In 1999 I suffered the Hangman Break, which is the fracturing of the Odontoid Peg, which is the closest bone to the spinal cord and grows off of the interior of C2. I shattered the back half and snapper it clear off. I wore a halo for three and a half months before I had two cervical screws installed from C3 to C1. Over the years I experienced moderate pain in my neck and shoulders. However, now I have no quality of life. I have terrible pain from the top of my head through my neck and down into my shoulders. Sometimes the spasms is visible by another person. There is tension, cramping, spasm, and general excruciating pain. My doctor says pain management is our best bet, but the prescription is not enough. I feel embarrassed that 180 Percocet are not enough relief and never last all month. I have other meds that help with the muscles, but I need something else. I attend regular massage. I am beyond frustrated! Anyone have some suggestions?
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Have you tried accupuncture? Perhaps a qualified accupuncturist could identify the nerves that are inflamed or giving you problems and treat the pain in your neck and shoulders. Maybe it would would help the spasms as well. Do you take any prescription medication for the spasms you experiencing? That would help your pain if you were able to control those. Do you use warm compresses on the areas of discomfort? This could reduce the tension in your neck and shoulders. Many people benefit from relaxation therapies and other types of therapies that help you take your mind from the pain to more pleasant thoughts. I hope this forum post gives you some ideas to use for your pain management.
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Yes, I've tried acupuncture. It made the spasms worse. I pushed through three months of treatment to see if at some point it I would feel relief, but it only got worse. Yes, I take bacflofen along with tizanidine for the tension, spams, and cramping of the head, neck, and shoulders. Because I also suffer from chronic and cluster migraines and heat is one of my triggers, I can't use hot compresses due to the high level of the screws in the vertebra column, but my ice packs are on constant rotation! Basically I've tried everything! That's part of why this is so frustrating! Thank you for your ideas though!
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