Hello.I am a 33 year old male and i have been having neck pain and bad headaches for over a year.About 6 months ago I found out from a MRI that I have multi level degenerative cervical disk disease.My doctor told me to go to physical therapy and to take tylenol or ibuprofen for the pain.My wife is a physical therapist so we brought everything i would need home to do treatments.I have been doing heat tennis traction and a variety of exercises but nothing keep the pain and headaches away.I also seen a doctor that works with my wife and he gave a prescription for a muscle relaxer to be taken at night that seamed to help somewhat but i still get the pain and headaches 3 or 4 times week and sometimes they are so bad i cant even function i basically have to lay in bed and pray they go away.A few weeks ago i was at my mom's house when i had a flare up and sh gave me the leftover prescription she had for (vicodin) sorry not sure of the spelling, and for a few days i used them and the are the only thing that has totally taken away the pain since i started having this problem.I asked my doctor about a prescription and he told me no because they are addictive and looked at me like i was a drug addict or something.

Does any one that has this condition know if any medications that help them?

I would take your MRI films to another doctor for a second opinion.

If you are trying all the PT things and still pain isn't controlled , a good dr should help you. You may have to eventually go to a pain management dr but a caring dr would have recommended that.

I don't know if you keep a record or notes on what helps you pain wise and your daily pain levels {0-10 }

Maybe the dr wanted "official" PT with independent documentation???

There is a stigma and many drs are nervous about rxing meds without a proper record to back the reason for the rx up.

Yea, you need a new doctor...he's a jerk and we don't need anyone like that in the world. I suffered for years and finally went to the "right doctor" who sent me to a Pain Management doctor and be it my problems are worst he put me on Methadone for the pain and its been a lifesaver to say the least. At first Vicodone helped but I've been in this for almost 20 years, 1990 was my surgery for C5-6 fusion....hey I had a disk out of place that was set to slice my spinal cord into two halfs in my neck, and if it wasn't for the MRI I would be paralayazed right now. They tried PT with me but it only made things worst and I can't see it helping you, you don't have a strained muscle, you have bone that is rubbing nerve, no PT Is gonna help that? Get another doctor, and my suggestion is to get a Neurologist....he's the one that can tell you what your pain is all about and should suggest a Pain Managment doctor, if he doesn't mention it tell him you want to see one, they can write the scripts you need to control the pain part. Good Luck!!

I totally empathize. I think you have gotten some good suggestions. I am dealing with a new doc now, and having a flare in my neck. He won't do much until he gets my records which may take a month. It is so frustrating to be treated like a drug-seeker when all you want is some pain relief so you can function. I have had one fusion which was successfull, thank goodness. I fear I am headed for another one. Pain that radiates suggests pinced nerves. What kind of muscle relaxer are you on? Some of them work better than others, and you may have to try a few to get what relief they can give. But I can tell you when the disc is pressing on a nerve, and compressing the spinal cord, surgery seems to be the only option, and nothing will totally relieve the pain. Hang in there, and try not to let docs intimidate you. That can be hard, at least, for me right now. Moist heat, pretty hot, seems to help me some. I also use a Myoflex rub, as I can not take Aspirin products, or over the counter anti-inflammatories. I was given a script for Soma, and did not think it would help. But it has helped to reduce the spasms, which has relieved some of the pain, but it won't fix the disc, or keep damage from occuring from a pinced nerve. Keep fighting!

Yes neckpain, welcome to the club! You are a bit underage though.....
Yes, see a different doctor, or a pain specialist.
Pain is one of the biggest medical conditions today and you are entitled to get proper treatment.
In my view the doctor is more concerned with his standing than your well-being. He doesn't want to be seen as contributing to a drug problem, so he avoids prescribing.
The muscle relaxant is a handy one as it can help break the muscle tension that builds up with unrelenting chronic pain coupled with trying to work and get through the days and nights.
I find I need to take a good dose every few days.
I now have steroid injections in my neck about every 3 months; take Mobic all the time, and use Tramadol during the day, panadeine and mersyndol at night.
Some days nothing seems to work so I keep throwing things at it-but a muscle relaxant is essential.
I call my neck ache a 'bear trap', as once it bites it hangs on.
Check also different pillows-they can make a big difference.
will take a few nights usually unless suddenly worse.
Learn how to rest your neck by avoiding bad posture, and ESPECIALLY computers!
Good luck. We understand-even if your doctor doesn't.