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Beck	Mar-03-00, 11:25 PM (CMT)
"Back pain with migraine"
I have had migraines since my early twenties. I'm currently taking serzone which helps control the intensity. When I get a migraine, I get a sharp stabbing pain in my back between my shoulder blade and spine which will radiate up to my neck then to my head. Even on my good days when I'm feeling really well, there is a dull throbbing in my back by my shoulder blade -- it never completely goes away. It moves from one side to the other, but is usually on my right side. When I get tired or tense it really flares up and can easily pregress to a migraine. Does anyone else have this experience?
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Table of contents

Migraine & Backpain, Catherine, Mar-09-00, (1)

RE: Back pain with migraine, lynda, Apr-03-00, (2)

RE: Back pain with migraine, stephanie, Apr-04-00, (3)

RE: Back pain with migraine, Jules, May-15-00, (4)

RE: Back pain with migraine, Lilith, May-15-00, (5)

RE: Back pain with migraine, Lilith, May-15-00, (6)

RE: Back pain with migraine, Candles, May-16-00, (7)

RE: Back pain with migraine, NorthBaySteve, May-16-00, (8)

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Catherine Mar-09-00, 02:56 PM (CMT)

1. "Migraine & Backpain"

I've had back and neck pain for over 10 years and had migraines for over 22 years. I hadn't related the two until the last couple of years.
I went to a chiropractor for years and later my dr sent me for phisotherapy and later on for accupuncture. With chiro visits, the pain remained a constant. With phiso it improved 50+%. It was at that time that I realized my migraines decreased and the really bad back and neckpain was usually only there leading up to and with a migraine. After the accupuncture, it's gone one step further. My back/neck pain is typically only there now when I get a migraine. I still have some mild pain without the migraines, but now I can distinguish the times when a migraine will follow.
Hope this helps.
Catherine

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lynda Apr-03-00, 08:10 PM (CMT)

2. "RE: Back pain with migraine"

LAST EDITED ON Apr-03-00 AT 08:11 PM (CMT)
Almost every time I get a migraine it begins with sharp, shooting pain from my upper spine (back of neck), up the back of my head and eventually gos around the side and "settles" in the right side of my head. However, the whole time the pain in my neck/spine stays it just gets more manageable as the shooting pain moves forward. I have no explanation for this. One time a doctor mentioned that I may have a pinched nerve in my neck after he looked at an xray but it was never followed up. I work on a computer all day and I wonder sometimes if the way that I sit and work contributes to my migraines. I have definetly found that stress does! If I get particularly anxious, like before a day off, I am sure to end up with a two day migraine. I have a prescription for imetrex but it makes me feel so "dopey" that I muddle through with Excedrin normally. One doctor wanted to put me on beta blockers but I am really just afraid to take more drugs. I am lucky to have manageable migraines because I know if they were worse I'd have no choice.
I don't know what roles our spines play in our migraines but I have no doubt that they are connected. I hope that you can get some relief and if you get any new information let me know!

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stephanie Apr-04-00, 08:01 AM (CMT)

3. "RE: Back pain with migraine"

Many of my migraines have started with a pain in my shoulder -- sometimes in my back, closer to my spine, but usually on the line of my right shoulder leading into the neck area. Then the pain sets into the base of my skull, and once it's there, I know I'm going to get a migraine from hell.
The cause? My sleeping habits, I think. I am most often a side or stomach sleeper, and often with my right arm extended above me, under my pillow. (I know it's awful for me, can't break the habit.)
The cure? I've tried Flexeril as a preventive, taking 1 per night (can't remember the milligrams, sorry) and it seems to help, with no side effects. The headaches are less severe, anyway.
Good luck, Stephanie

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Jules May-15-00, 08:50 AM (CMT)

4. "RE: Back pain with migraine"

I too suffer with back and neck pain and most recently R sided shoulder pain. Many years ago doctors said it was stress, and the tight muslces caused the headaches, but my headache specialist suggested that the bodies reaction to the pain (headache/migraine) was to make all the muscles go into spasm and be painful. I'm not sure if these are correct or not - but I do know that it is not stress. Good Luck!

Top

Lilith May-15-00, 08:57 PM (CMT)

5. "RE: Back pain with migraine"

Yes, I used to always have back pain as you describe, except mine was usually on the left. I began massage and yoga 3 years ago, and even tho I still get migraines, my back is much much better. I don't feel like its out between my shoulder blades all the time. It didn't happen overnight, but over time it improved. Lately I've been using a Neck Cradle. I heat it in the microwave and it feels wonderful on my neck and shoulders. I took antidepressants for awhile, and one thing I noticed is how relaxed my muslces felt.

Top

Lilith May-15-00, 09:19 PM (CMT)

6. "RE: Back pain with migraine"

Also to help the neck pain, I now sleep with a neck pillow or small round pillow around or under my neck. If I don't I seem to have a crick which feels like its out of alignment.

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Candles May-16-00, 02:04 PM (CMT)

7. "RE: Back pain with migraine"

Beck,
I have the same thing and I have about 9thousand dollars worth of MRIs to prove that a disk is to blame for most of that back pain-but the kicker here is even after back surgery -I have Migraines and still the spine hurts me every day and they say there is nothing else to be done about it.If you do not have anything else to use for pain and you can find a Dr. to work with you a non narcotic pain med called Toradol helps some.I know they really are working on other pain meds but are still in the Labs and haven't got all the kinks worked out-say some do not mix with high blood pressure which I also have-etc. but hang in there-things are in progress! I am amazed at the things I have been reading about lately-help is comming soon.Till then I wish you pain free days and take it one little minute at a time. Be good to you and soak in a tub or lay in a quiet cool place-if heat is better for you just run hot water (careful if you are on pain meds) over your head-neck&spine-somedays that is all that helps me.
I care and ask Gods healing upon you and all of us Mig sufferers.
God Bless,
Candles

Top

NorthBaySteve May-16-00, 02:42 PM (CMT)

8. "RE: Back pain with migraine"

Like Candles, I have spent alot of money on x-rays, MRI's, etc so that doctors can say my spine looks OK. I, too, have problems with my neck and right side of my upper back. However, I can wake up painfree and have it begin to tighten late in the day. I don't believe my pain is a result of sleeping habits.
I had a doctor way back describe it to me this way. There are muscles which wrap over the top of your head almost to the your forehead. These muscles actually start down in your upper back and go up through your neck. When you get stressed or have a migraine, these muscles clamp down literally pulling your head down (ever so slightly) into your shoulders. The stress from this can cause pain. The rub is (as my doctor described it to me) it is hard to tell which comes first. Do your muscles tighten down because of stress or whatever causing you a migraine OR does the migraine cause those muscles to clamp down???
My neck gets so tight at times that I can literally crack it like someone cracks knuckles. When I can do this, you can hear it across the room. I have been a room of people in conversation and cracked my neck only to have everyone stop talking and look at me. LOL
When my migraines goes away, so does my pain/tightness in my neck. In fact, I cannot crack my neck when I am painfree (which is unfortunately not all that often).
Through time, I have determined that my neck/shoulder pain are the beginning signs of a migraine. They essentially feed on eachother. I have found treating my migraines helps both my neck/back pain and head pain. Treating my neck/back pain does nothing for my migraines.
Well, that is just my experience. Everyone is different.
Take Care;
Steve

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Catherine	Mar-09-00, 02:56 PM (CMT)
1. "Migraine & Backpain"
I've had back and neck pain for over 10 years and had migraines for over 22 years. I hadn't related the two until the last couple of years. I went to a chiropractor for years and later my dr sent me for phisotherapy and later on for accupuncture. With chiro visits, the pain remained a constant. With phiso it improved 50+%. It was at that time that I realized my migraines decreased and the really bad back and neckpain was usually only there leading up to and with a migraine. After the accupuncture, it's gone one step further. My back/neck pain is typically only there now when I get a migraine. I still have some mild pain without the migraines, but now I can distinguish the times when a migraine will follow. Hope this helps. Catherine
	Top

lynda	Apr-03-00, 08:10 PM (CMT)
2. "RE: Back pain with migraine"
LAST EDITED ON Apr-03-00 AT 08:11 PM (CMT) Almost every time I get a migraine it begins with sharp, shooting pain from my upper spine (back of neck), up the back of my head and eventually gos around the side and "settles" in the right side of my head. However, the whole time the pain in my neck/spine stays it just gets more manageable as the shooting pain moves forward. I have no explanation for this. One time a doctor mentioned that I may have a pinched nerve in my neck after he looked at an xray but it was never followed up. I work on a computer all day and I wonder sometimes if the way that I sit and work contributes to my migraines. I have definetly found that stress does! If I get particularly anxious, like before a day off, I am sure to end up with a two day migraine. I have a prescription for imetrex but it makes me feel so "dopey" that I muddle through with Excedrin normally. One doctor wanted to put me on beta blockers but I am really just afraid to take more drugs. I am lucky to have manageable migraines because I know if they were worse I'd have no choice. I don't know what roles our spines play in our migraines but I have no doubt that they are connected. I hope that you can get some relief and if you get any new information let me know!
	Top


	stephanie	Apr-04-00, 08:01 AM (CMT)
	3. "RE: Back pain with migraine"
	Many of my migraines have started with a pain in my shoulder -- sometimes in my back, closer to my spine, but usually on the line of my right shoulder leading into the neck area. Then the pain sets into the base of my skull, and once it's there, I know I'm going to get a migraine from hell. The cause? My sleeping habits, I think. I am most often a side or stomach sleeper, and often with my right arm extended above me, under my pillow. (I know it's awful for me, can't break the habit.) The cure? I've tried Flexeril as a preventive, taking 1 per night (can't remember the milligrams, sorry) and it seems to help, with no side effects. The headaches are less severe, anyway. Good luck, Stephanie
		Top


	Jules	May-15-00, 08:50 AM (CMT)
	4. "RE: Back pain with migraine"
	I too suffer with back and neck pain and most recently R sided shoulder pain. Many years ago doctors said it was stress, and the tight muslces caused the headaches, but my headache specialist suggested that the bodies reaction to the pain (headache/migraine) was to make all the muscles go into spasm and be painful. I'm not sure if these are correct or not - but I do know that it is not stress. Good Luck!
		Top

Lilith	May-15-00, 08:57 PM (CMT)
5. "RE: Back pain with migraine"
Yes, I used to always have back pain as you describe, except mine was usually on the left. I began massage and yoga 3 years ago, and even tho I still get migraines, my back is much much better. I don't feel like its out between my shoulder blades all the time. It didn't happen overnight, but over time it improved. Lately I've been using a Neck Cradle. I heat it in the microwave and it feels wonderful on my neck and shoulders. I took antidepressants for awhile, and one thing I noticed is how relaxed my muslces felt.
	Top


	Lilith	May-15-00, 09:19 PM (CMT)
	6. "RE: Back pain with migraine"
	Also to help the neck pain, I now sleep with a neck pillow or small round pillow around or under my neck. If I don't I seem to have a crick which feels like its out of alignment.
		Top

Candles	May-16-00, 02:04 PM (CMT)
7. "RE: Back pain with migraine"
Beck, I have the same thing and I have about 9thousand dollars worth of MRIs to prove that a disk is to blame for most of that back pain-but the kicker here is even after back surgery -I have Migraines and still the spine hurts me every day and they say there is nothing else to be done about it.If you do not have anything else to use for pain and you can find a Dr. to work with you a non narcotic pain med called Toradol helps some.I know they really are working on other pain meds but are still in the Labs and haven't got all the kinks worked out-say some do not mix with high blood pressure which I also have-etc. but hang in there-things are in progress! I am amazed at the things I have been reading about lately-help is comming soon.Till then I wish you pain free days and take it one little minute at a time. Be good to you and soak in a tub or lay in a quiet cool place-if heat is better for you just run hot water (careful if you are on pain meds) over your head-neck&spine-somedays that is all that helps me. I care and ask Gods healing upon you and all of us Mig sufferers. God Bless, Candles
	Top

NorthBaySteve	May-16-00, 02:42 PM (CMT)
8. "RE: Back pain with migraine"
Like Candles, I have spent alot of money on x-rays, MRI's, etc so that doctors can say my spine looks OK. I, too, have problems with my neck and right side of my upper back. However, I can wake up painfree and have it begin to tighten late in the day. I don't believe my pain is a result of sleeping habits. I had a doctor way back describe it to me this way. There are muscles which wrap over the top of your head almost to the your forehead. These muscles actually start down in your upper back and go up through your neck. When you get stressed or have a migraine, these muscles clamp down literally pulling your head down (ever so slightly) into your shoulders. The stress from this can cause pain. The rub is (as my doctor described it to me) it is hard to tell which comes first. Do your muscles tighten down because of stress or whatever causing you a migraine OR does the migraine cause those muscles to clamp down??? My neck gets so tight at times that I can literally crack it like someone cracks knuckles. When I can do this, you can hear it across the room. I have been a room of people in conversation and cracked my neck only to have everyone stop talking and look at me. LOL When my migraines goes away, so does my pain/tightness in my neck. In fact, I cannot crack my neck when I am painfree (which is unfortunately not all that often). Through time, I have determined that my neck/shoulder pain are the beginning signs of a migraine. They essentially feed on eachother. I have found treating my migraines helps both my neck/back pain and head pain. Treating my neck/back pain does nothing for my migraines. Well, that is just my experience. Everyone is different. Take Care; Steve
	Top

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