Cervical Neuropraxia ?

**Furnace** · Posted On: 6/17/2010 4:36pm

Good evening folks, I was hoping I possibly pick your brains for a minute concerning neck troubles.

About six months ago, I woke up with a screaming pain in the left side of my neck, which lingered for about a month before subsiding - it came back in April, bringing pins and needles in my left hand (noticeably in the last two fingers) at intermittent periods throughout each day. My local GP told me at this point that I had "nicked a nerve", not to worry and take a few weeks rest - which I did and it faded away.

Three weeks ago, it came back. The pins and needles got more intense, when I had a proper fright. I was sparring just over a week ago, when I took a good left hook which blew my head back - my entire left arm went numb right up to the shoulder and I literally couldn't move my arm, hand or fingers for a good five seconds.

My GP diagnosed me the next day with Cervical Neuropraxia in the left side of my neck, and that was about as much use as he was - he got rather rude with me, and said "For the love of god, don't do boxing ! Why can't you do swimming ?".
That didn't make me very happy, so I'm consulting with a remedial & sports massage therapist to see if he can help me deal with the numbness and pain.
I'm icing the area throughout the day, stretching out my neck and doing no physical activity beyond shouting at the kids in the class.

I apologise if this post is overly detailed, but I'd rather provide as much information as I can now and save some hassle.

Is there any more I can do, or are there other potential remedies and forms of treatment I could/should pursue ? Any input would be really appreciated, as I'm really worried about this now.

**Yoj** · Posted On: 6/17/2010 4:42pm

Trapped ulnar nerve, I get the same thing from sleeping funny, swimming is probably not a bad idea.

**BaronVonDingDong** · Posted On: 6/17/2010 4:50pm

I think I have a rather milder case of what you're describing. I had bad shoulder and neck pain and pins and needles in my hand and elbow. I had a scan and it revealed two herniated discs in my neck, one larger than the other.

My doctor told me that it will either never get better, or repair itself over a great deal of time through a process called "resorbtion". That sucked, and sports therapy only seemed to aggravate it. I did, however, buy an orthopedic pillow and a topper for my mattress. I also use a pillow on my left side as an additional support so that I'm not always sleeping on my bad shoulder. Both have worked very well to alleviate symptoms, if not exactly address the cause.

Unfortunately, I've had to stop boxing so much, as throwing crosses with power really inflamed it. Bjj doesn't seem to bother it at all, which I thought it probably would, what with the neck cranks, etc. Similarly, I steer clear of most exercises that involve pulling or pushing weight above my head - pull ups, military presses, etc. - as they seem to make it worse. Also, it gets bad when I feel stressed out, so trying to remain mellow helps.

I'm probably older than you (41) and already have arthritic knees, so I'm used to working around chronic injuries. It sucks balls, but along with all the remedies and treatments, you have to be philosophical about it and keep going irrespective.

Good luck, hope it gets better.

**Shawarma** · Posted On: 6/17/2010 5:18pm

It does not sound like a simple ulnar nerve problem, if you ask me. Those you generally get from resting on your arm in an awkward position, but since your symptoms were made significantly worse from trauma to your head and neck, it sounds like it's a problem where your nerves exit your spinal cord. I doubt that massage will do it much good. It does not sound like a muscular problem, but rather like a squeezed nerve. However, your sports therapist should be able to refer you to a specialist experienced with treating that kind of thing, as they're fairly common in sports like rugby. Alternatively, you may benefit from visiting a chiropractor. All chiropractors do is treat this kind of problem and an experienced one would most likely be able to diagnose it properly beyond "neuropraxia". And if it's simply a problem with your nerves being squeezed by bony structures and you have no outlying medical conditions like prolapsed neck discs or neurological conditions, it's a fair chance they'd be able to treat it effectively with manipulation, mobilisation and stretching.

Recent shouting match on chiropractics, although it might not apply to your local area as British chiropractic is a lot more clinical and standardised than the American variety: Chiropractics - No BS MMA and Martial Arts

**Furnace** · Posted On: 6/20/2010 2:25pm

I'd like to thank you for all the advice guys, much appreciated. I'm getting a referral from my arsehole of a GP to see the Sports therapist, who says that the problem can be fixed (Whether or not he's the man to do it, he doesn't know). I'll also see if I can find a decent chiropractor, there's one in my local area but I've got no idea if he's any good.

I'm starting training again on Wednesday as I've had no improvement whatsoever after 8 days of complete rest. Sitting on my ass and not moving much is making it worse - so I'm going back to a slightly modified regime, lest I lose my fucking mind.

Thank you again for the advice, and the positive responses !

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 6/20/2010 3:57pm

I wouldn't trust what your "arsehole of a GP" has told you. He got it wrong the first time. Can you find a doctor who's more qualified to diagnose this kind of issue?

**Yoj** · Posted On: 6/21/2010 4:28am

Originally Posted by TheRuss

He got it wrong the first time. Can you find a doctor who's more qualified to diagnose this kind of issue?

Thats what the referral is for, to see someone else, you have to see the gp, whether he is an ass or not, to get it, you can usually see another doctor in the same surgery if you arent happy, and if you are really unhappy you can change surgeries, but the process for seeing a specialist is the same, referral by the GP.

Unless of course you want to pay.

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 6/23/2010 9:02pm

Originally Posted by Yoj

Thats what the referral is for

Whoops, I misread that part.

Is the sports therapist a doc, or more of a physio?

**GirlJock** · Posted On: 6/23/2010 9:57pm

my friend has/had Trigeminal Neuralgia and it sounds similar to what you are describing.

EDIT-I just re-read your post a few times...she didn't have any pain or anything below her neck, at least not that I remember

**dwkfym** · Posted On: 6/24/2010 11:48am

Dude, doctors who see athletes regurarly make a world of difference. (or it has for me.) Even if the doctor doesn't specialize in sports medicine, someone who has seen for example, a lot of high school football players or college swim team people, etc. can give you better service as a martial artist.