Presumably pinched nerve?

[nickyboy]

Well that was a very frustrating visit to the GP.....

Thankfully being prearmed with @Hacienda71 's experience was most helpful. Basically the GP explained what had happened (in his view the disc between the neck vertebrae has "squished" out a bit and is pressing on the nerve) and that it wasn't fixable. All I could do was do exercises to strengthen my neck muscles so as to take the strain off the affected area. He told me to look on the internet for the exercises to do....

I'm not one to take things lying down so I pushed him to recommend a private physio. At which point he said actually there was a local NHS clinic I can self-refer at! He wasn't going to tell me this. He then went on to tell me at my age it's all downhill and whilst I can reduce the speed of general body degeneration I should come to accept this. Thanks Doc!!

 

[vickster]

You could maybe try these guys if no joy with the NHS clinic (or a very long wait)

http://www.globaltherapies.com/

Or this clinic in Sheffield does physio for older adults

http://www.hallamshirephysiotherapy.com/

 

[si_c]

Well that was a very frustrating visit to the GP.....

Thankfully being prearmed with @Hacienda71 's experience was most helpful. Basically the GP explained what had happened (in his view the disc between the neck vertebrae has "squished" out a bit and is pressing on the nerve) and that it wasn't fixable. All I could do was do exercises to strengthen my neck muscles so as to take the strain off the affected area. He told me to look on the internet for the exercises to do....

I'm not one to take things lying down so I pushed him to recommend a private physio. At which point he said actually there was a local NHS clinic I can self-refer at! He wasn't going to tell me this. He then went on to tell me at my age it's all downhill and whilst I can reduce the speed of general body degeneration I should come to accept this. Thanks Doc!!

I'd not be too happy at that sort of response. New GP maybe?

 

[midlife]

I'd ask for a referral to a consultant neurosurgeon / spine surgeon. Do you have an occupational health place at work as it can affect your job.

Shaun

 

[nickyboy]

Self

I'd ask for a referral to a consultant neurosurgeon / spine surgeon. Do you have an occupational health place at work as it can affect your job.

Shaun

Self employed. I'm going to self refer to the physio clinic and see what gives. In the meantime I'll do the exercises the GP recommended and keep a close eye on it
GP also suggested I didn't cycle too much too. WTF

 

[kingrollo]

[QUOTE 4637038, member: 9609"]My experiences of GPs and spinal problems have been similar, they don't seem particularly interested.

Somebody out there will probably have the right solution for you, the trouble is it can be a very long road to find that person, what seems to work wonders for one person can be a waste of time for another, the spine is such a highly complex structure I doub't anyone truly understands what is going on.

My saviour after visiting all manner of therapies was my second go at pilates, she wanted to do one on one sesions with me so as to truly understand my strengths and weaknesses, she then worked with me on some very simple, very easy exercises and over a period of about 6 months massively improved my lot. To me she is a miracle worker, but I know someone else who reckons she is a waste of time.

Good luck

One last thought, bulging discs etc do sort of heal but the time scale is massive, even if you sort out your posture problems (if that is the root cause) then the bulging disc may take up to a couple of years to regress back from the nerve it is touching. See if you can get a MRI scan to show what exactly is going on (I believe it is a big waiting list in England though, but ask all the same)[/QUOTE]

The key with the NHS is you need to get into the hospital system and away from primary care. Once in the system you will get MRI scans - and get to see specialists consultants.
The posture work will help and is good practice - but is very generic.
I have found yoga very good for flexibility - you might also want to try some general gym work

 

[fossyant]

You'll be better going private even if just for a few sessions. They can advise much better.

The NHS Physio I got was useless and that's after a broken spine.

I only went because I had to. I have told my consultant the physio was useless.

If it continues ask for a referral to a consultant.

I can't stand GPs. I've yet to find one that's any good.

 

[Hacienda71]

Update on my progress. Second physio session today. Had a new chap as my appointed physio was off ill. I had been doing the exercises all this week and had less tingling but more of an aching neck muscle. Occasionally feel like this after a long ride. He told me this was a good sign and what was expected as part of "transference". He then did lots of spine compressions and a deep massage which was actually what I felt like I needed. I asked him about the prognosis and his view was very much that I should end up feeling completely normal again and it was a question of getting everything back to working in unison rather than single muscles taking excessive loads. Next appointment booked for a week and another seven days of exercises lined up that give me a great double chin and have my kids in stitches.

 

[fossyant]

I've booked in with the physios at work for a sports massage and some spinal manipulation. £25 a session rather than £45.

 

[nickyboy]

Update on my progress. Second physio session today. Had a new chap as my appointed physio was off ill. I had been doing the exercises all this week and had less tingling but more of an aching neck muscle. Occasionally feel like this after a long ride. He told me this was a good sign and what was expected as part of "transference". He then did lots of spine compressions and a deep massage which was actually what I felt like I needed. I asked him about the prognosis and his view was very much that I should end up feeling completely normal again and it was a question of getting everything back to working in unison rather than single muscles taking excessive loads. Next appointment booked for a week and another seven days of exercises lined up that give me a great double chin and have my kids in stitches.

Very interesting progress. The good news for me is that I self referred for physio last week and I'm already booked in for my first appointment tomorrow. What I'm finding is that my symptoms are changing; it started off with just slight numbness in the index finger but quite a bit of pain in the shoulder which made sleeping difficult. Now the shoulder pain is largely gone...but I've got more numbness and occasionally the tingling down my forearm to my hand. No idea what this means but hopefully the physio can make some sense of it

 

[nickyboy]

Update....I went for my first physio session this afternoon. Very much an assessment of my condition but she made it clear that she thought the GP's advice was hopeless. It isn't a disc problem and it certainly isn't chronic

I've got some exercises to do to hopefully help and I'm booked for another session in a couple of weeks. She will see how progress is based on these exercises after the initial assessment and modify accordingly

Seems I'm also a bit stiff and inflexible in the neck and shoulders so she suggests some yoga for this, combined with the cycling for cardio. Given I only self referred a week ago I'm very impressed with the service thus far

 

[nickyboy]

Here's the yoga I had a go at. Of course I should go to a class etc but this is so convenient being able to do it whenever I like at home. Blimey it was hard....


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fv4BkJZghI&t=1844s

 

[summerdays]

Here's the yoga I had a go at. Of course I should go to a class etc but this is so convenient being able to do it whenever I like at home. Blimey it was hard....


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fv4BkJZghI&t=1844s

What I'd say about a class is that it is very useful to have someone correcting your mistakes, and reminding you of various points to look out for. I had my Pilates class tonight, and I had a couple of comments specifically to me, and a few that were general that I suddenly realised applied to me. So when we were doing lunges for example being shown the correct and incorrect posture that we were aiming for and being able to suggest extensions for those who are more able or easier options for the gentleman with a shoulder injury that prevents him doing some of the exercises fully.

 

[Hacienda71]

Fourth physio session today. Had my vertebrae manipulated from my middle back to the top of my neck. Apparently the vertebrae in my back are pretty stiff as well as the neck and all of it is linked to my nerve issues. More exercise including stretching out the top of my back prescribed. Appointment booked for next week. Physio seems positive thinks are going in the right direction.

 

[nickyboy]

Fourth physio session today. Had my vertebrae manipulated from my middle back to the top of my neck. Apparently the vertebrae in my back are pretty stiff as well as the neck and all of it is linked to my nerve issues. More exercise including stretching out the top of my back prescribed. Appointment booked for next week. Physio seems positive thinks are going in the right direction.

Good news for you

I've been doing my exercises prescribed by the physio at the initial session. They're pretty standard stretches of the neck and shoulder it seems. The good news is that my symptoms are definitely alleviating. Permanent numbness, which was present in my thumb, index finger, middle finger is almost completely gone, just a very little in the tip of my index finger. I'm still getting some waves of tingling down my forearm into my hand but not as much. Still can induce some pain down my forearm into my hand by stretching my neck into certain positions. However, it seems to be getting better

I'm really pissed off with the GP who told me this was a chronic condition (physio said it wasn't and it seems it isn't) and was caused by a disc being squeezed out and pressing on the nerve (physio said that it isn't). He also didn't recommend self referral for physio until I pushed him. My concern is that if he can't get this diagnosis right, what happens if I present some more serious, complex symptoms?