I have a severe headache with neck stiffness despite taking painkillers and muscle relaxants. Why?

Hi,

Welcome to iclinq.com.

I understand that you have a headache in the cervical area, light sensitivity, and neck stiffness. Muscle relaxants and analgesics that you have taken for the last three days do not seem to be giving you relief.

You could be suffering from a number of conditions that need to be ruled out for effective management of your problem.

1) Meningitis or meningoencephalitis. An inflammation of the brain covering of the brain. Usually has fever accompanying.

2) Cervicogenic headache. Pain arising from the structures of the back of the neck, including the cervical spine, the muscles, and the nerves.

3) Migraine.

4) Subarachnoid hemorrhage. The bleeding by rupture of aneurysms in the head.

5) Viral fever. Any viral fever can give rise to meningeal symptoms of headache, neck stiffness, and light sensitivity.

I would request you to be seen by your physician, get necessary examinations done, and be managed as you have already taken some medicines for three days.

Take care. I hope this was helpful. Please let me know if I can assist you further.