Tension headaches and neck and upper back pain

Hi tamiel68821,

Thanks for replying I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Sorry to hear you also deal with this issue. Are you also dealing with neck and upper back pain? Is there anything you do to try and relieve the symptoms with success? I would greatly appreciate any recommendations.

Thanks,

-Alfredo

sorry for the delay, our christmas was beautiful!! and yes my neck is crazy sore every time i get these pains, back lately too. i thank the lord i still sleep fine. some days i have a couple regular headaches. other days i feel like i have 100 little headaches that last a few seconds. i have a video conference again in the morning with my doctor. im gonna ask about getting a shot in the neck., ttyl

i take 2 tylenol and also hot shower with head on massage

I was offered a shot a few months ago but chose to try massages, acupuncture and cupping before I went the injection route. Those 3 helped out for a bit but did not get rid of my tension headaches and neck & back massage completely. I was getting these done regularly once a week but then stopped for 2 months due to the pandemic getting worst the past couple of months. I still want to talk to a neurologist to rule other issues out. Thanks for the recommendations . Please let me know if you do end up having the shots. Thank you so much for listening and taking the time to reply, it means so much to me.

thankyou alfredo, it means a lot to me too, helps to talk to someone with same issues. ive been dealing with this over 2 years or do but seams worse lately, keep in touch

my doc wants me to try the muscle relaxers he gave me last year,,,lol. they make me sleepy. had headaches again today.

That's frustrating to hear. Sometime it feels like they only suggest short term solutions and not a permanent solution. I had muscles relaxants earlier this year for my back pain and they also made me sleepy lol. I had an upper neck and back massage on Monday and I felt great right after. I might start getting massages weekly again. I also have a headache today too 😕... well not really headache more like pressure on the sides of me head right in front of my ears. I want to wish you a happy new year and hope we are able to find a solution for our problem this new year. Please stay in touch.

same here !! and my head feels sensitive, even a beenie feels like its making pressure. I would think muscle are just tender. Mine goes away after a couple months or so, but this time they are worse. either a couple longer tension type headaches or like 50 ten second headaches a day. i thank the lord they are bearable though. And I sleep just fine, only notice pains if im awake just laying there. My pain is mostly sides and left side more than right, rarely by my eyes. Top left.

Hi Tamiel,

I sleep fine well it's just I always wake up with neck and upper back pain. Have you brought up you neck pain to your Dr as possible causes of your tension headaches? I've done a lot of googling, maybe too much 😅, and I've found that many people with similar symptoms like ours usually also suffer of neck and upper back pain. Did you also buy a bunch of different pillows like I did trying to find one that doesn't give me morning neck pain lol? I'm getting another massage today to relieve some tightness in my neck.

yes, my kids got me fancy pillows for christmas! My doctor knows about my neck pain from past issues. my last massage messed up my shoulder, trying to get rid of head pain. over a year ago. if i look up to the right a sharp pain shoots from my shoulder blade to my arm. im gonna call for an appt monday to tell my doctor the muscle relaxers not working. Hopefully he does something, if not i may get 2nd opinion

Hi Tamiel,

Hope you are doing better. Is there a pillow that has helped your neck pain? Any that you will recommend??? I've tried a couple myself. Did you end up getting a 2nd opinion? I went too see a neurologist. She recommended a bunch of tests and a brain MRI. I just had my MRI yesterday. I'm getting a TDC test (transcranial doppler ultrasound), an EEG brain wave recording, a BAER test (brainstem auditory evoked response), a VNG test(videonystagmography). So many tests 😅. The Dr also asked if I had neck pain before i brought it up. I hope the Dr is able to find what's causing my symptoms and hopefully it's nothing serious.

no luck, im doing physical theropy. i wish i could get just any test! i only had catscan. im gonna call another doctor on tuesday. my doctor wont refer me to nuerologist im sure. keep me posted, good luck

i got a neck xray and it showed DJD . i guess like arthritis and mis aligned, will talk to doctor soon

I'm glad you are getting close to a diagnosis. That's the same thing my neurologist told me it might be. She said my MRI showed slight arthritis in my neck. I had my TCD test today and I have 3 other tests tomorrow. Is physical therapy working for you?

hi alfredo, i was hoping you would reply! physical theropy seams to help some. my xray was ordered by 2nd doctor. now i want my regular doctor to see these results, the only thing that confuses me is why does it come n go for 2 years if its DJD. I hope your tests go well buddy, keep me posted, i usually look on here once a day. God bless and remember prayer works too!!!

Hi Tamiel,

I'm so glad to hear PT is helping. Hopefully with more therapy you'll be able to finally overcome these symptoms. Seeking a 2nd opinion was a great idea. I had my final 3 tests this morning and I have my follow appointment next Tuesday. I'm hoping for the best. I also try to hop on here at least once a day. Thanks! and yes prayer definitely helps.

right on, my reg doctor isnt worried but the other doctor wants an mri so ill do that and go from there. have a good weekend bud

MRI of your head or neck?

neck i believe . just to see what nerves are pinching

I went to my Neurologist today for a follow up appointment for all the test I had including the brain MRI. Everything looks normal, there is nothing wrong with my brain thank God. She told me to go back to my primary doctor to have me tested for arthritis and also for a neck x-ray. I'm so glad I'm narrowing down this thing. I'll definitely start Physical therapy for my neck soon.

that is great news!!! havent had my mri, waiting on insurance. i will have a nuerologist too i believe. did yours say if its neck arthritis it can cause the head pain? my reg doctor still thinks it is muscle tension causing pains. i can deal with a sore neck but head pains bother me. have a great day friend

Thanks 😊. I hope you get all your tests approved. Insurances can be difficult to deal with sometimes. The arthritis can irritate the nerves in our necks that go to the head and arms so it that might cause the head pains. I called my primary dr today to get me started on physical therapy. Hope you get your tests soon. Keep me posted friend. oh btw my neurologist suggested Magnesium 400 mg and Vitamin B2 400 mg pills for my tension headaches. I will give those a try.

thanks brother, hopefully will get approval soon. xray shows no tumor so should be good

did you get your neck xray? i talk to my doctor monday. im gonna offer to pay out of pocket for mri.

I never got a neck xray but i did get a neck MRI closer to the end of last year. Hopefully your insurance covers it so that you don't have to pay as much but I totally understand you if you just want to get it over with and pay out of pocket. I was close to doing the same last year.

yes, if i get an mri and it shows nothing life threatening i think i will calm down. i noticed when i dont think about it then its not as bad!! enjoy your day friend!!!!

Yeah my anxiety did help at all. I always think the worst. Stay positive friend. I've made my appointment for physical therapy.

chiropractor made a big difference for me! going again tomorro, also paying for my own mri, its only like 500..have a good day friend!!

Nice! I have my first physical therapy session tomorrow. i hope it helps. Did you have yourMRI yet?

no call yet for mri but pains been gone or at least havent noticed for 4 days!!! thank the lord

Good to hear my friend! so the chiropractic is working well. Are you still doing physical therapy? How many sessions did you have a week?

I just started my PT this past monday.

i did like 5 sessions but i stopped now, just chiropractor 2 visits..3rd tomorrow . I just felt like the pt was helping much. chiropractor cracks my neck and puts some shocking thing on there, feels good!! good luck buddy

Hi friend. Hope you are doing well. I've had 2 PT sessions so far. my neck still hurts but I haven't experienced weird symptoms from before. I might try a chiropractor soon.

whats up alfredo, im doing good. thank god for my health. my head pains went away for a week but back again. just did mri today. i paid myself cuz ins denied. machine was loud!!!! praying for good results

Yeah they get loud. They gave me headphones and played soothing music during the time I was in the machine. So unfair you had to pay but it was a good idea to still go through with it. I will be praying for good results as well my friend.

thank you friend, how is your pt going?

It's going. My insurance is only covering about $10 each time ago so I only go once a week. Haven't noticed much change.

try chiropractor

i will try that next week. Have you gotten your MRI results yet?

yes, same as xray. neck bone spurs on bottom. appt with specialist. how are you

I'm doing ok. I feel like PT is not getting anywhere. I started seeing a chiropractor and also started cupping and acupuncture therapy. I feel like that's helping me more. The adjuster from the acupuncture place suggested getting injections in my neck area, not sure how i feel about that. How are you doing friend? What did the specialist say and what kind of specialist was it?

Hi friend I hope you are doing well.