Back pain and hand tingling?

Since about December I have been having bad upper back and neck pain. I work as a medic and I know that the lifting can cause all sorts of injuries. On top of that I have migraines that I have had since childhood. The pain is especially bad between the shoulder blades and up my neck. I can't sit for more than 30min or so without extreme pain shooting up my spine. This at times is causing major migraines lasting for weeks at times. I have had an MRI and it was fine however a couple of days later I dropped a 300lb pt and tried to catch her a hurt myself even more. So I don't even know what I have done since. The headaches are worse. I now get tingling in both of my hands for no reason. I will be at rest. I am on Valium when I am not working and Trazadone for pain. I also take Topomax as a migraine preventative. The headaches seem to be getting a little better but the back and neck with the hand tingling is getting worse and worse. I also get pain in my legs when trying to rest. Help

I do not take any narcotic pain meds and I do not want to. The pain is especially bad on the left side which coincidently is where the migraine normally starts. I also get tingling in my feet occassionally but it is normally in the hands. Dr's seem to think it's just a sprain or pulled muscle but I think it's more. If you think you know I could use some suggestions.

Go to a Chiropractor, first. Then see an orthopedic surgeon.
You need some serious help that you aren't going to get here on Y/A

go see mr. bones to have your back alined ,sounds like a pinched nerve in you back, the chyro will make you feel like new

so it's a pinched nerve. see a good chiropractor.

you need to go back to the doctor you hurt or pulled a muscle get checked out groin injury to many to say the migraine might be a sign of what 300 pds pt has on your body

Have you thought of seeing a physical therapist? I deal with some of what you described. As a medic I'm sure you do a lot of repetitive motions while lifting which can cause inflammation in your muscles which can pinch nerves. (That's my problem anyway.) After literally not being able to move, I finally went to a physical therapist. It has helped so much! I also sleep with a sort of neck roll under my neck-I was told a rolled up towel works well too. When my pain is bad I also get headaches on one side. I was told this is caused by either the pinched nerve or tension from the muscles. Either way I feel really bad for you and know how painful back and neck pain is. Has anyone ever mentioned a bulged disc? They thought that's what I had at first but it's not the case. I find that exercise really helps me too, as does seeing my chiropractor every couple weeks. Sorry I don't have much of an answer... I wish you the best of luck!!

Sometimes nerve pain when it is healing it can get worse before it gets better, it can be a sign of healing, although if you are very concerned you may want to try and get a referral to a doctor who specialises in pain and nerve injuries. I don't know why you would rather take valium than opiate pain killers. An opiate withdrawal is a walk in the park compared to a sedative hypnotic withdrawal. Valium won't do much for pain anyway unless it is muscular and even then benzos loose their effectiveness after a few weeks usually. I have been through both and benzos are 100 times worse to come off and the withdrawal lasts months and months whereas opiate w/d was over in 10 days for me anyway.

Headaches can be caused by minor problems
like eyestrain, lack of coffee or more serious reasons
like head injury, brain tumors, encephalitis and
meningitis. Taking painkillers continuously can
have harmful side effects, so it is better to
modify your lifestyle. More information available at