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?

My heart goes out to you - I’m in the same boat and it’s terribly debilitating!

things that have helped me and kept me sane during this period:

Dry needling - similar to acupuncture but without the woo-woo of energy stuff. They place the needle in the trigger point of the muscle and release the tension. My physio does this and is trained to do it in the neck - game changer!

botox/ nerve block. I went to the national migraine centre and they did this for me a few years ago. Again, game changer! I am now going to the Pain Clinic in London to get Botox in my traps muscles. They do around 15/20 injections in to trigger points so they relax. However - the point of this is to then go and get physio/ osteopath/ your preferred method of rehab so that when the Botox wears off you’re strong enough/ made progress with posture etc. Repeat as needed.

triptans to treat the migraines - you can get tablets, injections or nasal sprays.

I agree with others about muscle memory/ learned behaviour/ trauma - our brain and body really do keep a score when we go through terrible times and don’t seems to let us get over it! Therapy and deep breathing helped as well.

really hope you get the support and relief you need! Hang in there - there are options!!

I'm clenching teeth at night.

A chiropractor worked for me. Has been life changing

I get this. It's where I hold my tension.

You don't need drugs. You just need to do pilates and should stretches daily. Makes a difference from day 1.

It's a bit more than holding tension I'm afraid although I'm sure that's part of it. My neck and spine are all a bit wrong.

Not sure it is though?
Mine was so bad it showed up that it was pulling my spine out of alignment on an x-ray.

Trust me - do the exercises diligently for a week and see what difference it makes.

Well I had an MRI and the consultant said I had a straight top to my spine with no curve and that it was congenital.

I definitely need to do exercises though!

Hmm…obviously the reviews suggest it works for a lot of people but I bought this years ago and find it absolutely useless. It now never gets used.

Acupuncture (the sports/physio kind) definitely helps my dodgy neck and upper back (and my migraines). I used to love chiropractic adjustments but got a bit funny about it (on my neck) a couple of years ago.

Interestingly, I love a Valium but have never found it useful for my neck/back (which has been bad for 15 years).

Hope you get some relief soon, OP. It’s soul-destroying.

I have a misshapen neck, X-rays were so bizarre even the physio gasped. Causes pain as you describe.
I have every firmness, shape, size and density of pillow , none make any difference and as you say getting comfortable is impossible.
I use Hemp cream on my neck at night, which helps.
OTC pain patch ( Ibuprofen or something milder like Salonpas)
Hot shower playing on my neck before bed.
Very gentle exercise, even if I can only move my head a few cms.
I found Tai Chi helpful.

I've had something similar after a whiplash injury (was knocked over by a cyclist). It got to the point where my traps felt like golf balls under the skin. I think I tried almost everything under the sun other than drugs with very limited success. Most of the things people are suggesting on this thread are going to offer temporary relief at best.

The thing that worked for me in the end was Botox in the trapezius muscles, which I had done at the London Pain Clinic. The injections were ultrasound guided (necessary because the top of your lung comes up nearly that high and you don't want to risk a puncture) and contained Botox plus a steroid. You also need to follow up with a physio-guided exercise programme once the muscles are relaxed or the effects might be temporary. If you are lifting weights/exercising, it makes sense to have a few sessions with a PT who specialises in rehab as you likely have some muscles that have become very weak while others have over-compensated - my traps had essentially taken over while my lats and rhomboids basically gave up. I would also have someone take a look at the jaw clenching as you might need some Botox and/or a night guard to try to break that cycle.

It's not been a perfect solution, but it's a huge improvement from what it was, to the point where I notice it sometimes but it doesn't interfered with anything I want to do.

I hope you find your solution. It's such a miserable, draining feeling.

All the more reason to strengthen the muscles and keep them free of tension then 😀

I had the same and had a course of neural therapy which totally solved the problem!

Yeah...ok thanks.

The old style syndol had paracetamol & this musclecrelaxant in it: Methocarbamol
These days you can get it in Tylenol body pain night which I would bring in from holidays in Canada. My arthritis has moved on to much more serious drugs now but this was the bomb for my migraines that turned into severe tension headaches. Perhaps you can get a GP to prescribe just the methocarbamol?

Online should chemists have it.
Boots is the worse for stocking it I always find it at independent pharmacies.

I'm sure it's been at least ten years since they changed the formula. Nowadays you'd be better off and cheaper popping two cocodamol and two extra strength ibuprofen which are OTC from the chemist rather than expectingvanything great from syndol.

It still works for me 🤷

I took a codeine (30mg) yesterday and two paracetamol and it made very little difference apart from give me that groggy shit feeling that I hate.

I'll see what the gp says.

There are two versions now, the original and a newer one. The original remains unchanged and I find it very helpful for my neck pain (only used occasionally). Have checked a few online pharmacies and the original one does appear to be out of stock currently.

i got one for Mother’s Day. I just cannot lie on it. It’s agony and I feel panicky. How did you do it??

I have the same rock hard neck and daily headaches as the OP. Amitriptyline did not help me.

Following as I want to order that neck massager when I get paid .

It arrives tomorrow and I'll report back. I'll be honest! I have form for ordering useless gadgets off Amazon so dh will roll his eyes

My current regime (which is working 90% of the time) is a drug called Topiramate, a preventative for migraines (also a seizure med) sumatriptan if I get a migraine, a decent posture pillow, a mouth guard to stop me jaw clenching and if I feel the neck stiffness coming on I use ibugel on it!
Migraines are a nightmare 😫
My neurologist told me to stay away from all the C's, so cheese, claret (any wine) cigarettes, chocolate etc.
Any pain med that has codeine can make it feel better quickly but you're likely to get it returning the next day.
I bloody hate the fact that Syndol ingredients have changed. The UK banned the relaxant in them I think. You can get them online but they're very expensive and tbh I don't risk buying drugs online.
Good luck, hope you're pain free soon

@Stugs Ooh please do.I'm waiting on an MRI but developed what I (and osteopath) think is a disc issue in neck and gives me a bad shoulder and upper arm. I don't like taking too many painkillers either as on beta blockers.