My first job after a pinched nerve in my neck

So I got a pinched nerve in my neck a week ago. My neck got stiff and it traveled down my right arm. My neck, upper back, shoulder, trciep, elbow hurt like shit so I took the week off.

I cleaned 4 rooms today with hardly no pain. the customer wanted the tile cleaned but I did't want to push it so I rescheduled it. On the way home after I cooled off and started to feel the pain got iced my neck bengayed my whole arm well see how it feels tomorrow.

The worst pain is at night no position is comfortable and I have these shoot sharp pains. I bought that contour pillow you talked about Rob so hopefully that will give me some relief. But it good to know I can still clean with this injury

Glad to hear it went pretty well, hopefully you don't pay the price next couple days.

I know that pinched nerve down the limb deal type pain.  Years ago I fought a pinched nerve in my lower back, for a couple years actually, that caused pain from lower back to the tip of my toes in my R leg.....it's horrible

Dam it lasted a couple of years? Was it the sciatic nerve?

Way to tough it out, but you are not out of the woods. A pinched nerve like that is likely due to a herniated disc at C4-5.....common area. Nothing really kills that pain as you found out and it can flare up out of nowhere for years.

That pillow will make a huge difference after about 2 nights...especially if you sleep on your side. Beyond that, make it a point to look up at several times throughout the day as most of this problem develops over years of looking down (office work, watching the ground when you walk, hunched over posture).

Sleep good and study the clouds...

damn hope it gets better soon Mo


I know a guy that has a sciatic nerve problem and has to wear a device that shocks the nerve when he hits the button

Lot of people going that route now AC....horrible thought to me.

Jerry Lewis was suicidal due to back pain until they implanted that shock gizmo. Constant pain is a tough animal to fight.

I just realized we are probably depressing Mo with all this gloom talk...sorry buddy, so let me give you some positive stories.

I herniated a disk in my lower back shoveling snow years ago and it kept flaring up for the next year. Things like running a circular saw was murder as it would flare when I reached out with the saw...buckled me right to the ground.

It had me really worried and then it just went away on its own. I haven't had a single back pain since then ....almost 17 years now and I am not kind to my lower back at all.

It might just be a simple inflamed nerve sheath and nothing more. Once it calms down, it will only be a story for another day.

I tell you what Im the type of guy that hates taking aspirin I will just ride out a head ache. But this pain is a bitch right now Im testing to see how many beers it will take to dull the pain.

It is getting better so hopefully thats a good sign

Same here, I don't like taking anything.  I deal with severe pain internally (liver mostly) for the first 8 hours of each day...been that way for the last 4 years and no doctor seems to know why....it is just life, we all have something to bear.

Worst case scenario, you wind up needing to fuse a level in your neck.  IF it comes down to that, I can walk you through that as I have gone through it when they rebuilt my broken neck.  Not bad really, but slow recovery phase with probably zero chance at returning to cleaning for at least 4 months and likely 6 months.

Let's hope it isn't the case and the pillow wipes it out in a few nights.  You will be surprised how well the pillow helps.

Oh man that sucks dude. Ive reading on line wear folk have had good results with those slings that wrap around your head to pull your kneck

That contraption only helps with crushed discs not herniated. Age can cause the discs to collapse becoming rigid and without fluid. A herniated disc is out of alignment with the disc slipped out of its normal position....stretching a herniated disc might not be a very good idea.

You all know that I dislike doctors, but an MRI is a very valuable thing with neck issues before you start experimenting. After my injury, I made the mistake of visiting a Chiropractor who almost puked when she adjusted my neck and it just kept on going like an owl.

The MRI is what told me that I actually had 2 fractured vertebrae and several destroyed discs. I rolled into surgery the next morning.

An Owl   Chiropractors can't align my neck I get to stiff and don't relax, scares the crap out of me

Mo wrote:Dam it lasted a couple of years? Was it the sciatic nerve?

That's exactly what it was.

Chiros scare me too, I don't like all the pressing n popping.

Hope it's feeling better soon, Mo!

Maybe you just need to move to a drier climate.....oh, never mind.

I thought I responded to this thread a few days ago but apparently I didn't, so no you're not the only one Rob, lol.

Today as I was waiting for a table at a restaurant for lunch, I felt an uncomfortable feeling in my right side neck, it's almost a sore feeling, then it kinda escalated to my right shoulder after an afternoon nap, it's almost like this thing is contagious through the forum

I need to start selling contoured pillows....I might become rich.

Well, we all have the Med issue in common. I wont take a pill for anything.....I will do the Ibuprofen but thats it....my doc will give me anything I ask for too. The best thing is heat or cold packs and a glass of wine or beer....meditation and showers....stretching and rolling around on the floor. I can handle lots of pain. must be a carpet cleaner thing.

I can certainly handle lots of pain but not because I'm a carpet cleaner, more likely because I'm married lol

dp1 wrote:I can certainly handle lots of pain but not because I'm a carpet cleaner, more likely because I'm married lol

Tell me about im in the dog house with my wife right. She'll go weeks giving me the cold shoulder. I just look at it as a vacation

dp1 wrote:I thought I responded to this thread a few days ago but apparently I didn't, so no you're not the only one Rob, lol.

Today as I was waiting for a table at a restaurant for lunch, I felt an uncomfortable feeling in my right side neck, it's almost a sore feeling, then it kinda escalated to my right shoulder after an afternoon nap, it's almost like this thing is contagious through the forum

Its like clock work after every summer of busting ass my body tell me to slow the hell down

Mo wrote:

dp1 wrote:I can certainly handle lots of pain but not because I'm a carpet cleaner, more likely because I'm married lol

Tell me about im in the dog house with my wife right. She'll go weeks giving me the cold shoulder. I just look at it as a vacation

No wonder you're always online lately and always answer my phone calls and texts, lol

It might be contagious Mo.

Both my sub and my helper failed to show up for work last night leaving me to clean 8100 square feet of a theater lobby myself.

I was good for about 4.5 hours and then I strained my elbow tossing hoses out of the way and then wrenched my back after moving the 30th sand-filled brass stanchion.

I didn't get done until after midnight....5.5 hours after starting and I was pushing the pace. I feel like a corpse now with all the stiffness.

I get to go back tonight to clean the seated portion of the theater. I don't know how I am going to feel after some sleep, but my help better show this time as I am in no mood to clean 500 seats by myself.

But hey, at least my neck doesn't hurt...it is just everything else.

I hope they show up Rob. If do end having to do those by your self make sure to take breaks, do some stretching of the neck and back or maybe do have today and the other half some other time.

Rob....I would not use that help again! If I cant count on someone, they are dirt to me. especially if I was hung high like 8100 sf. %.5 hrs is a tough one.....thats about all im good for in one evening. I had my brother in law help me the other day and even with him not knowing a thing he was great help just to save steps.....on a flight of steps at two homes I would have been up and down them at least 20 times......I gave him 15 of the 20. plus he could pull some hose and wrap it up while I collected. 4 bigger jobs made him valuable.

DP....That was funny right there!
Mo....Mr gets to vacation alot!