Nerve pinched or something else? iin?

7 Comments

Just as a heads up, this is long--

Okay, this started a few days back. I started feeling very unwell, it felt like I had a fever though I didn't, and I had an extremely stiff neck that caused me 'twinge' feelings in my head whenever I moved. Since I had a couple of other symptoms of meningitis, I went to the doctor's today to be sure. I told him what I had, he took my temperature and confirmed I had no fever, then focused attention to my neck. He moved it around a little, and it felt almost okay for a couple of minutes after the checkup.

However, when I came home and turned my neck a few times as part of normal neck movement, that's where things went wrong. My neck became even stiffer, and my headache pangs started up again. As I'm trying this, I also had and have this: I feel a 'buzzing' sensation all over, mostly near my head, that changes depending on where my neck is leaning. Random nerves around my body started acting up, some parts getting temporarily oversensitive, some numbing, etc. All over. When I'd touch my hand, for example, I had a large pang in my head and neck region (small touches to certain parts will cause pain and 'buzzing' all over, especially in the head/neck region as well). My neck is inflamed, my face is also, but sometimes it'll move to other parts of my body (half of my foot went numb a few hours ago). I also see flickers of light moving across, similar to the ones you get if you rub your eyes...you know, the glowing, colourful ones, or just plain white ones. I'm getting both.

I am having trouble sleeping, I had 2 hours last night, and all attempts tonight so far are failing. I would go to the doctor tomorrow, but they would most likely send me to a chiropractor, which I can't afford. (I am 18 with no job yet).

Is there a way to ride this out and make it go on its own, or will I actually need help for this?

It'll pass. 1
I had this before and can confirm that it will pass. 0
I had this before and think you should see a specialist. 3
It's serious and you should get it looked at as soon as possible. 6
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Comments ( 7 )
  • NeuroNeptunian
    9 years ago

    Go in and see your doctor again ASAP, ok?

    I developed a similar injury during dive training just recently, except mine was worse. A whole lot worse.

    I was injured during the dive, my neck took a hit. I started experiencing similar symptoms to what you're dealing with but unlike an intelligent person, I kept going and made things a lot worse. I was ordered to medivac by the highest ranking sergeant in my unit after he saw what I was dealing with. I even insisted that I was fine.

    My neck injury was treated with the seriousness of a heart attack. Multiple scans showed no sign of damage but I was still ordered to put in medical paperwork for disability down the road and assured that it is likely permanent damage that I did and will have the issue again. I'm sure it could have been mitigated had I just given up and seen the doctor in the first place. I lost the ability to move my back and my arms were swollen and locked into a 45 degree angle for a week. The lead doc discovered I had a fucked up vertebrate in my middle back. Said it was probably exacerbated by the dive and caused further damage.

    Neck injuries are no fuckin' joke. Your spinal cord is extremely delicate. Do not take any chances. See your doctor again. Asap.

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    • temporary-account
      9 years ago

      Thank you for reading, and for the advice! It's one in the morning now...is there something I can do in the meantime, since I've actually made it a little worse since typing this, and I'm a little 'iffy' about falling asleep just in case I turn the wrong way?

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      • NeuroNeptunian
        9 years ago

        What was told to me... 800mg (yes you read that right) of Ibuprofen a day. Abstain from all diuretics, just rest and water.

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        • temporary-account
          9 years ago

          I ended up going to the hospital via ambulance, as it only got worse during the night (my legs were going numb, etc). In the ambulance, the paramedic was convinced that I had been doing drugs, as my pupils were very dilated and I was shaking...but I have never touched a single drug in my life and have no desire to. No drugs, alcohol, tobacco, etc.

          When I finally got a doctor, she ruled it out to be a pinched nerve and told me to just do neck exercises, and that it would clear up on its own. It was morning by then, so I just walked home and slept the entire day.

          I am still getting a buzzing sensation all over at random intervals, my pupils are still dilated, my palms and feet are sweating like crazy, and I sometimes get shaky. I find this to be very odd, as my heart rate and breathing are normal, I am not having a panic attack (and do not have a history of having them). I am urinating frequently and have been for the past few days. A section of my gums is still bleeding sometimes as it has been for a couple days (the doctor said it was an injury and that it would just heal).

          Is there something causing this? I am not on any substance, there's clearly 0% chance I'm pregnant.

          Sorry for the lengthy reply, I just want this to be over with!

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          • NeuroNeptunian
            9 years ago

            Well, I would like to make it clear that I am not a doctor and have very little medical training. All that I know is from First Aid, Special Ed training, Psychology training, personal experience and friends. Don't take my advice as gold.

            Did the doctor do an MRI and X-Ray? That is the only way in which they can truly rule out any real injuries. Did they give you a blood test?

            If the answer to these questions is "No" and you do not feel any better by now and you are not feeling any better, I'd highly recommend you see a different doctor. It's totally, 100% possible that it is a pinched nerve and it does, for the most part, sound like a pinched nerve and the other symptoms could be symptoms of anxiety.

            Keep taking the Ibuprofen and keep resting. No cigarettes, alcohol, diuretics, just vitamins, water and Ibuprofen. If you're not better within a couple of days, go to the Urgent Care clinic. In my experience, Urgent Care doctors tend to be more willing to give you the treatment simply because they are not your Primary Care Physician and don't want to risk making mistakes due to their lack of knowledge of your health history. I could be wrong but then again, I could be right.

            Edit: And by better, I mean by the beginning of next week, having a reduction of symptoms.

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            • temporary-account
              9 years ago

              I was unable to access the internet for awhile. Again, thank you for your help...even if you're not a doctor, you at least have a little background knowledge of medical stuff, and that's far more than what I know in terms of this.

              I've actually avoided taking medication, since there were certain positions that made the buzzing much worse, so I used the pain to see where I should and shouldn't move, as not to make it worse.

              Strangely enough, the pain went away a couple of hours ago, but I was left with a dazed feeling in place of it. My back had been hurting along with my neck before, but now...well, the buzzing feeling is worse, especially in my head and neck, but I still get buzzing everywhere else as well. Urination is still increased, though it's a little harder getting it going, if that makes sense.

              I'm most likely going to the doc in a couple days, at this point I'm beginning to think it's a spinal injury. I probably should've mentioned it before, but in the higher part of my neck, one of the vertebrae is a little 'off', shifted over a little. I may have done something to this after I cracked my neck, who knows. Could be just a pinched nerve after all, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Like you (based on your story you posted) I usually put things off thinking I'll be fine.

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        • temporary-account
          9 years ago

          Thank you very much!

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