Hi again Dave....thank you for the compliment. I've learned from experience, unfortunately.
My opinion is that I would never recommend a chiropractor for a neck problem without an MRI first....and I know you haven't had one done yet. Here's why. You have no idea if the pinched nerve is from the vertebrae, a herniated disk, an arthritic bone spur or any one of a number of other problems so manipulating an unseen vertebrae can do great harm. Your neck starts at C7 around your shoulder level and goes up to the base of the skull but the main neck vertebrae are basically C3 to C7. C1 and 2 are shaped differently and rotate the head and actually have their own separate disorders. From C6 and up, there are arteries(vertebral arteries) to the brain going up through the bones...actually within the vertebrae themselves. So if the pinched nerve is from a bone spur or collection of bone spurs and they are moved by the chiro, you risk having the arteries pinched as well and BINGO!, you have a stroke. So I would wait to see a chiro until I had an MRI and as you know...BIG bucks...so wait until January.
On the 12 week thing, the most recent study I have read is that if you are going to have a pinched nerve fixed, it is best to do it within the first year after the onset of pain. Could be that after 12 weeks it won't resolve but I know many people, including myself, who have had pain resolve after that date. But you are still within that 1 year time line even in January so wait and relax. You'll need an MRI first anyhow to see what it causing it. Only then can you figure out what to do next.....and there's lots of other ways to treat it without surgery.
Glad you are feeling better and I'll give you another tip. When we get tense, the first thing that happens is that our neck and shoulder muscles tense...that preceeds the inevitable headache that tension brings. So just relaxing and not letting the pain get to you is the best thing for you. That's why I practice meditation to control my pain and keep the muscles loose. Easier said than done....I know! But if you can chill out and try to relax, it will help the pain a lot. Muscles in spasm can hurt more than the pinched nerve itself.
Stay in touch....................Jenny
My opinion is that I would never recommend a chiropractor for a neck problem without an MRI first....and I know you haven't had one done yet. Here's why. You have no idea if the pinched nerve is from the vertebrae, a herniated disk, an arthritic bone spur or any one of a number of other problems so manipulating an unseen vertebrae can do great harm. Your neck starts at C7 around your shoulder level and goes up to the base of the skull but the main neck vertebrae are basically C3 to C7. C1 and 2 are shaped differently and rotate the head and actually have their own separate disorders. From C6 and up, there are arteries(vertebral arteries) to the brain going up through the bones...actually within the vertebrae themselves. So if the pinched nerve is from a bone spur or collection of bone spurs and they are moved by the chiro, you risk having the arteries pinched as well and BINGO!, you have a stroke. So I would wait to see a chiro until I had an MRI and as you know...BIG bucks...so wait until January.
On the 12 week thing, the most recent study I have read is that if you are going to have a pinched nerve fixed, it is best to do it within the first year after the onset of pain. Could be that after 12 weeks it won't resolve but I know many people, including myself, who have had pain resolve after that date. But you are still within that 1 year time line even in January so wait and relax. You'll need an MRI first anyhow to see what it causing it. Only then can you figure out what to do next.....and there's lots of other ways to treat it without surgery.
Glad you are feeling better and I'll give you another tip. When we get tense, the first thing that happens is that our neck and shoulder muscles tense...that preceeds the inevitable headache that tension brings. So just relaxing and not letting the pain get to you is the best thing for you. That's why I practice meditation to control my pain and keep the muscles loose. Easier said than done....I know! But if you can chill out and try to relax, it will help the pain a lot. Muscles in spasm can hurt more than the pinched nerve itself.
Stay in touch....................Jenny