Need advice

[holmesla]

My story is a little long, but all this has gone on in the last 11 months. I was a passenger of my husband's car when some kid hit him. We were going about 45 mph when the kid turned left right into us, hitting the front passenger side near the tire. There were no immediate injuries so there was no medical treatment sought. About 3-4 weeks later, I began getting really bad migraines, well really it was one migraine that did not go away. My doctor played trial and error with many medications, such as Imitrex, An injection of Toradol, and injection of Demoral, Relpax, Fiericet, and Vicaden. She also put me on a preventative treatment (Topamax) and eventually muscle relaxant (Skelaxin, then later I switched to Zanaflex). Because I began getting depressed, she put me on Cymbalta.

Shortly after the migraines came on, I began feeling some pressure in the back of my neck. I began seeing a chiropractor almost immediately. He took X-rays and saw that I had lost the curve in my cervical spine, had mild disc degneration, and whiplash. He was able to clear the pressure in my neck, but has not been successful in relieving the headache.

I was referred to a neurolosist that specialized in migraines. He said my neck muscles were strained as a result of the MVA and that my occiptal nerve was inflammed, causing me the pain. He gave me an occipital nerve block, which helped a little. At that time I noticed how painful my shoulders and neck were. Before my mirgaines were so bad that I couldn't notice. He referred me to physical therapy and I did that for about 2 months and was no better. He requested an MRI, which initially I was told was normal. He then referred me to an anethesiologist. Since seeing him I have had two series of cervical epidural steroid injections, medial branch block, a cervical rhizotmy, and most recently I had trigger point injections for my shoulder spasms. Nothing worked for the migraines, but the trigger point injections did help for the muscle spasms.

I decided to go see a neurosurgeon that specialized in the spine. He looked at my MRI and saw that I had indication of cervical spondylosis with a tiny bone spur, and mild degeneration. He didn't feel I was a candidate for surgery mainly because of my age and he didn't feel that what he found on my MRI was causing me such pain. He told me to go off the emds, exercise, and forget the whole thing happened.

I went back to my primary care doctor and explained what has been going on. She basically said that my nerve endings are exaggerated and I am feeling far more pain than I should. She put me on Tramadol and went ahead and prescribed me a neck brace at my request.  I wore it for 3 weeks and found tremendous results. My migraines and the frequency of them were cut in half. I still wear the neck brace almost every night before bed, but have noticed I wake up in more pain.

Here is my current information. As of yesterday I am now up to 300 miligrams of Ultram (Tramadol) and 400 miligrams Zanaflex (I usually only take 200 mg at night). I also take the Relpax when I absolutely cannot go on. As far as the pain, the shoulder spasms are completely gone, but they were really bad and when I would get a massage, I would be in tears. The headaches I experience are basically three types: Tension headaches that are from one temple across the forehead to the other temple. The base of my head where the head meets the neck going all the way to the top of my head, and deep deep inside head pain that I cannot tell exactly where it is. I feel the deep pain is the nerve pain. I also experience neck pain, sometimes it is deep as well, and sometimes it hurts at the touch.

I have been in excruciating pain for the last two weeks and I don't know what to do. Is it time for a second opinion or do I just need more time? It seems my current doctors are giving up on me and only want to treat me with prescription drugs. I still feel there is somethng wrong and the MRI just didnt show it. Any advice for me?

[holmesla]

Last two days have been better, perhaps from the doctor increasing my Ultram doasage. I still wake up in a bit of pain, but I use my traction device and that seems to help. Should I just wait it out?

[holmesla]

I did forget to mention that the pain is dull, throbbing, and nauseating.