I have been dealing with chronic daily headaches since I was 12.  I am currently 34 with a full time job and 2 small kids and I am exhausted.  I go through bad spells where I will have a headache 7 days a week for months and then I can go a couple good months where I only get a headache 2-3 times per week.  I occasionally get migraines with these (maybe once/month- it's hard to tell).  I also have a history of neck pain- constant knots in one spot on my right side of my back neck area and always have tension in my neck. 

I wake up about 2-3 per year with a severe stiff neck and am in severe pain for about 2-3 weeks.  I am just getting over one of those spells now and one of the doctors that saw me gave me all kinds of muscle relaxers and pain medication (none that really helped).  She was going to finally give me an MRI of my neck (no one has ever suggested after going to specialists for my headaches for 25 years).  However, the insurance denied it.  It might take a while to get it approved.  I was happy at the thought of getting an MRI to finally see what might be going on to see if anything was related to my constant headaches.  I use Fioricet for my headaches now but have to take them so often that they give me rebound headaches.  I went to the neurologist this week and he gave me Zanaflex to take for the next couple months 1-3 (4 mg) per day.  I am always scared to try new medicine -especially something that might give me rebound headaches.  

I am exhausted and wanting to find answers to my pain and not just medicine to help mask it.  I feel like every doctor/specialist I have been to just says that I need to live with it and there is nothing I can do.  I am still young and feel like taking strong medication every day is not good for me (or my liver).  Is there anyone with advice out there?  Is there something else I should be trying or another specialist?  I would appreciate any help. Thanks.