Help.....trapped Nerve

[yelenots]

I have been to my Dr's today as I have terrible pain in my shoulder blade that goes down my left arm to my fingers. I have numbness & tingling in my fingers. He tells me I have a trapped nerve in my neck and is referring me to the hospital. He has prescribed Codeine.
Has anyone else suffered with this? Does it just go away on its own? I have not slept for the past few nights because of the dreadful pain in my arm......thought I was having a heart attack!
The Dr has also recommend I buy new 'firm' pillows to support my neck - are memory foam ones a good idea or shall I buy feather ones?
Thanks

[237SJ]

I am suffering with the same condition. I slept on a hotel bed about 6 weeks ago and the pillow was too high for me. I woke up with a sore neck and it hasn`t got any better. In fact, the pain is worse. I haven`t any pain down my arm but I have horrible pains up the side of my face and up to the top of my head. I haven`t bothererd with painkillers. I`m going to see an osteopath when I can get some time away from work. I think manipulation is the way to go (rather than painkillers which are not really addressing the problem)

[mazie]

I suffer really badly with my neck and the lower the pillow the better. Most nights I sleep without one.

[furrypusscat]

I had to pay to have 7 appointments with an osteopath. The pain was immense and could not sleep or do anything as the muscles surrounding the nerve had gone into spasm. I would have had to wait 8 weeks for a physio appointment which I just could not do. Good luck with it.