Hi, You may remember me as I have posted here before regarding this but I have had a trapped nerve in my neck which is giving me pain in my neck, shoulder blade and all down my right arm. I am now getting myself so terribly down and have convinced myself that a have a spinal tumour. I have been suffering with this pain for 6/7 weeks now and with each day that goes by I get more and more anxious to the degree now I just don't know how to cope. It doesn't hurt to move my neck from side to side, but if I try to put my chin to my chest I feel it pulling down the back of my neck. Also the bone that is at the base of my neck and the top of my back hurts, but not when it is pressed which I get even more anxious about because I am convinced it is because there is a tumour on the inside.
I have had various visits to my GP and in fact seen 2 other Doctors, a Physio and Chiropractor who all say the same thing, it is a trapped nerve. I just know that without an MRI scan no one can tell me 100% that it isn't a tumour. My GP doesn't want to refer me for one as he says all that does is feed my health anxiety and once I get confirmation that this is ok I will move on to the next symptom. But if the pain doesn't get any better I know that eventually I will be referred and I am so scared.
Has anyone suffered this condition and has it lasted for a long time? I would be so grateful for some feedback, I am crying as I write this I am so sick with worry.
Thank you for your help.

Mary,

Please dont worry. Health anxiety is very common in perimenopause and I'm sure you dont have a tumour. Many women have the symptoms that you have, and a lot of the time hormones are responsible. Do you have epsom salts? I used to bathe with epson salts when the pain got very bad and it really does work to relieve the pain. -- Can you take Ibruprofen? This can help too! --- If your doctor was worried about a tumour he would have sent you for the appropriate tests. My pain was so bad at one point that I decided to do my own exercise routine and I haven't had any pain since --- I thgnk you're more anxious about it because you dread you have some dreadful disease -- You haven't sweety -- Hang in there --


(((hugs)

Hi Mary

I disagree with your doctor. You need peace of mind. I think the best way you are going to get it is by having an mri. My friend Sharon has something similar and she has to go for physio every other week. It was discovered by mri. I have had one you have to lay completely still and they tend to be extremely loud.If you are claustrophopic you may need to be sedated. They do give you a panic button in case you feel any discomfort.(you should not) They even played music I had selected and I was quite relaxed I think mainly because I was finally going to get an answer.Remember you are in control of your health and if your gut tells you that you will feel better and get the answer you need than I definitely think you need an mri.

I forgot to mention I had my mri for M.S. testing. Thankfully I am healthy. I can't begin to tell you though how it set my mind at ease. That my dear is what you need. Get the mri.

Take care
Tara

Hello Mary,

I really feel for you, I do know what it is to be worried sick about a pain/ache, health anxiety eats away at you, doesn't it?

But I also know that, on the whole, GPs err on the side of caution, and if there is dout in his mind then he will surely refer you. Have you asked why he is so sure it is a trapped nerve and why he is not referring you
Are you doing your physio exercises? You really have to persist with these.

Last year I had a persistant headache for about 6 weeks, I was beside my self. I was having physio for tennis elbow at the time and mentioned it to the physio, he did some simple tests then showed me a chart in his office. It showed how a headache can be the result of shoulder tension and poor posture in those sitting at desks all day, just like me. The chart showed pain raidiating up through the back to the exact spot where mine was giving me grief. he have me some exercises to do and it did the trick - eventually. I still have to do them though and continually have to check my posture.

Your GP made a comment about health anxiety, if you are suffering from this then I can really recommend CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), this is available in some cases on the NHS.

Its saved my sanity (well in part!)

I wish you all the best

Thank you both for your quick replies, you wouldn't belive what a comfort to me that is.
I have made some enquiries about having a private MRI, the closest hospital to me charge £450 but they require a referral from your GP. I think this is probably going to be the route I take even though my husband agrees with my GP and of course it is a lot of money but to be hoest I will pay anything for some peace of mind at the moment and perhaps it will help with my recovery. Having said that, part of me is very very scared instead they do find something horrible like a tumour.

Good advice, BearLady ---

You can get CBT on-line, it's completely free. It's called Living Life To The Full. Here's the link.

http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/

Good luck, Mary