Posterior Neck Muscle Pain. 5 years now :( - Pain Management Message Board

Vitagen · 05-19-2006, 10:18 AM

I am sick and tired of this...curse of the neck!
I have a very bad chronic pain in the back of my neck right where the neck muscles meet my skull. It feels like the pain is always in about three points in that area (very top of those neck muscles).

Here's a list of everything I've already tried, but failed to gain control over the pain with:

Chiropractic
Trigger Points (lots of time spent here...no dice)
Massage
Acupressure
Acupuncture
Electric Stem Needle Acupuncture (Tried all kinds of frequencies)
Trigger Point Injections
Hot/Cold applications
Heavy Vibration of the Neck
Electric Stimulation (similar to Electric Acupuncture, but not inside the skin)
Stretches (Been doing all of these the whole time... Too temporary of relief)
Yoga (Tried for a whole year...no improvement whatsoever)
Exercise (I normally get a good amount...I've tried resting for whole months too...both don't effect the pain.)
Neck Exercise (Tried for about 4 months. doesn't help either for some reason)
MRI Scan (They said it looked normal too! impossible...)
Doctor Examination (went there at least 10 times for my neck...he prescribed some new medication almost every time as well as giving the same advice on ergonomic chairs and sleeping methods...no help whatsoever)
Muscle Pain Professional/Physical Therapist (attending one now...been about 4 weeks. no improvement yet.)
Prayer (hey, it's worth a shot. Wish god could magically cure it though...)

I feel the main culprit to my neck pain is the way I sleep. I've tried tons of different ergo pillows and such, but they all failed. It's when I sleep on my back or side on any surface whatsoever, my neck starts to hurt...very bad. The problem is, I can't find anyway to sleep on my stomach, and doctors are always recommending that I don't try it. The problem is, I can't find a comfortable way to sleep on my stomach. I can do it for an hour or so, but then my facial pain starts to keep me from sleeping. Funny thing is, my neck pain literally reduces quite a lot when I'm on my stomach. No pressure, no pain.

I've tried sleeping in over 40 positions now, but the stomach one seem to be the most effective....that is, for only an hour or so. Hah, you wouldn't believe some of the crazy ideas I've had trying to get a good nights sleep so my neck wont hurt in the morning-throughout the entire neck day.

Pain Details: The area in the back of my neck where the skull meets the top of those muscles hurts constantly. I believe these are called posterior muscles.

I also have a chronic stiffness in the Sternocleidomastoid muscles on each side of my neck. They slightly hurt a little, but they are EXTREMELY stiff. I mean hard as bone!!! I think both of my entire Sternocleidomastoid muscles have turned to stone...like a curse! It's crazy how stiff they are.

The Levator Scapula muscles are also very hard. The stiffness is spread throughout that area in different areas, rather than the entire muscles, like my Sternocleidomastoid ones.

To be honest, I think my neck is slowly, but surely, trying to kill me.
The pain is so bad that my motive to live is not exactly in good shape right now.
I just hope this message gets out to that one person who knows exactly how to cure this problem...
This is all one big nightmare that's actually real.
I wish something would just work for once, I beg of it...

TJUAN · 05-19-2006, 11:27 AM

Hi

I'm quite new to these boards myself for other chronic pain problems.

I did have girlfriend who had problems with her neck for years. It ended up being something like spinalcord tortacolis (sp??). She gets shots of Botox in her neck every six weeks to releive the pain. Have you ever had an injury that started this problem out?

Also, have you tried to sleep on your stomach in one of those beds the masseuse use with the hole for your face? That would seem an ideal position for your neck.

Good Luck,
TJ

Vitagen · 05-20-2006, 07:05 AM

Yea, I feel like buying one of them off the internet. The ones used at the place I attend now are fold out beds and they are quite comfortable. I'm sure they can be found for $50 or so.

The specialist at the Headache and Pain center here set me up with occipital nerve block injections for next month. I've never had these, but the doctor there said that a common cause of pain in that very region is Occipital neuralgia.
The injections should allow the occipital nerves to heal.
Hopefully this will solve the problem.

feelbad · 05-20-2006, 07:20 AM

I am sure you have probably had some while trying to find the cause of your problem but you don't state anywhere just what types of testing you have had done to try and find a possible cause for this.what have you had done as far as any radiological testing??Marcia

Vitagen · 05-21-2006, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feelbad

I am sure you have probably had some while trying to find the cause of your problem but you don't state anywhere just what types of testing you have had done to try and find a possible cause for this.what have you had done as far as any radiological testing??Marcia

MRI scan of the neck.