but if your not happy and still worried then get a private appointment if your GP doesn't think its necc to refer you?