Neck pain unsolved!

Hi

I have suffered from neck pain for the last 4/5 years and as it has gradually gotten worse am desperately trying to find a solution. Please excuse the use of non-scientific descriptions!

I get recurring muscle pain down either side of my neck, usually worst at the top joint into the skull. I also get very tight muscles on top of my shoulders up into the neck. Pain seems to come on with no obvious triggers and for no reason can one day be the left hand side, next could be the right. If I leave the pain with no treatment, it usually worsens and causes headaches and at it's worst if I don't treat it can bring on a migraine.

I have tried osteopathy (generally some soft tissue work and cracking of top joint in neck) very frequently over the 4/5 year period trying several different practitioners. At it's best, this would relieve symptoms for a couple of weeks and then returning for treatment monthly. Over the last year though the effects of a treatment would generally only last for a week before pain returned.

Last year I visited a spinal consultant who x-rayed and was happy there was no bone issues. He did refer me to a physio who could not believe how tight my neck muscles were! She worked into the soft tissue for a few weeks and then begun some exercises to strengthen the neck muscles (she said this would stop the incorrect muscles from being used in supporting my head). i diligently did the exercises for a month or so and am still continuing. Her manual therapy gave me more relief than the ostopeathy and I felt like this could be working. Unfortunately though the neck pain still returns after a couple of weeks and so the physio has now discharged me as she says what she is doing is not really working.

I am at a real loss now as to what to do...I am otherwise a very fit 35 year old and love sports. I feel currently restricted in what I do as most physical activity will bring on the neck pain and so cost me another treatment.
I am going to go back to my GP...can someone recommend who I should be asking to be referred to? Is there a specialist field for soft tissue pain? Any other advice welcome!

Hi abbie123,

I'm just another patient, so please don't take my opinion as anything other. I'm familiar with the symptoms you describe, and I've had cervical spondylosis for many years. Xrays are not really the best way of determining any degeneration in the neck area. You could ask your GP for a referral for MRI scan, which is much more definitive in these matters. If the GP won't refer, then ask for a referral to a Physiotherapist, as they can also refer for MRI. I'm not sure that your symptoms point directly to a C/S problem, but the way you describe what you've experienced over last few years rings a bell with me. These changing, unpredictable symptoms are characteristic of possible C/S degeneration, or at least a threatened nerve in the cervical spine. I had many xrays over many years, but it was just one MRI scan which highlighted the problem.

Hi abbie123,

Just out of curiosity can you tell me the following:
- What do you recall doing or was there an event that started the onset of symptoms? maybe car accident? or sporting injury?
- Occupation?
- Any pins and needles/ numbness sensations? Any other symptoms like double vision/ dizziness?

Hard to tell without seeing your movement or posture so the above questions may give a bit more information.

Hope I can help.

K