Brief Answer:
Cervical radiculopathy vs. ankylosing spondylitis

Detailed Answer:
Good morning. I am sorry you are so uncomfortable. First, you will need a proper diagnosis. From your description of things I am sure plain films or a CT scan of the shoulder and cervical spine should be more than sufficient to make a proper diagnosis. MRI of the cervical spine, however, could show the presence of NERVE ROOT IMPINGEMENTS which could also be responsible for the radiating pain up to the head.

What your doctor should be looking for would be evidence of bursitis in the shoulder, cervical spinal canal stenosis in the neck, or osteophyte complexes at the base of the skull or along side of the cervical spine that could be impinging on roots C1 and C2 which would be the most likely affected for traveling pain to the top of the head.

If I were your doctor I would also get blood tests for ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS and RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.

Depending upon the CORRECT DIAGNOSIS then, treatments can be devised. I almost recommend people go for steroid shots since the majority of cases I've seen or sent to get done come back with stories of very short to almost no significant duration before having to do them again.

But the scans and tests should give you a better idea of whether or not surgery may be an option. Otherwise, conservative approaches to neck movement/exercises as well as medication are the order of the day. I might recommend things such as GABAPENTIN or PREGABALIN (Neurontin and Lyrica respectively) for pain management which can have a greater success pattern and rate compared to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories.

There is also a device called a THERMAZONE machine which was originally designed as a relief machine for people with migraine headaches. However, the THERMAZONE also treats acute and chronic joint and articular pains. But unlike steroids....you can use the THERMAZONE zone for as long or as little you like to wear it. Check it out.....www.thermazone.com

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