Hopefully my post will help someone with the same problem that I have had for 9 years.

For seven years I saw as many as twelve doctors with no help. My complaint to each and everyone was the same. I have a headache everyday and something is wrong with my neck (at the point where my trapezius meets my neck.) yes, it ticked me off to be told that "no one has a headache everyday" by the majority of the doctors that I saw. I had a hematoma come up in my thoratic inlet. Stress was the diagnoses 90% of the time. (covering the last doctor's a$$) the other 10% were just off the wall guesses that never panned out. I had mri's, cat scans, xrays, mylogram, nerve conductive tests, etc. All were negative. I went to a counselor who assured me that I was not a hypocondriac. My family (including my husband) and friends for the most didn't believe there was anything wrong since all those doctors surely couldn't be wrong. My only child and my best friend are the only ones who stood by me for all these years.

I was told by a friend to go to the best bone and joint facility in our area. First the shoulder doctor said it was stress. I went to pt and they sent me back to shoulder doc. "well there is something wrong with your shoulder, but I will need to send you to another doctor in the same clinic who is a spine specialist." hot dog! \ finally someone to acknowledge my problem. The spine doctor did his round of tests and send me on to the staff physilogist for cortisone. When I leaned over the table for the injection, she said "oh my, it looks like a risen". She sent me to massage and physical therapy 3 times a week. They were great and very helpful in easing the pain. Still no cause for the torn trapezius. I have undergone botox injections twice with great help. I now have a golf ball size of scar tissue at the original injury site.

At my lastest visit, I think my doctor finally figured out how I injured my trapizeus muscle without excruciating pain. (iow, I should have known when it happened) I had three laproscopic surgeries trying to get pregnant, two before the pain and one after. She explained how they tilt your body and there are shoulder harnesses that keep you from falling off the table. She is certain that this is when it occured and I am too. It would explain why I didn't know how I hurt my shoulder. I was under anesthesia and then on painkillers. As I have read, the only significant symptom from a torn trapezius is a headache!!! Yes, you can have a headache everyday.

Now I have chronic pain and the whole left quarter of my torso is affected by this. Referred pain. I thank god everyday for answering my prayers and sending me to someone who would listen and help.

Keep in mind that for seven years, I had to "treat myself". Ice packs are the best for inflammation. I wear a soft cervical collar when I read, crochet, (anything I have to lower my head to do). Massage therapy is very helpful. Most insurance companies will pay for it as physicial therapy. A friend loaned me a heat therapy pump and I would sleep with it at night. (wish I still had it) nikken cm complex cream helps with inflammation also. Epsom salts baths 3x week.

In addition to those remedies, I take arthrotec 75 2x a day, lortab prn, flexeril 10mg 3xday, elavil 100mg at night for nerve pain and depression, klonipin .50mg at night for sleep and stress.