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What To Do About A Disc Pinching A Nerve
Question: what to do about a disc pinching a nerve
what to do about a disc pinching a nerve
Brief Answer:
PHYSICAL THERAPY to include AQUATHERAPY right now
Detailed Answer:
Good morning sir and thank you for your question. I wish there were a straight and XXXXXXX answer to the question.
You are not providing very much except what appears to be a DIAGNOSIS of "pinched nerve".
So if we translate that in my lingo...you're referring to a COMPRESSIVE NEUROPATHY OR MORE LIKELY RADICULOPATHY. You've not specified exactly where this pinched nerve is (neck, low back, scapula, elbow).
Aside from oxycontin it doesn't look like you've got very much else going on. I can tell you that if you find the medication to be adequate for pain relief then, "there you have it..." but if not I think a reasonable thing to do is try and get a little proactive, a little bolder with your activities, though I understand everything likely causes pain....BUT....the honest truth is that more activity and more exercise comes MORE POSSIBILITIES that you compression will actually RELIEVES itself..... It actually does you know? It is written by in Green et al's Handbook for Neurosurgery that approximately 50% of compressive radiculopathies resolve spontaneously within about 3 years of onset of symptoms or diagnosis (whichever came first). Therefore, very much like the a piece of shrapnel or a bullet under the skin which has not been encased by bone or some organ that changes position and in some cases even works its way to the surface of the skin to exit (I work at the VA with lots of people who have shrapnel so I see this a lot)....well, that old PINCHED NERVE can somehow work itself out and about from the pinching...whatever is pinching it...and especially if you are doing your best to turn, rotate, and twist it out of the way. Make sense?
So, PHYSICAL THERAPY and especially AQUATHERAPY is the most direct way to try and faciitate this pinched nerve along with things such as tendon gliding exercises (which the PT'ists know how to do), other neck or back exercises can all move the nerve about and try to put you into that category of spontaneous resolution.
Let me just say straight away that if you've not tried other medication for neuropathic types of pain such as nortriptyline (preferred over amitriptyline for less side effects), duloxetine, topiramate, and of course everyone's favorite TV commercial pain reliever (for EVERYTHING it seems)....LYRICA (pregabalin)...which honestly is not bad....but I really think you'll get the most mileage out of the proactive and physically oriented types of approaches.
I have had success in a number of patients using the OFF LABEL indication of BOTOX injections locally wherever the majority of the pain is which seems to give relief more so even than epidural or facet injections (both of which are some of my least favorite approaches to chronic pain management of the sort you refer). And of course, there are TENS units (Transcutaneous stimulation devices) and then, there are Ultrasound combined with DIATHERMY treatments which I've used with limited suceess in some patients with chronic pain. I really can't tell you how much I try getting people started on opiate drugs such as oxycontin.
First of all the DEA comes around and starts practicing medicine which just spoils your day. You are of course, at your XXXXXXX to disagree with the conclusions that they always seem to draw which is, "But doctor, have you tried EVERY POSSIBLE other alternative?" If you get sassy with them and ask them to please just name 5 good alternatives that make sense from a medicacl perspective, they can't....cuz their job is to make sure nobody prescribes controlled substances except PAIN MANAGEMENT doctors....don't get me started.
But the second and more important reason I don't like drugs such as oxy is because you've got a very limited honey moon effect...like any other drug in its class and slowly but surely you have to keep escalating and escalating until their ain't anywhere to go and then, you're stuck. I really think your best bet is to not go down that road and really TRY REAL HARD to put up with a little bit of pain (I've done it myself so I'm not just whistlin' Dixie), get a good physical therapy or exercise or aquatherapy behind you to help DISTRACT you from the pain of the moment and "Git 'er done." You do that for a couple of weeks religiously and believe you will be a new person....I'm not joking.....We've got to get this notion as a society out of our heads that the pharmaceutical companies put there long ago (1950's) that "there is a pill for every ill."
That's hogwash and again, don't get me started on those sons of borches....there is not a pill for every ill that is of equal value to alternative NONMEDICATION approaches....and doctors should get on board with the medication alternatives bandwagon because the Chinese, Koreans, Taiwanese, and even the Europeans and Latinos have been doing it for awhile and if you look at the statistics on chronic pain around the globe...the U.S. is one of the highest users of chronic analgesic medications per capita bar none.....and we are likely one of the countries HIGHEST on the scale of PAIN INTENSITY compared to most other countries.
So, we use the most analgesics and get some of the least amount of pain relief....and we've got the technology, the access, and the innovative research gurus....HAHAHA! Guess the joke's on US...with the pharmaceutical giats laughing all the way to their Off shore bank accounts.
So please, I very much encourage you to speak with your doctor (Always speak with your doctor....unless you'd like to come to XXXXXXX and I'll be your doctor) about getting you on to some of the laternative regimens I talked about, OFF the oxycontin....I guaranteed he will actually THANK YOU for that move...makes his life easier with DEA regulatory agencies watching him. And map out a plan to really becoming more proactive with your pain and discomfort to see if you can't get it to resolve spontaneously.
Surgery is still an option if symptoms of limb weakness start to occur....or if you've been laying in bed long enough and have no other place to turn. In that case, I would opt for the MINIMALLY INVASIVE procedures that are being done routinely and represent much less risk to the patient for complications, much quicker healing times, and probably better long term results since most procedures can be done as OUTPATIENT at surgical centers.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE surgical procedures.
Oh, one last thing you could try....whenever one of my kids (they're grown now...but still all LIVING HERE!!! Help!! LOL)...... would constantly pinch one of their sibs....I would tell them, "Cut it out...or I'll start pinching you constantly...." That usually worked....
Try that with the disc....tell it that if it doesn't STOP pinching the nerve that you're just going to have to start PINCHING the DISC and see how he likes it.....could work....ya never know.
If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions could you do me the utmost of favors by CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few positive words of feedback and maybe even a 5-star rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on your condition if you'd care to drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and let me know how things turned out.
You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope our discussion has aided in your understanding of a few concepts related to your concerns.
CHEERS!
This query required 45 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and file a response.
PHYSICAL THERAPY to include AQUATHERAPY right now
Detailed Answer:
Good morning sir and thank you for your question. I wish there were a straight and XXXXXXX answer to the question.
You are not providing very much except what appears to be a DIAGNOSIS of "pinched nerve".
So if we translate that in my lingo...you're referring to a COMPRESSIVE NEUROPATHY OR MORE LIKELY RADICULOPATHY. You've not specified exactly where this pinched nerve is (neck, low back, scapula, elbow).
Aside from oxycontin it doesn't look like you've got very much else going on. I can tell you that if you find the medication to be adequate for pain relief then, "there you have it..." but if not I think a reasonable thing to do is try and get a little proactive, a little bolder with your activities, though I understand everything likely causes pain....BUT....the honest truth is that more activity and more exercise comes MORE POSSIBILITIES that you compression will actually RELIEVES itself..... It actually does you know? It is written by in Green et al's Handbook for Neurosurgery that approximately 50% of compressive radiculopathies resolve spontaneously within about 3 years of onset of symptoms or diagnosis (whichever came first). Therefore, very much like the a piece of shrapnel or a bullet under the skin which has not been encased by bone or some organ that changes position and in some cases even works its way to the surface of the skin to exit (I work at the VA with lots of people who have shrapnel so I see this a lot)....well, that old PINCHED NERVE can somehow work itself out and about from the pinching...whatever is pinching it...and especially if you are doing your best to turn, rotate, and twist it out of the way. Make sense?
So, PHYSICAL THERAPY and especially AQUATHERAPY is the most direct way to try and faciitate this pinched nerve along with things such as tendon gliding exercises (which the PT'ists know how to do), other neck or back exercises can all move the nerve about and try to put you into that category of spontaneous resolution.
Let me just say straight away that if you've not tried other medication for neuropathic types of pain such as nortriptyline (preferred over amitriptyline for less side effects), duloxetine, topiramate, and of course everyone's favorite TV commercial pain reliever (for EVERYTHING it seems)....LYRICA (pregabalin)...which honestly is not bad....but I really think you'll get the most mileage out of the proactive and physically oriented types of approaches.
I have had success in a number of patients using the OFF LABEL indication of BOTOX injections locally wherever the majority of the pain is which seems to give relief more so even than epidural or facet injections (both of which are some of my least favorite approaches to chronic pain management of the sort you refer). And of course, there are TENS units (Transcutaneous stimulation devices) and then, there are Ultrasound combined with DIATHERMY treatments which I've used with limited suceess in some patients with chronic pain. I really can't tell you how much I try getting people started on opiate drugs such as oxycontin.
First of all the DEA comes around and starts practicing medicine which just spoils your day. You are of course, at your XXXXXXX to disagree with the conclusions that they always seem to draw which is, "But doctor, have you tried EVERY POSSIBLE other alternative?" If you get sassy with them and ask them to please just name 5 good alternatives that make sense from a medicacl perspective, they can't....cuz their job is to make sure nobody prescribes controlled substances except PAIN MANAGEMENT doctors....don't get me started.
But the second and more important reason I don't like drugs such as oxy is because you've got a very limited honey moon effect...like any other drug in its class and slowly but surely you have to keep escalating and escalating until their ain't anywhere to go and then, you're stuck. I really think your best bet is to not go down that road and really TRY REAL HARD to put up with a little bit of pain (I've done it myself so I'm not just whistlin' Dixie), get a good physical therapy or exercise or aquatherapy behind you to help DISTRACT you from the pain of the moment and "Git 'er done." You do that for a couple of weeks religiously and believe you will be a new person....I'm not joking.....We've got to get this notion as a society out of our heads that the pharmaceutical companies put there long ago (1950's) that "there is a pill for every ill."
That's hogwash and again, don't get me started on those sons of borches....there is not a pill for every ill that is of equal value to alternative NONMEDICATION approaches....and doctors should get on board with the medication alternatives bandwagon because the Chinese, Koreans, Taiwanese, and even the Europeans and Latinos have been doing it for awhile and if you look at the statistics on chronic pain around the globe...the U.S. is one of the highest users of chronic analgesic medications per capita bar none.....and we are likely one of the countries HIGHEST on the scale of PAIN INTENSITY compared to most other countries.
So, we use the most analgesics and get some of the least amount of pain relief....and we've got the technology, the access, and the innovative research gurus....HAHAHA! Guess the joke's on US...with the pharmaceutical giats laughing all the way to their Off shore bank accounts.
So please, I very much encourage you to speak with your doctor (Always speak with your doctor....unless you'd like to come to XXXXXXX and I'll be your doctor) about getting you on to some of the laternative regimens I talked about, OFF the oxycontin....I guaranteed he will actually THANK YOU for that move...makes his life easier with DEA regulatory agencies watching him. And map out a plan to really becoming more proactive with your pain and discomfort to see if you can't get it to resolve spontaneously.
Surgery is still an option if symptoms of limb weakness start to occur....or if you've been laying in bed long enough and have no other place to turn. In that case, I would opt for the MINIMALLY INVASIVE procedures that are being done routinely and represent much less risk to the patient for complications, much quicker healing times, and probably better long term results since most procedures can be done as OUTPATIENT at surgical centers.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE surgical procedures.
Oh, one last thing you could try....whenever one of my kids (they're grown now...but still all LIVING HERE!!! Help!! LOL)...... would constantly pinch one of their sibs....I would tell them, "Cut it out...or I'll start pinching you constantly...." That usually worked....
Try that with the disc....tell it that if it doesn't STOP pinching the nerve that you're just going to have to start PINCHING the DISC and see how he likes it.....could work....ya never know.
If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions could you do me the utmost of favors by CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few positive words of feedback and maybe even a 5-star rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on your condition if you'd care to drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and let me know how things turned out.
You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope our discussion has aided in your understanding of a few concepts related to your concerns.
CHEERS!
This query required 45 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and file a response.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
PHYSICAL THERAPY to include AQUATHERAPY right now
Detailed Answer:
Good morning sir and thank you for your question. I wish there were a straight and XXXXXXX answer to the question.
You are not providing very much except what appears to be a DIAGNOSIS of "pinched nerve".
So if we translate that in my lingo...you're referring to a COMPRESSIVE NEUROPATHY OR MORE LIKELY RADICULOPATHY. You've not specified exactly where this pinched nerve is (neck, low back, scapula, elbow).
Aside from oxycontin it doesn't look like you've got very much else going on. I can tell you that if you find the medication to be adequate for pain relief then, "there you have it..." but if not I think a reasonable thing to do is try and get a little proactive, a little bolder with your activities, though I understand everything likely causes pain....BUT....the honest truth is that more activity and more exercise comes MORE POSSIBILITIES that you compression will actually RELIEVES itself..... It actually does you know? It is written by in Green et al's Handbook for Neurosurgery that approximately 50% of compressive radiculopathies resolve spontaneously within about 3 years of onset of symptoms or diagnosis (whichever came first). Therefore, very much like the a piece of shrapnel or a bullet under the skin which has not been encased by bone or some organ that changes position and in some cases even works its way to the surface of the skin to exit (I work at the VA with lots of people who have shrapnel so I see this a lot)....well, that old PINCHED NERVE can somehow work itself out and about from the pinching...whatever is pinching it...and especially if you are doing your best to turn, rotate, and twist it out of the way. Make sense?
So, PHYSICAL THERAPY and especially AQUATHERAPY is the most direct way to try and faciitate this pinched nerve along with things such as tendon gliding exercises (which the PT'ists know how to do), other neck or back exercises can all move the nerve about and try to put you into that category of spontaneous resolution.
Let me just say straight away that if you've not tried other medication for neuropathic types of pain such as nortriptyline (preferred over amitriptyline for less side effects), duloxetine, topiramate, and of course everyone's favorite TV commercial pain reliever (for EVERYTHING it seems)....LYRICA (pregabalin)...which honestly is not bad....but I really think you'll get the most mileage out of the proactive and physically oriented types of approaches.
I have had success in a number of patients using the OFF LABEL indication of BOTOX injections locally wherever the majority of the pain is which seems to give relief more so even than epidural or facet injections (both of which are some of my least favorite approaches to chronic pain management of the sort you refer). And of course, there are TENS units (Transcutaneous stimulation devices) and then, there are Ultrasound combined with DIATHERMY treatments which I've used with limited suceess in some patients with chronic pain. I really can't tell you how much I try getting people started on opiate drugs such as oxycontin.
First of all the DEA comes around and starts practicing medicine which just spoils your day. You are of course, at your XXXXXXX to disagree with the conclusions that they always seem to draw which is, "But doctor, have you tried EVERY POSSIBLE other alternative?" If you get sassy with them and ask them to please just name 5 good alternatives that make sense from a medicacl perspective, they can't....cuz their job is to make sure nobody prescribes controlled substances except PAIN MANAGEMENT doctors....don't get me started.
But the second and more important reason I don't like drugs such as oxy is because you've got a very limited honey moon effect...like any other drug in its class and slowly but surely you have to keep escalating and escalating until their ain't anywhere to go and then, you're stuck. I really think your best bet is to not go down that road and really TRY REAL HARD to put up with a little bit of pain (I've done it myself so I'm not just whistlin' Dixie), get a good physical therapy or exercise or aquatherapy behind you to help DISTRACT you from the pain of the moment and "Git 'er done." You do that for a couple of weeks religiously and believe you will be a new person....I'm not joking.....We've got to get this notion as a society out of our heads that the pharmaceutical companies put there long ago (1950's) that "there is a pill for every ill."
That's hogwash and again, don't get me started on those sons of borches....there is not a pill for every ill that is of equal value to alternative NONMEDICATION approaches....and doctors should get on board with the medication alternatives bandwagon because the Chinese, Koreans, Taiwanese, and even the Europeans and Latinos have been doing it for awhile and if you look at the statistics on chronic pain around the globe...the U.S. is one of the highest users of chronic analgesic medications per capita bar none.....and we are likely one of the countries HIGHEST on the scale of PAIN INTENSITY compared to most other countries.
So, we use the most analgesics and get some of the least amount of pain relief....and we've got the technology, the access, and the innovative research gurus....HAHAHA! Guess the joke's on US...with the pharmaceutical giats laughing all the way to their Off shore bank accounts.
So please, I very much encourage you to speak with your doctor (Always speak with your doctor....unless you'd like to come to XXXXXXX and I'll be your doctor) about getting you on to some of the laternative regimens I talked about, OFF the oxycontin....I guaranteed he will actually THANK YOU for that move...makes his life easier with DEA regulatory agencies watching him. And map out a plan to really becoming more proactive with your pain and discomfort to see if you can't get it to resolve spontaneously.
Surgery is still an option if symptoms of limb weakness start to occur....or if you've been laying in bed long enough and have no other place to turn. In that case, I would opt for the MINIMALLY INVASIVE procedures that are being done routinely and represent much less risk to the patient for complications, much quicker healing times, and probably better long term results since most procedures can be done as OUTPATIENT at surgical centers.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE surgical procedures.
Oh, one last thing you could try....whenever one of my kids (they're grown now...but still all LIVING HERE!!! Help!! LOL)...... would constantly pinch one of their sibs....I would tell them, "Cut it out...or I'll start pinching you constantly...." That usually worked....
Try that with the disc....tell it that if it doesn't STOP pinching the nerve that you're just going to have to start PINCHING the DISC and see how he likes it.....could work....ya never know.
If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions could you do me the utmost of favors by CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few positive words of feedback and maybe even a 5-star rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on your condition if you'd care to drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and let me know how things turned out.
You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope our discussion has aided in your understanding of a few concepts related to your concerns.
CHEERS!
This query required 45 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and file a response.
PHYSICAL THERAPY to include AQUATHERAPY right now
Detailed Answer:
Good morning sir and thank you for your question. I wish there were a straight and XXXXXXX answer to the question.
You are not providing very much except what appears to be a DIAGNOSIS of "pinched nerve".
So if we translate that in my lingo...you're referring to a COMPRESSIVE NEUROPATHY OR MORE LIKELY RADICULOPATHY. You've not specified exactly where this pinched nerve is (neck, low back, scapula, elbow).
Aside from oxycontin it doesn't look like you've got very much else going on. I can tell you that if you find the medication to be adequate for pain relief then, "there you have it..." but if not I think a reasonable thing to do is try and get a little proactive, a little bolder with your activities, though I understand everything likely causes pain....BUT....the honest truth is that more activity and more exercise comes MORE POSSIBILITIES that you compression will actually RELIEVES itself..... It actually does you know? It is written by in Green et al's Handbook for Neurosurgery that approximately 50% of compressive radiculopathies resolve spontaneously within about 3 years of onset of symptoms or diagnosis (whichever came first). Therefore, very much like the a piece of shrapnel or a bullet under the skin which has not been encased by bone or some organ that changes position and in some cases even works its way to the surface of the skin to exit (I work at the VA with lots of people who have shrapnel so I see this a lot)....well, that old PINCHED NERVE can somehow work itself out and about from the pinching...whatever is pinching it...and especially if you are doing your best to turn, rotate, and twist it out of the way. Make sense?
So, PHYSICAL THERAPY and especially AQUATHERAPY is the most direct way to try and faciitate this pinched nerve along with things such as tendon gliding exercises (which the PT'ists know how to do), other neck or back exercises can all move the nerve about and try to put you into that category of spontaneous resolution.
Let me just say straight away that if you've not tried other medication for neuropathic types of pain such as nortriptyline (preferred over amitriptyline for less side effects), duloxetine, topiramate, and of course everyone's favorite TV commercial pain reliever (for EVERYTHING it seems)....LYRICA (pregabalin)...which honestly is not bad....but I really think you'll get the most mileage out of the proactive and physically oriented types of approaches.
I have had success in a number of patients using the OFF LABEL indication of BOTOX injections locally wherever the majority of the pain is which seems to give relief more so even than epidural or facet injections (both of which are some of my least favorite approaches to chronic pain management of the sort you refer). And of course, there are TENS units (Transcutaneous stimulation devices) and then, there are Ultrasound combined with DIATHERMY treatments which I've used with limited suceess in some patients with chronic pain. I really can't tell you how much I try getting people started on opiate drugs such as oxycontin.
First of all the DEA comes around and starts practicing medicine which just spoils your day. You are of course, at your XXXXXXX to disagree with the conclusions that they always seem to draw which is, "But doctor, have you tried EVERY POSSIBLE other alternative?" If you get sassy with them and ask them to please just name 5 good alternatives that make sense from a medicacl perspective, they can't....cuz their job is to make sure nobody prescribes controlled substances except PAIN MANAGEMENT doctors....don't get me started.
But the second and more important reason I don't like drugs such as oxy is because you've got a very limited honey moon effect...like any other drug in its class and slowly but surely you have to keep escalating and escalating until their ain't anywhere to go and then, you're stuck. I really think your best bet is to not go down that road and really TRY REAL HARD to put up with a little bit of pain (I've done it myself so I'm not just whistlin' Dixie), get a good physical therapy or exercise or aquatherapy behind you to help DISTRACT you from the pain of the moment and "Git 'er done." You do that for a couple of weeks religiously and believe you will be a new person....I'm not joking.....We've got to get this notion as a society out of our heads that the pharmaceutical companies put there long ago (1950's) that "there is a pill for every ill."
That's hogwash and again, don't get me started on those sons of borches....there is not a pill for every ill that is of equal value to alternative NONMEDICATION approaches....and doctors should get on board with the medication alternatives bandwagon because the Chinese, Koreans, Taiwanese, and even the Europeans and Latinos have been doing it for awhile and if you look at the statistics on chronic pain around the globe...the U.S. is one of the highest users of chronic analgesic medications per capita bar none.....and we are likely one of the countries HIGHEST on the scale of PAIN INTENSITY compared to most other countries.
So, we use the most analgesics and get some of the least amount of pain relief....and we've got the technology, the access, and the innovative research gurus....HAHAHA! Guess the joke's on US...with the pharmaceutical giats laughing all the way to their Off shore bank accounts.
So please, I very much encourage you to speak with your doctor (Always speak with your doctor....unless you'd like to come to XXXXXXX and I'll be your doctor) about getting you on to some of the laternative regimens I talked about, OFF the oxycontin....I guaranteed he will actually THANK YOU for that move...makes his life easier with DEA regulatory agencies watching him. And map out a plan to really becoming more proactive with your pain and discomfort to see if you can't get it to resolve spontaneously.
Surgery is still an option if symptoms of limb weakness start to occur....or if you've been laying in bed long enough and have no other place to turn. In that case, I would opt for the MINIMALLY INVASIVE procedures that are being done routinely and represent much less risk to the patient for complications, much quicker healing times, and probably better long term results since most procedures can be done as OUTPATIENT at surgical centers.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE surgical procedures.
Oh, one last thing you could try....whenever one of my kids (they're grown now...but still all LIVING HERE!!! Help!! LOL)...... would constantly pinch one of their sibs....I would tell them, "Cut it out...or I'll start pinching you constantly...." That usually worked....
Try that with the disc....tell it that if it doesn't STOP pinching the nerve that you're just going to have to start PINCHING the DISC and see how he likes it.....could work....ya never know.
If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions could you do me the utmost of favors by CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few positive words of feedback and maybe even a 5-star rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on your condition if you'd care to drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and let me know how things turned out.
You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope our discussion has aided in your understanding of a few concepts related to your concerns.
CHEERS!
This query required 45 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and file a response.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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