CHAT Has anyone else here ever had brachial neuritis?

Laurelayn

Laurelayn

Veteran Member
It’s inflammation of the brachial nerve bundle that goes through your shoulders. If anyone else has had this, what did you do that brought any relief. The pain in my right shoulder blade is friggin intense! I read that it can last for weeks sometimes. Ice, heat, ice, heat and stretches that feel good have brought a little relief. I don’t like taking anything but the ibuprofen feels like a necessity at this point.
part of me feels fortunate that I have rarely had to endure pain like this in my life but damn, this is thoroughly unpleasant !
 
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UglyBird

Contributing Member
I think I've had something like that was caused by repeated pressure into my armpit area caused by mountain bike riding. My shoulder and neck just ached trying to sleep. That side of my neck felt stiff and I just couldn't twist or stretch it out. The brachial bundle runs down the side of your neck and branches across your shoulder and down your arrm. Google has some pretty interesting pictures of that nerve system. Once I figured out what it was I was able to massage the problem away by deep massaging my pectorial muscles and up the side of my neck. It's pretty painful but it seemed to work.
My issue was caused by repeated stress injury. I don't know what brought yours on so this may not work for you. I feel your pain. I had this last spring and I haven't touched my bike since then!
 
AlaskaSue

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
Laurelayn said:
It’s inflammation of the brachial nerve bundle that goes through your shoulders. If anyone else has had this, what did you do that brought any relief. The pain in my right shoulder blade is friggin intense! I read that it can last for weeks sometimes. Ice, heat, ice, heat and stretches that feel good have brought a little relief. I don’t like taking anything but the ibuprofen feels like a necessity at this point.
part of me feels fortunate that I have rarely had to endure pain like this in my life but damn, this is thoroughly unpleasant !
Click to expand...
Yes, it caused such severe pain at onset I could barely breathe, but forced myself to dr office. Prescribed lidocaine patches for nerve relief (I cannot use NSAIDs), which really did help, along with Tylenol. I started with 3 patches as doc prescribed and over two weeks went down to fewer, and then none as pain was resolved.

I was left with residual weakness on left side back and arm, but have worked with trainer for specific exercises to regain strength. After 7 years I’m almost back to normal, but at least no pain.
 
ShadowMan

ShadowMan

Designated Grumpy Old Fart
Sounds like you have something going on with your neck....that would be around C-4, C-5...maybe C-6. Get X-rays and see a specialist, preferably a D.O. and a good chiropractor. Treat the CAUSE, not the symptom.
 
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PrairieMoon

Veteran Member
If you are looking for a natural topical option for pain, try DoTerra's Deep Blue lotion and Copaiba oil. The above suggestions are great too.

I injured my shoulder last fall. Should have probably gone to a doc, but decided to give it time. I did see my chiropractor, who thought it was primarily torn deltoid muscles. (I think I tore other structures as well, but I liked his dx as I didn't feel compelled to see a medical/ortho doc)

I did stretches, mild exercises, the above oils, massage, ice/heat, and a rare ibuprofen. The shoulder is about 85% now. I was excited when I could close the car door without pain in February and it is continuing to slowly heal.
 
Shadow

Shadow

Swift, Silent,...Sleepy
ShadowMan said:
Sounds like you have something going on with your neck....that would be around C-4, C-5...maybe C-6. Get X-rays and see a specialist, preferably a D.O. and a good chiropractor. Treat the CAUSE, not the symptom.
Click to expand...
When I had what is described it was pinched nerves, C-5,6 & 7. Physical Therapy and traction were the answer to avoid surgery. It worked for the last 20 years.

Shadow
 
colonel holman

colonel holman

Veteran Member
I have treated this condition… a lot, for many people, and have taught graduate courses on this.

It is similar to sciatica, which originates from lower back, but caused by a number of factors. I lower back it comes from bulging lumbar discs, arthritic spinal stenosis, strained sacro-iliac joint, or tight hip rotator cuff.

Brachial plexus neuritis is pretty much the exact same thing, but originating at the neck. Starts out as mild but sustained pressure anywhere along the course of the nerves… anywhere from cervical spine to the carpal tunnel at wrist. Mild squeeze causes entire length of nerves to swell slightly, but enough to compress nerves anywhere they pass through tight spaces at neck muscles (scaleni), pectoral muscles, passing over top rib, elbow, forearm, wrist. Often multiple sites flare up, mimicking tennis elbow, golfers elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The arm symptoms are nasty but NOT the root of the problem.

Aging reduces thickness of discs at cervical spine, causing bones to close down on nerves leaving spinal cord and headed for arm. That is usually the origin of the problem and… yes… gentle at-home cervical traction, neck posture tactics, and stretching are shown to be the best treatment… correcting the mechanical causes at neck. This includes correcting how you posture your head, neck, shoulders during driving, computer work, driving, fine hand tasks. I will post link to my ebook on self-care of neck-arm pain disorders.

Can be highly disabling and can create secondary disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, radial tunnel syndrome (mimics tennis elbow), cubital tunnel syndrome (mimics golfers elbow). That is why treating the neck is vital to treating arm-hand over-use pains.

 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Staying off meds is always a good idea. So many default to get a scrip for some pills but, doing so can come back to haunt you later.

You're the one w/ the pain so you're going to have to decide what's right for you. I can say Summer's Ouch Oil worked a charm for me on an ankle and both knees.
My memory of what passes through the Brachial area is foggy but if you PM her she can tell you if it's likely to help or possibly recommend something else.
 
wobble

wobble

Veteran Member
wobble said:
This recently came into my life:

HUGE improvement.

I wear it to sit, drive, and lift awkward and heavy equipment and objects, and sometimes wear it all day during work.

Most important for me to wear it when sitting. It keeps my back from relaxing the wrong direction, basically relieving bad posture that is exacerbates these issues.
Click to expand...

HEALTH - Bulging disc/ Sciatic nerve problem home remedies?:)

Developing such a "hitch in yer git-along" can instantaneosly transform an otherwise healthy, senior citizen from the active, bold, confident, young feeling person he was yesterday to a wiser realist, more aware of his age and the need to be cautious, lest he do it again. Please be careful...
www.timebomb2000.com www.timebomb2000.com
 
Laurelayn

Laurelayn

Veteran Member
colonel holman said:
I have treated this condition… a lot, for many people, and have taught graduate courses on this.

It is similar to sciatica, which originates from lower back, but caused by a number of factors. I lower back it comes from bulging lumbar discs, arthritic spinal stenosis, strained sacro-iliac joint, or tight hip rotator cuff.

Brachial plexus neuritis is pretty much the exact same thing, but originating at the neck. Starts out as mild but sustained pressure anywhere along the course of the nerves… anywhere from cervical spine to the carpal tunnel at wrist. Mild squeeze causes entire length of nerves to swell slightly, but enough to compress nerves anywhere they pass through tight spaces at neck muscles (scaleni), pectoral muscles, passing over top rib, elbow, forearm, wrist. Often multiple sites flare up, mimicking tennis elbow, golfers elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The arm symptoms are nasty but NOT the root of the problem.

Aging reduces thickness of discs at cervical spine, causing bones to close down on nerves leaving spinal cord and headed for arm. That is usually the origin of the problem and… yes… gentle at-home cervical traction, neck posture tactics, and stretching are shown to be the best treatment… correcting the mechanical causes at neck. This includes correcting how you posture your head, neck, shoulders during driving, computer work, driving, fine hand tasks. I will post link to my ebook on self-care of neck-arm pain disorders.

Can be highly disabling and can create secondary disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, radial tunnel syndrome (mimics tennis elbow), cubital tunnel syndrome (mimics golfers elbow). That is why treating the neck is vital to treating arm-hand over-use pains.

Click to expand...
Thank you for the ebook, there are some very helpful suggestions in there. I saw my chiropractor and have been doing stretches and using the tens unit I got. All helpful but it keeps coming back with a vengeance, usually at around 4am… I’ll keep going though….
thank you all for the suggestions.
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
I'm not trying to push my products, but I've seen my Ouch! Liniment work near miracles on trigeminal neuralgia (inflammation of the trigeminal nerve in the face, that causes awful pain). It also stops my restless legs which start up when certain nerve roots in my spine get inflamed.

I could ship a 1 ounce sample sized bottle got $10, including shipping, if you're interested...

Summerthyme
 
Knoxville's Joker

Knoxville's Joker

Has No Life - Lives on TB
As stated it may be a posture issue. But get xrays and a chiropractor, a good one to get things adjusted. Odds are something is out of alignment from a longer term posture issues of some sort. When I was bulking up I had to change my sitting posture to prevent my arms from going to sleep as it was pinching a nerve...
 
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