I am 48, female, have always exercised, and use to run. I have given it up due to my spinal issues, but still continue to work out as I can. I have always had headaches, and had a severe concussion when I was 16. I was also in a car accident and now know the whiplash was a creator to the last 13 years of my neck issues. I went through injections, traction, PT, steroids, muscle relaxants, migraines, etc, and had fusion almost 2 years ago at C5&6 and C 6&7. The migraines got better for about a year, then any little thing I would do would hurt my neck, thus giving up things, not lifting, etc. I cannot take meds for perimenopause/menopause as they have all triggered migraines, so I know I am dealing with harmones as well as chronic insomnia that no one has been able to get me on anything for that either. I had foot surgery was in a boot for 4 weeks and I think this is what has created this neck issue again. I have been getting trigger point injections into the muscles in my shoulders, etc as they are so tight. I have been on steroids, muscle relaxants, heat, cold, constant. I am going to PT, and yesterday had an occipital nerve block, which I think helped but I feel really wierd, kind of light headed, spacy, nauseated, but she used a steroid, and the last 2 times steroids were used I had issues with them. My neurologist has tried many migraine meds, none really work, I usually go in for tortadol/phenergan shots as they help for a couple days, but not that much. My headaches/pressure have always been in the right side of my head. squeezing pressure, sometimes sharp stabs, behind my ear, above, a bit. I continue to have numbness in my right fingers, sometimes all of them. I can handle this, just not the pressure in my head. My neurologist after me asking is finally putting me on topamax, for a preventative. I think they tried doxipin once but that didn't help. I am at my wits end. Ready to go to Mayo. I had a brain/spinal MRI before my spinal fusion a couple years ago. Brain MRI was normal, CT scan normal, but major herniated discs and lots of compression, thus the spinal fusion. Please help me as to what I should do next? I just don't know?