I've been reading your posts, Bent.

Looking at a dermatome chart, shows lower cervical distribution on the upper back and shoulders.

I hope you have stopped the massages? I had a massage once overstimulate my neck ganglia, and activate my shingles pain generators!

Do you feel this pain when you sleep? Can you sleep on your back?

You know from your earlier history posted here, I have some reservations that your pain is doctor induced somehow from the instrumentation you had for your swallowing problems. I gave you a link back then, that discussed contaminated instruments used in endoscopic procedures. They may carry disease agents, viral and/or bacterial into the test subject. This situation of contamination is becoming more well known as people come forth with illness from the testing.

Also I'd suggest for you to read some of Dr. Sarno. He is always controversial, but within that controversy are many people who have been helped by his point of view. I have read 2 of his books, and find them useful for my own family members.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Sarno

Tension myositis is what he calls pain that does not show up in MRIs or Xrays.

Along the same vein, I'd recommend you try some magnesium cream or lotion to apply directly to your back/neck where the burning is. It might improve the circulation there and lessen the pain overall. Tension myositis is a temporary reduction in circulation leading to reactive nerve endings which need better blood flow.

I sincerely hope that you do not have RSD. After reading some of the responses here, so far it appears that you may not.

Kirkman labs makes a cream you can by online.
CVS drugstores have a lotion called CVS Epsom lotion.

I would not use any strong soaps or body washes on your back either. A mild soap like Dove unscented does not defat the skin or upset skin integrity. Strong soaps with fragrances like Zest or Irish spring may be irritating. Rinse all shampoos off well in the shower. Some shampoos have irritating ingredients as well, and use Baby Shampoo for a while and see if that helps.

Ask your wife to double rinse your clothing, and bedding. Avoid fabric softeners too...as they can irritate skin. I've seen some awful reactions to fabric softener residues!

The fact that your problems have "moved around" quite a bit for you in the last year, suggests exposure to something that your body cannot handle. Beyond that is the fact that nerve pain can become "learned" for some people and that is why drugs like
TCAs and SSRIs etc are given, to help block the pain perception areas in the brain.

Finally there is a cream called Zonalon. This is doxepin(a TCA) in cream form. Some of the posters on PN over the years have reported that it worked well for them with nerve pain. It is expensive, and you don't slather it on. If you try this (RX from doctor) I'd start at the back of the neck where the dermatome charts show the areas affected by the cervical roots.

Using Lidoderm is very effective if you apply it to the correct areas. One needs to use Lidoderm patches every day to get a result down the line. First few days don't often show much.
Placing it over the nerve ganglion areas is more efficient than over the area where you feel the pain. Pain from nerve roots is generated THERE and not in the skin. Often people put the patches over the wrong areas and then success is not a result, but frustration instead.

There is one other avenue you might try... low level laser therapy on your back and neck/shoulder area. This is done by Chiropractors mostly...and we have a thread about it on PN.
The red wavelength of light has no temperature sense, and seems to engage healing for some. I've been using a 5mw red laser pointer myself, for a swollen ankle, with amazing success!
The Chiros have larger units for larger body areas. It is worth investigating IMO. Low level Laser(also called cold lasers) is used more commonly in Europe. (where I have seen some papers discussing it).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_level_laser_therapy

My ankle has arthritis and damage to tendons from a surgery long ago. It flares and swells for no apparent reason but when I do about 10min of my small laser on it daily it stops doing the swelling/pain, turning purple thing. Because I have a target (the scar on my instep), I think I found the success from it. It would be more difficult if one did not have an easily visible target to start with. So going to a Chiro may be worthwhile for you.