To want some sort of drug that will relax the muscles in my neck??

[Stugs]

I keep having headaches and migraines and the muscles in my neck and shoulders are permanently rock hard. If I try and rotate my head a lot I get dizzy and faint.

I had this before 10 years ago after whiplash and the physio couldn't treat me as I kept fainting when she tried to manipulate my neck. I had an MRI scan which showed the top of my spine was straight not curved? Which apparently puts more strain on the surrounding muscles.

Would valium help?? Is there anything over the counter that helps?

Thank you 🙏

I hear you but you need to realise that once you get into a migraine cycle, you often ‘need’ drugs just to be able to function enough to do exercises and think of anything beyond survival.

I was at the stage where I couldn’t even (for example) take my regular asthma meds because I was wiped out by a two-day migraine. I couldn’t even eat during those, so doing basic physical exercises was out of the question.

Everyone is different.

Thank you. Tai chi is a really good suggestion. I love exercise but only the slow stuff 😄

Yes a cycle that's exactly where I am. It's so depressing.

Have you tried Voltrol gel? It has diclofenic in it I think and I find it far more effective than ibuprofen. I would also recommend seeing someone who specialises in soft tissue massage like a sports therapist. Then think about posture, pillows etc.

I had a lot of very expensive treatment in Harley Street about 25 years ago - only mention it as I cannot believe I was ever in a position to afford it! - he was amazing and drummed into me the importance of posture and told me how to stand properly so I'm pretty good on that, it's really a physical issue (I think they call it military neck!) so if indont keep on top of it it goes into spasm.

There is hope! I went to the GP and cried that it was ruining my life… because it was. Unable to work, constantly having to cancel appointments, losing big chunks of time to migraines and then the vague feeling for days afterwards. I had help from the loveliest neurologist and reassurance that there’s a wide range of options out there. Am currently “on drugs” that enable me to live my life with just a few headaches etc while I work with the physio. So please take heart, this can be helped. (I still probably only feel about 60% ok (for example right now) but that’s where the physio etc comes in.)

I take amitriptaline and it is fantastic. I have a history of neck and shoulder pain having a scoliosis and a desk job doesn’t help) and had been getting pressure headches at the back of my head, day and night. 30mg resolved the headaches completely. They did give me a dry month and make me feel groggy in the morning at first but I pushed through and the side effects resolved after a few weeks. I also take them early evening so I am ready to get up for work in a morning! In addition to solving my headaches, they also got rid of my insomnia. I have had some physio for my neck but was reluctant to stop the meds because I feel so much better on them. I have been taking them for about a year.

i hope you find some relief OP.

Oh that's made me feel quite emotional! It's actually the vague feeling that's the worst part. I am going to contact gp on Monday as I'm sick of it.

OP these exercises are all done sitting or lying down so could be a bit easier for you with your dizziness issues. I found a foam roller far too hard and uncomfortable though so instead used a tightly rolled up towel instead and it was a game changer.

I don't blame you for being wary, but if you have a scoliosis in your cervical spine, a decent osteopath would never manipulate it.

You would still benefit from a good therapist working through your upper traps, pecs etc, and they could avoid the neck if you were pensive about going. You could see how you feel and then work up to treatment on the neck.

The cycle is the addiction. I hope you manage to find something that gives you relief.

Long term neck pain sufferer here (post disc surgery) and I also have a reduced curve. I'd say my neck is very 'reactive', so some things people might suggest to help actually make me much worse. You might be the same, so sports massages and the Amazon massager linked to both increased my pain. I was off sick for a week after a sports massage, and spent a day in bed after using that massager. Both were just too intense for me.

Look out for what sets you off. Reading, sitting, using a laptop or tablet (separate keyboard and monitor at the correct height much better) knitting, long car journeys especially driving, and chatting to someone next to me twisting my neck all trigger neck spasms for me. Also, weirdly, small repetitive movements such as using a cheese grater loads or painting a wall. Obviously it's not possible to stop all the things you find that trigger symptoms, but you can try to work out what they are, take plenty of breaks and stretch out regularly.

Personally, I'd never let a chiropractor near my neck. There's no place for the high velocity movement they do in such a delicate area, and there's the small risk of dissection (tears) in the arteries. Definitely not worth it for me.

Conversely, I have found a classical osteopath wonderful. None of the dangerous fast movements in your neck, no crunching and clicking. Just really gentle fingertip pressure and stretching on the muscles in spasm, nothing more. My osteopath teaches osteopathy all over the world and also teaches anatomy to medical students, so I know he knows his stuff. Classical methods of osteopathy are much gentler, less dangerous and suit my reactive neck much better.

Heat pads throughout the day can ease things, followed by really gentle neck exercises using no force.

Syndol in the dark blue packet helps when things are bad, it's back in production, but the amount you can buy is limited because of the codeine content.

Once things are past that stage,a short course of diazepam and maybe an anti inflammatory, along with rest might be the only thing to bring respite. You are very unlikely to suffer addiction issues with a short course, and sometimes it's the only thing to help. If they're giving you naproxen, make sure to get something to protect your stomach, I ended up with a gastric ulcer thanks to naproxen.

I take amitriptyline 20mg each night. It makes a huge difference to the frequency of migraines, and reduces my nerve pain so is doubly useful. It takes 1 - 2 weeks to start working though so a short course isn't going to do any good. I've also had gabapentin, and whilst it helped, the side effects were awful.

Chinese acupuncture helps me too. Not the dry needling that many physios do, but the proper acupuncture.

In terms of a pillow, this one works for me https://www.sisseluk.com/sissel-soft-plus-orthopaedic-pillow It gently stretches your neck at night, but it's soft and comfortable. It's such a personal thing, and they are expensive but mine travels everywhere! Water pillows like these can also help https://www.mediflow.com/
That's the American website with all the info, but they're available in the UK from lots of places.

Best of luck and apologies for the mega long post!

I have this so reading with interest. Eyeing up that heated massager for one!

OP, in terms of long term, I do find pilates very helpful, you could try a few 10 or 20 minute sessions to see how you go. I find if you have ongoing issues and are past 30 yoga can be a bit too stretchy. BUT, at the end of a good yoga class you do a 10 minute session of savasna, (sp? Feel free to correct me, expert yogis) where you lie on your back and are talked through relaxing your whole body. It can work wonders for releasing muscles where you didn’t even know you had tension.

Move with Nicole is a pilates instructor I love who does a lot of short classes - she’s quite young and athletic so I do less reps than her if I find it too much.

Also, a hot bath with a lot of Epsom salt in it is very good for deep muscle relaxation.

I also love a bit of bob and Brad, physical therapists (American for physio) on YouTube, a great resource for anyone too skint for regular physio (me, at the moment!)

A decent, ergonomic pillow has made a big difference for me. Like this https://www.groovepillows.co.uk/products/easy-sleeper?nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A17132666306%3A%3A&nbadtype=pla&nbbkwd=&nbti=&nbbmi=142534107&nbpc=online&nbbpi=SE00101&nbppi=&nbbplacement=&nbsi=%7Bsourceid%7D&nbblims=&nbblpms=&nbbfii=&nbap=&nbbmt=&utmsource=google&utmmmedium=paid&utmcampaign=17132666306&utmmcontent=&utmterm=&gadid=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxb6Cq9X22QIVloFQBh3ztgBTEAQYASABEgJkGfDBwE

I take amitriptyline for something else but it doesn't help my neck. Physio and acupuncture helped but you have to keep up the exercises.

Hi there OP I am a long term sufferer of 20+ years. I’ve tried every medication under the sun on and off and now have Botox every 3 mths. I have 39 injections around my head, occipital nerve and neck and top of shoulders. I also use medication and still have the migraines and neck / shoulder pain. The frequency hasn’t reduced but the severity of them i believe us lessened. I have tried so many types of medication and professional techniques I have that massager too, see sports massage therapist and the spikey Mat and balls and also gua sha with an oil around neck face and side of shoulders all help a little. Good luck and 💐

Sorry, what I meant to say was that you can find stand alone full body relaxation (savasana) on YouTube and in my ideal life where I do everything perfectly then I would do that at the end of a short online pilates class.

If not already suggested - magnesium gel. Magnesium is a muscle relaxant. Havent used on a neck but used for other muscles and it should help.

Thank so much for this 🙏 I will sit down and read it all properly later

One other thing I forgot. The psychology of pain needs to be addressed too. When you're feeling hopeless with the pain, or scared of the next bout, that tension and emotional upset can make things so much worse. There's are some good pain apps to help with that. I use Pathways, but there are lots about nowadays. Might also be worth a try?

I'm definitely in that place now. It's so bad this morning that my ear feels blocked and I've got a ringing in my head. The tension is from ear to mid shoulder which dd says feels like bone its so hard.

I get awful morning migraines from grinding my teeth. A moulded mouth guard from the dentist really helped.

i took amitriptyline for peripheral neuropathy during cancer treatments. 1 tablet wiped me out in minutes for hours and hours, not at all pleasant . I ended up buying a tablet cutter, a quarter tablet did the job (and they are tiny).

Hmm. I really hate feeling groggy for any length of time.

Op, I have the same whiplash injury. I take Magnesium and blackcurrant seed oil.
I good orthopedic pillow is essential.
I've learnt some of my triggers, for example a can't sit and chat to someone at an angle!
A chiropractor, mine showed me techniques to help the muscle tension, I now know when they are getting bad. Stress 100% makes symptoms worse unfortunately.

Oh bless you, it feels relentless doesn't it. Chronic neck pain is truly awful, there's no escape from it when it's flaring and sometimes it hurts to even think. It won't always feel like this, and there are things that will help. Hang on to that.

Can you lie down for a while? Maybe take some pain relief (send someone out for the syndol original?) and put some gentle heat on your neck and shoulders? That might relax things a little.