Hi. This is kind of a long story so please bear with me.

Last December I was at work (I am a dog groomer) and was bending and twisting in weirdish positions. The next day I woke up and could bearly move. I went to the doctor and was dx with a severe (total back) muscle spasm. I was prescribed muscle relaxors, prednisone, and mobic. A week later and I was pretty much back to normal.

February my back went out again. Only a day and a half this time. Except a little more than a week later the headaches started.

I would just be reading a book or taking a shower or just talking to a coworker, then wham! Out of nowhere it was like someone had walked up behind me and whacked me on the back of the head, and then kept hitting me until I could take Excedrin and go lay down in a very dark room for a few hours. Sometimes these headaches were last for days in a row.

Every single day was like this. I was light and noise sensitive. Nauseous. I finally went to see my family doctor. He took some x-rays and said that my cervicle spine was out of allignment (it was straight instead of curved). I was told that the muscles in my neck and shoulders were pulling my shoulders forward and causing pressure on my occipital nerves. My doctor believes that the back problem in December was the starting event. I am not completely sure I believe that because I have had back problems for as long as I can remember. Anywho, he prescribed muscle relaxors and nsaids. The muscle relaxors just knocked me out. Even the ones that weren't supposed to left me completely spacey. Two weeks later and the headaches were still with me. My doctor referred me to a chiropractor.

After my initial visit with the chiropractor, I was told to keep taking the nsaids (I was also told to take up a low impact form of exercise and attempt to lose weight to help decrease the stress on my back. Yes, I am overweight) and he would work on my spinal allignment. He said this type of problem usually takes about 2 months of therapy to correct. 6 months later (and 20 pounds less) and the headaches were still occuring. The chiropractor referred me to a neurologist.

3 hours in the neurologists office and I was told the exact same thing that I had been told by my family doctor. Spinal misallignment caused by muscle spasm. He prescribed antidepressants. The hope was that they would help me achieve a deeper level of sleep which would help my muscles relax. So far, all they have done is cause my heart to skip beats and my breath to come short (occasional coughing at night after going to bed).

I can say that the intensity of the headaches has decreased. Either that or I am just getting used to the pain. But the frequency has not slowed one bit.

I have tried very hard not to let the headaches interfere with my life, but it has been difficult. Frustration is building. Not only with the occurrance of the stupid headaches, but with my job as well. My manager believes that I am not doing everything that I can, or that I am just faking at this point (because the headaches should be gone at this point). That stress does not help things one bit. Blah.

Still taking the antidepressants (10-20mg once daily at bedtime) and the nsaids (5mg up to 4 times daily). Also taking Allegra-D for allergies twice daily and high dose estrogen birth control (routine bloodwork revealed abnormally low estrogen levels) once daily. No other meds except for the occasional IBprofin (800mg up to twice daily when it gets really really bad). Also still doing physical therapy at chiropractor and at home (weight lifting to strengthen upper back muscles and resistance bands to help stretch tendons and ligaments).

Does anyone have any suggestions? I am willing to try just about anything at this point (short of selling my soul or having to sacrifice a goat or something).

Hi there,
I suffer from a neurological disorder called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
It sounds like RSD with the muscle spasms, however can I just ask you whether you have severe pain, colour changes, sweling, temperature changes (eg, hot one minute, cold the other)??
If you have any of these symptoms please go see a neurologist.
RSD usually comes on from, sprains, twists, falls, bumps, fractures, surgery, no apparent injury and almost anything.
RSD is a problem with your sympathetic nervous system, the signals in your nerves are sending pain messages to the brain constantly.
Please reply
Many thanks
Alison

Does anyone have any suggestions? I am willing to try just about anything at this point (short of selling my soul or having to sacrifice a goat or something).[/QUOTE]

Consider going to a certified massage therapist or a Nationally certified Myofascial Trigger Point therapist to release trigger points (knots) in the muscles that move the joints out of place.

Traditional PT can make active trigger points worse. Once the trigger points are deactivated and the range of motion is improved to near normal for a period of 2 weeks - A long muscle isx a strong muscle. Then you can do traditional PT.

Are you having any arm or hand pain with this?
or in the past?
Does your chiro do the upper cervical adjustments?

Is the problem mostly in the upperback/neck /head?
vs lower back?

just thinking , many hairdressers can get RSI or TOS which often causes upper back muscles spasms, headaches, hand/arm pain etc
TOS forum- http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24