Head/Neck/Shoulder/Jaw/Arm/Throat Pain

[sbo7517]

I have had excruciating head, neck, shoulder, eye, ear, jaw, and throat every day for almost a year.  The pain started in my neck, but went to my head, jaw, eyes, ears, and throat within days. When it is extremely intense, I cannot have anything touch my shoulders, neck or back of the head, and I'm extremely sensitive to light and sound.  When I lay down at night, I truthfully don't think I'll wake up because the pain just throbs.  I feel like I will have a an aneurysm before morning.  Sometimes I feel like I'm choking, my ears ring, and I get shooting pains through my eyes.  Once I was sitting on the couch and felt like the fluid drained from my right eye - internally.  I almost went to the ER, but gradually I could move it.  The next day I saw an opthalmologist, and was told my eye was bone dry and was patchy.  I've been on prescription eye medication ever since.  When I tell new doctors about this occurrence, they think I'm crazy.  I constantly feel like I have air blowing on my eyes.

The pain is always tolerable in the morning, and gradually worsens throught the day.  I've been prescribed every medication, and nothing seems to work.  Currently I take muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, and nerve block medication.

I've had an MRI, x-rays, CT scan, and numerous blood tests.  I've seen an ENT, maxillofacial surgeon, neurosurgeon, opthalmologist, dentist, 3 neurologists, and 2 pain management doctors.  I've also had months of chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy treatments, and have had accupuncture and massage therapy.  The MRI showed mild degenerative disc disease with mild impingement of the C3-6, and mastoid air cell disease - neither of which I've been told would be the root cause of my pain.   I had a bite plate made because I was told I had TMJ, and wear  it nightly.  However, it's been confirmed that I definitely do not have TMJ or anything related to chronic headaches or migraines.  The Cleveland Clinic neurologist apologized for not being able to diagnose me, and the only other diagnosis was from a neurologist - which was occipital neuralgia.  

I was in  horrific motorcycle accident in 2002, with the only injury to my left leg - of which they performed a limb salvage.  They have tried to connect this head/neck/jaw/eyes/ear/throat pain with the accident, but are unable to.  I'm 52 years old and am at the end of menopause, but have never had any other medical problems.  This pain started abruptly, and I am desperate for answers.  I am trying to prepare myself, my husband, and my children for my death because I truly believe I will die soon because the pain is so horrendous.  Please, please  someone help me......

[DavidHrn]

I know this post is almost a year old, but could you please add the solution if there is one. I recently hurt my neck in our pool and now can barely swallow food it hurts so bad. I know it's nerve related because when I do traction the pain goes away and I can swallow with no problems. Thank you.

[guinney]

I have same symptoms for over 2 years.  I also have had same tests. You would think cat scan and mri would show  pinched nervev in neck.
I would love to hear how things turned out.       I'm getting desperate

[McWait]

Some of your symptoms make sense to me. For example the neck, shoulder, arm and jaw pain sound like a pinched nerve in the neck which is what I have due to a slipped disc. The problems with your eyes could just be from the medication that you are taking. I got very dry eyes from pain tablets and anti-inflams. The degeneration of your C3 -6 discs could be pinching a nerve and that causes the excrutiating pain in the neck, jaw, shoulder and arm. I have heard that this can sort itself out in about 3 months. They usually would try you on cortisone first and if that is unsuccessful then surgery may be a option. In the meantime maybe they could try you on some different meds to see if the ones you were on were causing any negative side effects. I hope you have some luck in getting to the bottom of this but I remember getting some really weird side effects from all the medication I was on which also made me very concerned at the time.