Brief Answer:
Cause and treatment of neck and head pain

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.

I can understand your concern. The sharp shooting pain in back of head and neck (right side) appears to be due to either

A) Cervical spondylosis - Cervical disc compressing nerve roots can cause such type of symptom. Pain increases on flexing neck (like posture in front of laptop), usually radiates in same side upper limb.

Diagnosis can be confirmed by examination and X ray & MRI cervical spine. Investigations tell severity of disease, spinal cord status. You should consult neurosurgeon. At home, you can follow few tips
1)avoid neck flexion as much as possible
2)wear soft neck collar to rest muscle and avoid flexion. Do not wear more than 8 hours a day
3)neck massage
4)physiotherapy to strengthen neck muscle
5)You can take painkiller like Pregabaline/Gabapentine after proper prescription
6)avoid weight lifting/neck pillow while lying flat during night

B)It could be Neck muscle strain - It can be confused as cervical spondylosis. It occurs due to prolonged neck flexion posture. It presents as above mentioned features, no current like pain, local tenderness over neck, pain increases on turning neck opposite side (left side).

Diagnosis is confirmed by clinical examination and normal X ray/MRI findings. Treatment is similar to above except
1)no need of pregabaline/Gabapentine. Instead use muscle relaxant with painkiller like Diclofenac with Thiocholchicoside after proper prescription
2)Apply diclofenac gel at pain site

C)Rarely such presentation could be of Arnold-Chari malformation or Crania-vertebral junction (CVJ) anomaly. All these are some medical disease which are usually present since birth, but precipitated by exertion. Diagnosis is suspected by some kind of neck anomaly, some functional loss of hand/feet power, sensory loss. Diagnosis is confirmed by MRI cervical with CVJ.

Consult doctor if no relief or you are having any doubt. Hope it will help you.

Thanks. Take care.

Dr Ishu Bishnoi

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Brief Answer:
Cervical spondylosis or chronic fatigue

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX, thanks for asking.

It is good that you reconfirmed it and you are right that these symptoms could be due to "Cervical spondylosis".

I will give you some insight. Cervical spondylosis usually causes pain in neck which may radiate to back of head/same side upper limb, pain is sharp, current like, may cause tingling sensation. Pain increases on flexion of neck.

You can match your symptoms. Your few symptoms are like that. Diagnosis can be confirmed by examination, X ray cervical spine/MRI cervical spine.

Another reason could be "Neck muscle strain/stress headache due to chronic fatigue". As you are having headache even on moving head/neck and there is burning sensation, it could be chronic fatigue. You can suspect it if you are having local tenderness over neck, getting relief after neck massage or after applying warm compresses over neck.

You can get relief by applying Diclofenac gel after proper prescription. Take some rest from work. Do some fun activities after getting some relief.

Hope it will help you. Thanks.

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Brief Answer:
Cervical spondylosis

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for asking.

You should confirm it. Please do not go with MRI cervical report only. Clinic-radiological correlation is must. It means if MRI is showing cervical disc but it is not matching with your symptoms, then there is no need to worry about it.

Symptoms must match with MRI findings. Sometimes if there is doubt about diagnosis, nerve conduction velocity and electromyography are done to confirm nerve damage due to disc.
Hope it will help you. Thanks. Take care

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