chronic neck pain and headaches

[sillyphallips]

hello! I suffer with chronic neck pain and headaches on a daily basis. I use heat treatment, weekly physio/manipulation therapy, neck stretches and currently take 500mg of Naproxen twice per day. I don’t know what more I can do and am at a loss as to what the problem is

[Hidden]

Are you doing proper physio or just copying stuff from the net?

[Dalrymple]

hi I have exactly the same problem, I had to get an MRI scan and it showed a bit of compression due to wear on my discs , I was put on duloxetine and some good physical therapy and it works really well , hope you find this helpful.

[Suzie42]

I had similar and went to Chiropractor who sorted me out in 2 sessions, my spine wasnt right, wear and tear but was also told posture was wrong and not enough water drunk. This was 8 years ago and still am fine. Lately ve had lower back pain and am having acupuncture for pain, that could also work for you neck and headaches. Acupuncture is brilliant. Hope you get sorted soon.

[Geripop]

Neck pain can signify so many issues, has GP sent you for MRI and refer to headache clinic at hospital?

I’d be hesitant to jump into more manipulation work as it can frequently exacerbate the issue or cause life altering changes. The spinal at the neck being so close to the brain it can cause so many issues.

Ask for a scan as priority, the neck can degenerate at quite a quick pace so needs to be seen promptly. The headaches could be sign of pressure on your cervical area or could be something else but a specialist headache doctor can determine this. Get your GP to start the necessary steps and don’t be fobbed off. Good luck!

[Batty1]

I have this issue with neck arthritis… I have to stretch my neck and back muscles .

[Hidden]

Hey sillyphallips, sorry to hear about your neck pain. I have severe lower back pain and years ago, I bought a small portable TENS unit at the drug store for about $40. They have them on Amazon also. I think if you got one and put one of the small electrode pads on each side of your neck and ran it on a low setting, it would probably be of benefit to you. It stimulates the nerves but relaxes the muscles. On a side note, I have kidney disease and one thing I've learned is that NSAIDS such as Naproxen will destroy your kidneys. See if you can get a prescription for Meloxicam. My wife uses that for her hip joint pain and it works well.

[Acocoa]

Hello sillyphallips,

So sorry you are in so much pain. I too have lower back pain from a spinal Stenosis/bulge disc. I was prescribed Naproxen to take 1 x twice a day. I only take it when i feel the need causes constipation and tummy pain. My doctor prescribed lansoprazole to take with Naproxen to stop stomach pain.

It does help partially but not the strongest, so i add paracetamol.

I should say Amitriptilin 50mg and cocodemol works for me which i take at night.

Hope you find what best for you. Or go back to your doctor for more stronger options. Sending hugs and healing blessings 💜

[Hidden]

Sometimes neck concerns can be caused by bad posture, sitting or if you have been involved in a car accident, whiplash injuries.

If you lift heavy weights that can cause problems as well. In this case a lifting course can also help. Physio can also help also joint manipulation.

Streatching for example trying the grip something higher than yourself, that can also cause stress on spine discs on neck disks. Gardening can also put stress on neck and spine

[Marylyn]

I have cervical stenosis originally had this back of scalp pain.My neurologist advised vit B2 to be taken .I’m already vit D & Vitamin B12 def & been treated for 9 yrs with weekly vit b12 injections & co factors .I was offered cortisone injections which I refused as they destroyed my lower spine 50 yrs ago .I don’t have any neck pain now use contoured pillow I have numb hands of a nite .R one operated on for carpel tunnel with success.I saw neurosurgeon he didn’t advise spine surgery just hand .

[CharlieJ22]

Stop the manipulation treatments immediately and ask your GP for an urgent full spinal MRI and a referral to the pain management clinic. I was sent for a full spinal MRI in March 2020 which resulted in my pain management consultant making me an urgent referral to the neurosurgery department at my local hospital, luckily it's a regional neurosurgery specialist dept. The disc at C6-C7 was completely obliterated and the remnants of the outer of this disc was compressing my spinal cord by around 75% and I needed what was left of the disc removed and the disc space cleaned out then they inserted a cage to support my spine while the joint fused. If you have a cervical myelopathy like me manipulation is extremely dangerous. When I woke up after a five and half hour operation I immediately noticed a huge difference from the way I was before surgery.

[Blackknight1989]

Charlie is correct about the dangers of manipulation with a cervical disk problem. Thus, if you are unsure if it’s the actual cervical spine or just muscles/nerves around the spine then the first thing you need is an X-ray. I would pass on the surgery but that’s me as I’ve already had 20 plus orthopedic surgeries…the left side of my head and neck are dead daily but I’m done with getting cut on! Good luck!

[Smores1973]

Do you have numbness, tingling, pins and needles along with your other symptoms?