How can my mother, 34, manage neck pain radiating to the arm?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother is having extreme pain arising from her neck towards the right arm (which is due to nerve compression). She was diagnosed with a spine problem. I do not know what exactly that is called, but the doctor said the 2 lumbar (exactly I do not know) are compressed, which caused pain.

Right now, we want a solution to relieve the pain, as it is really getting worse. We have been to the hospital, and the emergency doctor prescribed a Voren injection, Tizanidine, and Naproxen to relieve the pain, but nothing works well. She herself has taken Tramadol, Nuberol forte, and Diclofenac sodium, but nothing worked. It has been three days, and the pain is not subsiding.

We used nonpharmacological treatment as well as icing, heating pads, and massage, but she still has extreme pain. She is 34 and has had lithotripsy as well because of the kidney stones and has arthritis as well. So, I do not want to recommend anything to my mother as I know that can harm her GI. She has had ulcers as well but was then diagnosed and treated and is well. I found out from the NICE guidelines that the first-line treatment for neuropathic pain is Gapapentin. I am just confused to give it to my mother. Should the dosage be 300 mg? I am not sure about the dose.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your query and concern.

I would like to know further details about your mother's problem. Since when did she start to have this pain? In which body parts does she feel pain? What kind of pain is this? Is it shooting or current-like pain? Does she have heaviness, burning, tingling, pins, needle sensations, or some other kind? Does this pain increase on neck movements like moving forward, backward, or sideways? Does she also have any tingling, pins and needles, or numbness in her hands or palms? Has she undergone any investigations already?

The differential diagnosis is cervical radiculopathy. Here you mentioned that she has neck pain and right arm pain, but you are saying that the doctor has given an explanation by two lumbar nerve compresses. Lumbar nerve compression should not cause pain in the arm and neck. Gabapentin is used for neuropathic pain. You can try it, but she must be evaluated for the etiology. I would like to know this information and also want to see whatever test she has undergone for further decisions.

Revert with the above-mentioned information for better understanding and judgment.

Kind regards.