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Pain in neck and severe headache at the same time????/

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Posted 3/28/2015 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
As you can see from my signature I have DDD in my neck and Fibro. Both of which can cause pain. My problem is the back of my neck is so tight and when it hurts so does my head. Was in bed last weekend with so much pain I thought I was going to vomit everytime I took the heat off my neck and got up. Have prescription pain pills but they do not help. My granddaughter was here and I had to have someone take her home 2 hrs away :( I have no idea which problem is causing the pain but I can feel it coming on and feel the tightness in my neck but cannot get it to stop. I need to be able to be alone with my grandkids sometimes. Any suggestions from anyone who has this pain. I have been like this since last weekend.
Posted 3/28/2015 9:35 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to CP and unfortunately fibro and CP come hand in hand. Do you currently use PT and what kinds of things have you tried to prevent the onslaught of the headache? Are you currently on a muscle relaxer? You said you have pain pills but they don't work and if they're opiate and not taken on a regular basis they can actually contribute to the headache by causing rebound pain. Massage therapy done by someone who knows what they're doing and is familiar with exact problems and area's pertaining to your ddd may help,aquatherapy is a good candidate for this type of pain if you have access to a hydropool.

Hoping you find something that helps manage but even better prevent the headache prior to the point.
Posted 3/28/2015 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
I have an old whiplash injury, military neck, and other disc issues. I get what I call "neck headaches". Moist heat, massage, anti inflammatories are what I use. They only give temporary relief, but I'll take anything! I'll be seeing a pain management doctor soon and will be asking about muscle relaxers.

Do you have a massaging shower head? If you don't, you might want to try one. I've found that if I massage the area where the spine meets the skull, I get the best relief. It hurts when I'm doing it, but the result is worth it! Sit down while doing it so you don't have to worry about losing your balance. If you don't have the shower head you can still massage the area. I put a pillow on the table, lean my forehead on the pillow, curl my arms with my elbows on the pillow too, and reach the area that way. It always amazes me how tight the muscles are. I just press my fingertips on the muscles, moving them around the entire area. It doesn't take very long. Try it, I hope it helps.
Posted 3/28/2015 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the suggestions. Yes I use to use muscle relaxers and I am thinking maybe I will have to again. I try to avoid meds if at all possible. My profile doesn't say I have liver problems. My Drs. say fatty liver cause have gained so much weight but I feel it is all the meds I took to work. They all said could cause liver problems but Drs said I had no choice to stay at work so here I am trying to be functional with as few as possible. I have tried PT therapy on neck and they did massage. Therapist about died when she seen how tight and hard my neck muscles were. Anyway too expensive. Have thought about chiropractor (have never been) but I don't think medicaire pays for that. But I am going to have to do something soon. Massage does wonders but hands have bone spurs (maybe surgery soon to fix that). It is a constant battle with pain all over with several different things going on. But the neck pain with headache is unbearable and I have to try to stop it. I am grateful that my work forced me on disability for my IBS. I know they cant do that, um they can just fire you for whatever they make up. Reality is they were correct I was not missing work but not able to do it either when I was there some days. I am fortunate that I have a boyfriend to live with so I can afford to be home. Lost my husband to cancer in 98. Oh well I di use heat, could not live without it. I just cannot stop it from going into this unbearable pain. Guess will ask for some muscle relaxers again.
Posted 3/28/2015 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Normal, so sorry to read what you are dealing with. I too have neck problems which thankfully only rears its ugly head from time to time. Back when I was able to work it was 24/7 & it really wore me out.

I don't know how long its been since you have had an MRI done on your neck but if its been a lone time perhaps a new one should be done since the onslaught of this pain. Do you have a history of headaches? You are really in a tough spot because the headaches can cause neck pain & neck pain can cause headaches. Its a matter of trying to figure out what is causing what. The only way to stop the pain is to break the pain cycle & using some meds may be the only way to go.

I know it can get expensive but finding a good massage therapist is worth their weight in gold in my opinion. I would stay clear of chiropractic care until I had my neck evaluated. Sometimes they can cause more harm than good. I am not against chiropractic care & know if its a muscular type of problems sometimes they can help.

Good luck.
Posted 3/29/2015 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
I get crazy muscle spasms from having my TMJs replaced. The jaw muscles are crazy strong which causes spasms in the neck and shoulders. Dry needling has been a life saver. It's not acupuncture and it can be hard to find a PT who is trained to administer it. This and muscle relaxers has helped me. Still in pain, but livable.
Posted 3/30/2015 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again Normal,

If using your hands is not possible (I have trouble sometimes too), try using a tennis ball and leaning back in a high backed chair or laying on the floor. Just moving your head around on the ball can massage the muscles.
Posted 4/5/2015 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
SO tried moist heat and massage. Just didn't use my thumbs :) and finally gave up and got muscle relaxers. Was useless 3 days cause took them all day and night and pain finally stopped However after 1 day ( with all my grandkids) of taking nothing, today the pain is back. Going to call Dr. AGAIN and ask for help. I cannot wait to garden and have family events every weekend this month and I need some relief. Since I don't work I have not had this problem for a long time. And when I do it is over in 24 hours. I am not going to just veg on muscle relaxers! I will try maybe a couple of days on them again and then if pain is back I will have to try something else. I think Im going to try and find a massager that does not vibrate for my neck. I cannot stand the ones that vibrate. Thanks for all the help. I feel so bad complaining to my boyfriend.
Posted 4/5/2015 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Normal. I have tight neck muscles too and they do cause headaches. I had a neck fusion decades ago (really need to create a signature bio).

I agree with some of the suggestions here, specially the one about lying on a tennis ball. What I do is a variation of that, 2 smaller hard rubber balls (squash?) that are duck taped together. I put that at the base of my head and lie on it. If I slowly turn my head, it does put pressure on those tight points.

Also, I hear you on muscle relaxers. I have tried many and either they don't seem to work or knock me out cold. So what I have chosen to do is only take them at night. That way I get the benefit without being too groggy. Although flexeril did give me a hangover, even the next day. I recently switched to zanaflex which seems to work w/out the hangover. Still I have yet to take during the day.

Also, I do agree that a current MRI might be a good call. Always good to know exactly what is causing one's condition.

Wishing you only the best,

Claire
Posted 4/5/2015 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm having headaches from neck pain and it goes into my shoulder too. My pain docs have had me try lots of relaxants, but they put me to sleep. I can't take Flexeril because it gives me serotonin syndrome with my tramadol.

I wouldn't let a chiro mess with my neck knowing it has bones that could break. I have terrible problems besides the above since a spur broke off and pinched my spine, along with falling on my head and breaking some vertebrae.

I'm seeing a neurologist as soon as I can get in. Another couple of weeks. My pain docs have tried, but not all of this is what they deal with.
Posted 4/6/2015 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Neck pain and migraines go hand and hand.

I've suffered neck with migraines for 30 years (since I was 13).  I've had one C5 Fusion neck surgery and I'm supposed to have C4 and C6 done eventually (putting if off, pain management until then).

I the Polar Bear Heat / Ice system my sister bought for my birthday one year.  It comes with neck brace, eye cover, back support brace and Velcro bands, etc.  I keep all this in my freezer and when the neck pain comes I put the ice cold neck brace on.  Can even put it on your head to numb your migraine.  I don't do well with heat so I only ice my neck and head.

I take Soma at night as my muscle relaxer and Opana IR & Nucynta 200 ER together when needed.  Also have the Fentanyl 50mcg patch.  With all this I can pretty much manage my own pain along with the ice methods I mentioned above.

Good luck.

Joe

Posted 4/12/2015 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Love all the help on this site. I cannot and will not ever take tramadol again. Was taking it and other stuff when work and totally lost use of my hands one day. They looked like rubber when I tried to use them. Otherwise no feeling. Really scared me. I was on too much for pain and Ibs but was really struggling to stay at work. Have finally stopped headaches but I can feel the tightness in my neck and shoulders so I know it can come back anytime. Makes me nervous. I actually mowed half my yard 2 days ago. Still cant finish cause too sore. But feeling better. Go back to surgeon in May and might have my first surgery to fix bone spurs. Then on to hernia surgery. Then maybe Labreal tear and bursitis surgery. Yep my body needs some tlc and I need to stop all these meds Im taking. Have told drs no to surgery for 10 yrs so I wouldn't miss work and now I regret not doing it. Work made me go on disability anyway so now I need 3 surgery on 3 areas.
Posted 4/13/2015 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
I just started with a new PM doc who said if I get that tightness around the foramen magnum again he will try trigger point injections in those muscles. I'd give it a try if and when the time comes! That pain is some of the worst!
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