Severe nerve pain in the C2 and C3 area of your neck

eddieboy, I use chiropractics, but it depends on the cause of the nerve pain. Have you had MRIs.

I’m so sorry that you’re in pain. I can certainly relate. I’ve been offered pretty much everything out there for similar neck pain, and since I haven’t wanted to get addicted to anything, I’ve refused the opioid type stuff. Recently, I started taking Meloxicam 15mg once a day (always with food) and it has really helped. I usually also take Tylenol with it. (This has been okayed by my doctor) l have been warned that these medications carry serious risks to my kidneys, liver and heart but since they are all healthy, and I have frequent tests to make sure they remain that way, I’m willing to take the risk. Granted, it isn’t 100% relief and it doesn’t last 24 hours, but if I take it with breakfast, I get a good enough chunk of the day to work on my farm and accomplish most of what I need to get done.
I also have been working with a physical therapist who uses the McKenzie method, which is different from any other PT program I have ever had, and this too has helped tremendously.
I wish you luck with your quest for relief and healing ❤️‍🩹

Sorry you are going through this…my docs gave me very low-dose amitriptyline, 10 mg…. Take it at night, can make one sleepy…also can make you thirsty, so hydrate ! I also like a nice hot shower or a bit of heating pad on my neck/upper back.. during the day, an occasional Tylenol…my osteopath and PT are helpful as well…there are some good, simple neck exercises they gave me so I don’t get/stay stiff. Wishing you good luck !

I know heat helps some ppl. But ice packs help me more.

@gently Yes, I've had MRI's, XRays and CT Scans. My C4 through C7 has been fused back in 2018. I've been doing Interventional pain medicine with small amounts of pain medication for a while now but the small amount of meds they will let me have are just not getting the job done. Looking for other options!

Botox was a winner! Find a good neurologist or Neurology Center. It was covered by insurance. Also find a good OD. And a good MFR therapist. And what you can do is get a cheap neck brace the foam cushion kind when you’re in an accident and wear it a few hours a day and make sure your head is level and not angling down like you’re reading your phone. If you were past middle age, the weakness of your supportive, cervical muscles and the weight of your head. It’s probably the core of your problem.

@eddieboy143

Hi there. I have injuries and degenerative disease in C2 through T1. I actually had lots of issues all over my body, which seemed disparate and unconnected (and they weren't getting better with PT) and then my PCP did a quick test, I forget the name, and all of a sudden I was off to the races. MRI showed the spinal injury and that there was pressure on the spinal column from the disks etc. My rheumatologist also sent me to a geneticist, where I was diagnosed with 2 types of EDS and am being tested for other autoimmune diseases as well. (Fingers crossed that I don't have those). Anyways, I take Gabapentin, Tylenol Arthritis, Migraine meds, Ibuprofin as needed and hahve oxy but have only ever taken 1. I love my PT and especially when I hahve time in traction which is the only time I ever actually feel good! Cortisone shots help the joints and low dose radiation probably will as well. Toying with @loriesco idea re: botox.

Also having a really tough time bc my family is very dismissive and acts like I'm always whining even though they know I have chronic pain, neuropathy etc. It really sucks. The neck brace - for after a car accident - as someone else mentioned also helps just to support my head when my neck gets tired. Takes off the pressure. Good luck! I'd try the gaba. It took a while to work up to a good dose but I rarely wake in the middle of the night anymore with shooting nerve pain...

@krisingle1 I'm glad you are making progress! I was in SEVERAL auto accidents. My NECK, OMG... so I have surgery 3 years ago. Watch the steroids. They will weaken your bones on a regular basis. (I know, it feels so good!) I used the brace for 2 years after surgery when my neck got tired. but this last year I'm good! I hated the nerve medicines. Only one opioid for me, maybe a tylenol. Lots of neck rotations. My bones fell apart during surgery. They had to go back the following week and put a rod C2 - T1. My mobility is limited and I have a lot of stiffness but all the pinched nerve pains are gone. My back (behind the shoulder blade) itched like a son of a gun... all gone. No shooting nerve pains. I doubt the stiffness will go away but I love my heating pad! I can paint and do my artwork and manage. The botox I did the last year before surgery. It weakens/paralyzes the muscles but it took the pain and constant muscle spasms into my head, took that all away. I got tired of it all and wanted the surgery. I have degenerative disc disease. I have the best orthosurgeon but even he was unprepared for what they found when they opened me up. Find the BEST orthosurgeon you can. IN ADVANCE. Because you will end up needing one when your body can no longer hold the bowling ball we call a head on top of the neck. UCSD is where I am. They are outstanding, conservative, (and really backed up because of it). good luck. I had an MFR therapist put my head ontop of my neck and it was UNBELIEVABLE. The only problem was my neck couldn't support the head anymore. That is when I KNEW I was ready for surgery.

@loriesco Yikes. That sounds pretty familiar. So far, so good for me in terms of feeling bad but more or less okay. We have not discussed surgery yet.

I have pain from herniated disks as well as a spinal cord tumor removed from C6/C7 (ependymoma) -- 28 years ago. My walking has degraded over time with the pain levels increasing. I've tried many pain drugs & most of them affect me cognitively. The best drug for me is to take 50 mg Tramadol in the morning with my cup of coffee. It takes the edge of my pain. I also use physical therapy to increase the strength in my core and legs ... we also do a lot of stretching exercises. I try to control the things that I can control. I try to stay way from worrying about my state of pain. My pain fluctuates from 5 to a 6. I've tired oblation on my discs ... killing the nerves ... works for a couple months but the nerves grow back. My primary doctor wants me to try an epidural ... I'm not sure how long these last. I usually go to a new technique when my back starts to spasm. The spasms last for a couple of weeks along with sciatica down my left leg. The key for me is to get though these periods with additional pain techniques. I', normally good with my 50 mg tramadol. You just got to try new things when you pain levels are 7 & higher. I have some discussion with my pain doctors at UCLA ... they have all of the tried & true techniques . I try to stay away from surgery as it usually doesn't help & leaves me more longer-term issues.