Hi there Ozzy,
I'm also sorry you are experiencing so much pain. I'll fill you in on what happened and is still happening for me, although you need to remember that what has or hasn't worked for me is me specific.
About a month or so ago I woke up, sat up and then turned back to get something off the bedside table. I felt a spasm/pain in my neck and then that was it. Very rapidly I developed radicular pain all down my right shoulder, arm, hand and tingling in my fingers. Initially I tried to stick it out and just rest for three days. It didn't help. I went to the chiro who x-rayed my neck and commenced treatment. The second day into my treatment I drove in excruciating pain to work (a one hour drive). I got there only to lose it and break into tears in front of the deputy principal (I'm a teacher). I went straight back to my chiro and got him to write a letter to explain my need for pain medication and I finally got an appointment to see a new gp on Friday. I was lucky... This gp happened to be keenly interested in spinal and sports injuries. He read the letter after talking to me and sent me to have an urgent ct scan. I was given pain medication and my results were degenerative damage, a bulging discs at c5/6 and nerve impingements at 6 with at smaller bulge just below. Her referred me to a pain management specialist who he trusted and I saw this doctor on tuesday. He scheduled me in on the same day for a cortisone epidural. The procedure didn't hurt at all as I was put out to it and immediately afterwards I still felt a lot of pain. Over theft couple of weeks the radiating pain subsided, but aching in my shoulder and arm persisted. Every time I sat down to drive pain would shoot up my arm. Every time I do anything I felt pain and got pins and needles in my thumb and fingers. I'm now on lyrica to help with the aching (reflective pain), which has helped. I still get some pain and definitely get just as many pins and needles when I sit, bend or reach. I had a MRI on Friday and saw the pain specialist on Tuesday. I've been referred to see a surgeon, who I'll see in two weeks. Next week I'll have a 2nd epidural to try and help with the pain and pins and needles from the impingement, until I get the surgeons opinion and possible surgery. My gp insists on me getting a second opinion re surgery if that is what is suggested.
So there you go. I'm sick of lying down... I now also have lower back pain, which isn't uncommon from c5/6 issues, apparently. Living in constant pain is draining, as I'm sure you know. Having to sleep on my back is challenging. Thankfully the lyrica can cause drowsiness so some nights I get some decent sleep now. But only some.
Hope you're feeling much better by now,
Wendy