Cause of pain - left side Head; neck; shoulder & back muscles

My neck pain which occurred 11years ago seems similar to yours. My neck X-ray report said I had mild arthritis and yet the pain was severe. After trying many treatments and pain meds including opioids with no relief of pain, I paid for an MRI. I live in Canada so the wait to see a neuro orthopedic surgeon was 8 months and one year for surgery. As I was desperate, I had a double neck fusion at a clinic in Kirkland, Wa. The surgeon told me I had severe osteoarthritis. The surgery relieved most of the pain but two years later, My pain got worse from the area above the surgery -C1-3. He could not operate on this area as it was fused from arthritis. I have been going to a pain clinic for ablation and cortisone injections with good results. I hope this helps as severe pain is unbearable.

Since the injection of lidocaine injected into your muscles helped for 8 hours (lidocaine is a short acting med), Botox may give you lasting relief. It is given every 3 months

@laura1970
Thank you, Laura, for your advice. I will certainty run this by my orthopedic team. I really appreciate you taking the time to offer your knowledge. It meant a lot to me.

@joannehart
Thank you for sharing your experiences and insight. Like you, I am trying various avenues to help alleviate some of this constant pain. I will pass your information along to my various doctors to see if that might stimulate other ideas and options. I am very grateful for you taking the time to reach out.

Follow-up in my continuing search on how to get relief from pain. The latest thought from one of my orthopedic doctors is "it would be a good idea to approach it from a medication management lens. Both in terms of muscle relaxers, but also potentially a medication that we use for chronic pain such as Cymbalta or Elavil. Could also try Lyrica."
Does anyone have any knowledge on the viability (any pros and cons) of using any of these drugs to help in relief of pain on left side, upper body - head pain in rear and top; still neck; muscle cramping of shoulder and upper back??

Have you considered looking into your bed? How old is your bed and does it provide the kind of support your body requires? Also, how do you sleep? Do you sleep thru the night or does pain keep you awake?
I’m a retired nurse and an old radiology technician before I became a nurse. I don’t think your 2 radiology studies are different. They essentially say the same thing with different language because 2 different radiologists read your studies.
I don’t know your age but from the study results sounds like you’ve got spine degeneration like so many of us. I’ve done most of what you mentioned for treatment and currently doing massage, acupuncture, PT and Myofascial release and it helps me maintain as my spine deteriorates. I’ve got OA, OP, PN but walk 2 miles daily and I do that everyday along with stretching. PT is to tweak my HEP when I develop an issue. I’m going to use everything at my disposal to keep going until I cannot. Don’t let this issue drag you down.

Yes, I have the same. Try a MFR therapist. I go every two weeks. Find one who helps. Their methods vary dramatically.
I eventually had surgery (which I needed) but it doesn't make the myomuscular issue - exactly as you described it - go away. The surgery stopped the nerve/disc compression and some of the arthritis was fixed along with some of the osteophyte issues. My shoulder blade stopped itching! but my muscles are tight and fire all the time so life is a balancing act. I had to do a LOT of strengthening of the muscles from my head, neck, to shoulder and back after surgery. Couldn't do the strengthening before the surgery but maybe you can since its only been a couple months. What happens is your back/shoulder/neck is overcompensating and your front muscles are all weakening keeping your backside in spasm ALL THE TIME. I use a variety of CBD and medical topicals to quiet things. There are MANY muscle relaxers, and they work on different pathways. See a kinseologist doctor if you haven't already. Try botox too - sometimes I just needed to get out of the pain for a few months. It was an awesome thing! Only on occassion, though, because it weakens your muscles in the paralysis it causes so you have to strengthen them back up and change your habits or it won't be a good longterm solution.

@cpeeler I have used all of these meds, some for decades. Gabapentin and lyrica made me dizzy, but for the brief time I took them they offered some relief. Elavil caused me to sleep 12 hours a day, I’d suggest starting with a low dose. I had best long term relief with cymbalta. I took 120 mg which is higher than the dose for depression. After taking for 20+ years, my dentist informed me of serious gum disease likely due to the dry mouth effects. To be clear, all these meds cause dry mouth which leads to gum disease and cavities. Let your dentist know. Now I see my dentist 4 x year and use biotine, tho there are a myriad of OTC products to help with dry mouth

I have severe pain in between my shoulder blades right on my spine, constant ache but also a burning sensation. I’ve had one Dr tell me it was due to acid reflux and another said it was a spacing issue in my spine. Laying on the floor seems to subside it sometimes, but sitting just intensifies it again. I also get head aches up the back of my head on the left side that are extreme, and a lot of left shoulder pain as well. Any one have any ideas or similar issues. At this point I’m willing to try anything and hoping to rule out any underlying issue that may be worse than muscles or just my back.

What you’re describing (constant tight “firing” muscles, trigger points, head/neck/shoulder pain on one side, normal-ish MRI, and only temporary relief from lidocaine/acupuncture) sounds much more like chronic myofascial pain syndrome / cervicogenic pain than true nerve root compression. The MRI findings + failed facet/occipital nerve blocks make significant nerve involvement less likely, even if the X-ray shows some degenerative change. What fits better is a cycle of muscle guarding + trigger points in the upper traps, levator scapulae, suboccipitals, etc. that refer pain into the head, neck, and shoulder and basically stay “switched on.” The fact that heat helps, cold worsens, and injections only briefly reset things strongly points to a sensitized muscle + nervous system loop rather than a structural “pinched nerve.” This type of issue usually responds best to a combo of specialized pain management (repeat trigger point work, not one-off injections) + targeted physical therapy focused on deep neck stabilizers and scapular control + gradual desensitization/movement retraining, rather than more imaging or chiropractic adjustments.