what kind of doctor?

Ok, so long story short, two and a half years ago I was in a car accident. A few weeks later I began getting horrible migraines. I was constantly in pain. I also had neck and shoulder pain. I saw plenty of doctors, my primary care doctor, a migraine neurologist, chiropractor, neurologist (who as a jerk), and a Pain management doctor.  I had multiple spinal injections, chiropractic care, massage therapy, physical therapy, medication, and more.  I had been told I had Disc Degerative Disease (mild) and Whiplash. Once I was done with these treatments, my doctor diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. She didn't run any tests, but felt that my pain ws muscular, so she put that name on it. I am still to this day on Ultram, which is used to treat the pain.

 Really the only thing that actually helped was time.  The pain became less severe and less often, though I still get flare ups. It's hard to tell what causes flare ups. I know the change in weather can cause it, and my monthly period can as well. Sometimes sleeping in the wrong position causes it, sometimes it appears for no reason.

Well this last flare up is a doozy. I am on my 8th day of terrible pain and can no longer take it. usually my flare ups will last up to three or so days, but over a week? That has not been the norm.

I can feel the pain and pressure in my neck. Almost like a burning pain. It hurts to touch and it hurts just sitting there.  It honestly feels like nerve pain that's deep inside. My neck and shoulder muscles are sore as well, so I keep my massage pillow on them periodically, along with some heat. Then I've got the horrible, tension-like headache as a result of the neck tenseness.

My question is I am about ready to see another doctor. I have given up hope for too long. I still get pain and I am tired of masking it with medicine, I want to try at it again to see why I keep hurting and fix it. So what type of doctor should I seek out for help? A rheumatologist? An orthopedic doctor? I have no idea. I feel like I have muscle and nerve pain in the neck/shoulder area that causes the headache.

I also have terrible pain in my neck and back. I haven't had any luck with chiro, massage, acupuncture, etc. What about seeing a pain management doctor? They will have lots of good options for you, some of which we've never heard of probably! I'm considering seeing one too. I also don't want to get involved with narcotics. Alternatives are needed!

honeybaby - The chiropractor didn't help for me with the headaches. In the very beginning, my occipital nerve was inflamed, and that was causing horrible pain, so horrible I didn't realize I had other pain in addition to that. They gave me a nerve block and that helped with that pain. That's when I realized I felt pressure on my neck. The chiopractor actually relieved that pressure instantly, but was never able to touch the pain for whatever reason.

They did do X-rays, which just found whiplash and mild DDD. The MRI came out clean, other than a tiny bone spur which the doctor said is not what is causing me such pain. But he didn't say what could be, just that I need to basically get over it because it's all in my head. No one ever did any nerve tests. That's the other thing though. I feel like my nerves are effected some how, but at the same time, I don't have any tingling or numbing sensations, so it's hard to tell. I just have this pain deep inside of my neck and head along with the shoulder and neck muscular pain.

As for as the fibro, I just don't personally see that as what I have. I am not fatigued or anything like that. I just have head, neck, and shoulers. No other body aches of any sort, none of the other symptoms typical of Fibro.

Ginny - I did see a Pain management Doctor for awhile. I tried a few spinal injections, even did the rhizotomy, where they shock your nerves, or whatever it's called. None of that worked. Now, I will admit that the trigger point injections did work wonders for the shoulder pain. But that was the most painful procedure I have ever done, and at $600 a pop, I just couldn't get myself to do it. Plus it only helped the shoulder pain and not the head and neck pain since they can't do it on your spine.

I take the Ultram which is for the muscle pain of Fibro. It's hard to tell if it works. I am supposed to take Cymbalta, which is an anti depressant that also treats nerve pain, but I don't feel it does anything for me. I have taken vicoden before, but right now it's tylenol with codeine, when it's really severe. But no narcotics have ever really masked the pain.

Bella Scarlett - I am so glad the chiropractor helps you. I truly believe they can do wonders for people, unfortunately it didn't help me much. I am however, thinking of trying again, with this flare up.

this is my story exactly! I have been seeing a PMR(pain, medicine rehabilitation) dr. I have been getting botox injections but I'm not 100% positive they work yet, I have had 3 rounds of injections. After about 3 weeks I need to get trigger point injections. My dr really wants to inject steroids also, which I know will help, but I already have avascular necrosis from steroids, which was mostly from prednisone, anyway, both of my hips have been replaced since.

The trigger point injections, I get them in my neck and shoulders and they really calm the pain. If you want a liitle more info let me know. I must say that my dr did not dance around my pain or prognosis, which was very refreshing for a change.