[foreverromantic]

Unfortunately, I went to a massage parlor for massage treatment to my neck when I awoke one morning several weeks ago and could not move my neck to the right and had excruciating pain there. Thereafter, I began to get tingling nerve pain in the front right shoulder and along my right jaw line, which are the areas which the massage person worked on. An MRI of my neck and a BRAIN MRI are scheduled.
My question is: "If they cannot do anything about my nerve pain with traditional meds, etc... would ACUPUNCTURE help this?
The neurologist has told me she cannot say anything until she reads the tests and see what is going on.
Also, as I see it... I should also see a personal injury attorney.
Three weeks of physical therapy never helped my range of motion for neck.
Appreciate any advice.
Thank You.

[joypulv]

Before you start thinking about personal injury lawsuits, just remember - countless conditions worsen anyway, with or without some alternative treatment. You have no idea yet what is even wrong! In addition, massage isn't considered treatment, so you would have to prove harm. Practically impossible. You could try small claims for your money back, but even that sounds dubious to me. Do you have some proof of promises made?

I (and millions of others) am a poster child for nerve pain. I have often thought over the years that I had some sort of disease, because of all the areas of my body that hurt or were queasy or brought on fatigue, but they really are all pinched nerves, plain and simple. (In my case, shortening spine as I get shorter with age, and some scarring from heavy work when I was young.)

Your MRIs may show nothing, so be prepared!
My suggestions, IF they show nothing:
1. be current with dental care
2. research GOOD chiropractors (I saw one good one and one terrible one) I personally would try a chiropractor before an acupuncturist, because I think they can help a wider range of nerve pain.
3. embark on all the 'at home' things you can do with baths and moist heating pad and pillows when you sleep, and study carefully how you sit and sleep. Rotate your neck gently as much as you can while using moist heat.

As I age, I have to be extremely aware of how I use the computer most of the day. I lowered the desk and chair, and use my knee as a mouse pad so that my shoulder isn't unnaturally raised (a sure way to get sharp pains all down from neck to wrist). I move my neck around and often wear a scarf. A problem with notebook computers is that the keyboard needs to be the height of your bent arm when relaxed, yet the screen needs to be pretty much at eye level - impossible. So get your arm just right and then force yourself not to scrunch over to peer at the screen.

Bottom line: Most nerve pain takes a lot of work by the individual, and doesn't have a quick cure. Muscle relaxants and painkillers do help by allowing us to move around, get rest, and even exercise. But they have their drawbacks, and need to be cut back just as soon as possible. Even Tylenol and ibuprofin do, the two drugs I use, despite having a big bottle of Vicodin.