[44F] Experiencing neck pain and stiffness with associated eye pain

What might be happening

Based on the information you've provided, possible causes for your symptoms include:

• Cervical Spondylosis: This is a general term for age-related wear and tear affecting the spinal disks in your neck. As the disks dehydrate and shrink, signs of osteoarthritis develop, including bony projections along the edges of bones (bone spurs). This condition can cause neck pain and stiffness, and in some cases, pain can radiate to the shoulder or cause headaches.

  • Treatment typically involves physical therapy, pain relievers, and sometimes surgery.

• Tension Headache: This is the most common type of headache, and it can cause a dull, aching sensation all over your head. It also can cause pain in the back of your head or neck. Tension headaches are often caused by stress or bad posture.

  • Treatment typically involves pain relievers, stress management, and sometimes physical therapy.

• Migraine: This is a type of headache characterized by recurrent headaches that are moderate to severe. Typically, the headaches affect one half of the head, are pulsating in nature, and last from a few hours to 3 days. Associated symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. The pain may be aggravated by physical activity.

  • Treatment typically involves pain relievers and preventive medications.

• Scoliosis: You mentioned you were diagnosed with scoliosis as a child. While scoliosis itself is a curvature of the spine, it can sometimes cause pain if the curvature is severe. It can also cause the body to lean to one side.

  • Treatment typically involves physical therapy, braces, and sometimes surgery.

What you can do

1. Over-the-counter pain relievers: Non-prescription medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) might help.
2. Rest: Try to rest and avoid activities that make your pain worse.
3. Heat or cold: Apply heat or cold to the painful area. Use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then use heat after that.
4. Physical therapy: A physical therapist can teach you exercises to help stretch and strengthen the muscles in your neck and shoulders.
5. Massage: Massaging the tender area might help.

What you should look out for

You should seek immediate medical attention if you:

• Have severe neck pain following an injury, such as a car accident, diving accident or fall
• Have a fever, headache, nausea or vomiting, a stiff neck or a rash along with your neck pain (could indicate a more serious illness)
• Have symptoms that persist beyond a week
• Have severe neck pain without apparent cause
• Have numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms or hands

Please remember that while I strive to provide accurate information, I'm not a doctor and this advice should not replace a consultation with a healthcare professional.