r/neckpainhelp

My pain dr did an RFA on C2-3,c3-4. It’s been 2 weeks today. I have such a crappy neck. Started when I was 32 with very large ruptured disk and 4 surgeries later over the years, I am fused c4-7.

I have had many RFAs before (been a LONG time) and know it can get worse but it’s awfully painful. The back of my head feels like someone smashed me with a hammer, I feel like a vice grip is back there and I feel like I have a sunburn as it hurts to touch.
I’ve been using lidocaine spray, CBD oil, heating pad.
I’m at the point where I do not want to do the other side now. I cant image going through this again.
Anyone have any tips and tricks? What has been your experience with RFA? When will I feel better? 😢

hello
I have had extreme neck pain for the past two years. Generally nothing has helped. Physio, chiro, meds, dry needling massage you name it.
I saw a neurologist who diagnosed me with an atypical migraine causing my neck pain I was since treated with Botox injections and have been told I will need these for life and will receive only a 60% positive effect with time.

Curious if anyone else has gone through something similar.
For reference I have constant pain in the two points at the base of my neck causing headache between the eyes and forehead as well as extremely tight shoulders and neck movement often limiting my range of motion.

Im really struggling with dealing with my pain lately if anyone has any suggestions.

Diagnosed with C6C7 protrusion over 9 months ago. It's been an up and down journey. After the first 4 months I have had several weeks with much less pain but other weeks not so great.

The main trigger now seems to be sleeping posture.

If I sleep neutral, supine, face facing up mostly. I feel fine

But if I side sleep or sleep with my neck in weird postures. I wake up with terrible pain and numbness. The numbness gets better as I get up but the pain lingers on for the day.

So how do you guys sleep straight while recovering from neck issues. How does one prevent the body from sleeping on the side.

Please look at this im disgusted, ive been told i have fibromyalgia in arms and hand, had shoulder surgery to fix rotator cuff in November now look ay my shoulder??? my surgeon is saying nothing major. With IT wth

pain looking down at phone bending neck they say its nothing smh

NECK MRI

EXAM:

MRI CERVICAL SPINE WITH AND WITHOUT CONTRAST

06/16/2026 05:16:00 PM

TECHNIQUE:

Multiplanar multisequence MRI of the cervical spine was

performed without and with the administration of intravenous

contrast.

COMPARISON:

CT of the cervical spine on 06/14/2026.

CLINICAL HISTORY:

Worsening neck and shoulder pain; chronic intractable pain.

FINDINGS:

BONES AND JOINTS:

Normal cervical lordosis and alignment. No subluxation.

Vertebral body heights are maintained. Intervertebral disc

spaces are preserved. Marrow signal is unremarkable. No abnormal

enhancement.

SPINAL CORD:

Cervical spinal cord is normal in caliber and signal. No cord

compression.

SOFT TISSUES:

No significant abnormality.

C2-C3:

No disc herniation. No spinal canal stenosis. No foraminal

narrowing.

C3-C4:

No disc herniation. No spinal canal stenosis. No foraminal

narrowing.

C4-C5:

Bilateral facet hypertrophy with mild bilateral foraminal

stenosis.

C5-C6:

Right uncovertebral and facet hypertrophy with mild right

foraminal stenosis.

C6-C7:

Central/right paracentral mild disc herniation which deforms the

ventral thecal sac but does not cause significant central canal

stenosis or cord compression.

C7-T1:

No disc herniation. No spinal canal stenosis. No foraminal

narrowing.

IMPRESSION:

1. Mild disc herniation at C6-C7 without significant central

canal stenosis or cord compression.

2. Mild foraminal stenosis at C4-C5 and C5-C6.

MRI OF THE LEFT SHOULDER WITHOUT CONTRAST

06/16/2026 04:23:00 PM

TECHNIQUE:

Multiplanar multisequence MRI of the left shoulder was performed

without the administration of intravenous contrast.

COMPARISON:

MRI dated 01/21/2026.

CLINICAL HISTORY:

Worsening neck and shoulder pain; CHRONIC INTRACTABLE PAIN.

Worsening neck and shoulder pain; chronic intractable pain.

FINDINGS:

ROTATOR CUFF:

Mild atrophy noted supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and minimal

teres minor. Subscapularis tendon intact with mild tendinosis.

Moderate infraspinatus and more severe supraspinatus tendinosis

is present. There is now mixed signal partially T2 hyperintense

abnormality toward the central and bursal surface of the central

supraspinatus tendon insertion suggesting high grade partial

tear on coronal series 6 image 10, no tendon retraction.

BICEPS TENDON:

Much greater abnormality of the extra articular biceps tendon

which appears very attenuated in caliber near the groove

suggesting severe partial tear and more distally the tendon is

enlarged with abundant intermediate signal. There is an anchor

in the anterior humerus suggesting tenodesis of biceps tendon.

No visible intra-articular portion of biceps.

LABRUM:

No evidence of pathologic labral detachment or paralabral cyst

on this nonarthrographic study. Superior labral degeneration

noted.

GLENOHUMERAL JOINT:

Scant glenohumeral joint effusion. No high-grade cartilage loss.

Normal alignment.

AC JOINT AND ACROMIOCLAVICULAR ARCH:

Coracoacromial ligament thickening is pronounced and more

discrete than previous. There is a moderate appearing AC joint

arthrosis.

BURSA:

Subacromial bursal fluid is again noted although volume is

decreased overall.

BONE MARROW:

No significant abnormality.

SOFT TISSUES:

No significant abnormality.

Please look at this.