After some advice about work, sorry it's a long post!
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi, my symptoms started before Christmas with a trapped nerve in my neck and down my arm and was managed with over the counter painkillers and physio initially.
Things came to a head at Easter where the pain became unbearable. The Dr increased the painkillers and I've been taking Naproxen 500mg am and pm, zapain (codeine 60mg, paracetamol 500mg) every 6 hrs and Amitriptyline 30mgs every night, all of which don't take all of the pain away.
The consultant diagnosed a frozen shoulder and I had a manipulation under anaesthetic 6 weeks ago which was only successful in changing the type of pain. Consultant has offered to do procedure again if I get frustrated but advised to continue physio in the meantime.
I have been having physio every day for 5 weeks and now every other day (absolute agony but movement is improving!). The physio also says that muscles have wasted and shortened from misuse and that pelvis and back problems have contributed to the cause of it all.
My question is, I have been off work since symptoms became really bad, I can't seem to get proper advice from anyone about when to go back to work. It's just, go back when you're ready, how do I know when I'm ready?
I feel guilty having time off but don't know how I would manage if I went back. My work involves a lot of lifting, pushing, pulling and a lot of overhead work as well as speed writing and being surrounded by 60 kids who are all shoulder height.
I am only getting 2-3 hours sleep a night. I am doing all the stretching and strengthening exercises that have been given my but still all causing a lot of pain. I have now started doing little things around the house as pain allows but need two hands to lift a kettle still.
My initial problem of trapped nerve in my neck is still an issue.
I have 3 weeks left till I'm on summer holidays. Do I go back and see what happens or am I risking an injury by going back before I am at least stronger?
Work are very supportive but some colleagues keep asking me when I'm coming back, please come back, we need you back which puts pressure on me! O
0 likes, 13 replies
acrdpt ann75691
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sara17045 ann75691
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i feel for you! Also suffering with frozen shoulder, it has been unbearable on days especially when the weather dips.
three weeks ago I had an hydraulition injection this has helped immensely. They inject saline into the joint by a guided injection, also steroid and anaesthetic it's been amazing.its taken way the constant throbbing knife in the stabbing pain I s in but shoulder still pretty frozen.i know what you mean about work,I have a physical job and have been off for 6 weeks now.im doing a phase back just half days couple days a week. Maybe you could do something like that you can gage then what you can and can't do.
this is an absolutely debilitating condition that I knew nothing about until now. My sympathies are with you. It will get better though.good luck.☺️
sara17045 ann75691
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ann75691
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penny54223 ann75691
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ann75691 penny54223
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The shoulder specialist I saw said with no other tests other than looking at range of movement of arm that it was just a frozen shoulder and nothing else!
luckily the physio I am seeing looks at the whole person and is treating all of me!
I feel reassured from the advice, sometimes I feel as though I must be making it all up and I should try and push through pain and get over the fact that I'm getting very little sleep!
Jay91157 ann75691
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penny54223 Jay91157
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ann75691
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Had physio yesterday and have trapped nerve down the back of neck as well as one down the side of neck running down arm.
Spoke with Dr this morning and he has signed me off for 4 weeks which takes me to summer holidays with a view that if things dramatically improve then give him a call and he can change sick note.
Continue with all pain killers and physio every other day.
Can't do anything about the fact that I'm only getting 1-2 hours sleep a night as I'm on maximum tablets.
Feel happier that I know what I'm doing now but very low due to pain and lack of sleep. Feel like I could cry at the slightest thing.
Jay91157 ann75691
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Have you considered going to an osteopath instead of a physio. I was initailly sent to a physio and basically told me the pain would go away over time. I then opted for an Osteopath who called me at home and asked me to do some simple exercises while sat in a chair. Over the phone he diagnosed a trapped nerve in neck. I had 4 sessions with him and the pain was reduced by about 60% which was amazing. He then suggested seeing a consultant for a spinal injection. Which as you know from my previous comment helped but then the frozen shoulder happened. A private Osteopath charged me £50.00 for half an hour of stretching and pulling on my arm. It did not hurt, and then he gave me gentle and I mean gentle exercises to do for the rest of the week before my next session. He told me to Ice pack the shoulder as well. It really was worth paying out. Maybe this is something you could consider. If I had stayed with the NHS on this I think I woud be screaming by now as they told me I had pain and it will go away at some point, as the exercises they asked me to do, did not increase the pain. I did get an MRI done privately too, approx £1,0000 as the NHS refused me this also. I know money sould not come into it but as you know the pain is horrendous. I am not completey cured and still struggle to sleep at night as lying on the shoulder is still painful, but is a lot better than it was. I worked thorugh mine for a long time. I don't know how I did it as I am typing all day. I would not recommend this so stay off work is my advice providing your doctor is willing to sign you off.
ann75691 Jay91157
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GP very understanding today and has signed me off for 4 weeks now.
Just wish I could sleep. Falling asleep say bolt upright on edge of bed last night as I couldn't lean on anything because of pain in neck.
Jay91157 ann75691
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Lack of sleep is by fat the worse. Your GP should be considering better pain relief for you. Amitriptyline, Baclofen or Gabapentin woudld give you a little help with sleeping.
ann75691 Jay91157
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I have been on Naproxen and Amitriptyllin for months now as well as codeine which takes the edge off only!
Physio yesterday re-aligned 3 vertebrae in my neck so will see if that helps. See him again Monday!