I get severe pain in the back of my neck and my shoulder blades. Massages are great but the best thing ever is my pain management doctor who gives me something called trigger point injections on a monthly basis. I think getting these for about seven years now and honestly don't know what I do without them. It's a very low dose of pain meds that's in the actual needle but it's what the needle does that is the big help it's a very long bendable needle which I never look at LOL. The doctor stand behind you and first feel the spots that are worse with his fingers. My doctor is very good at this so you have to find a doctor who is equally as good. He then puts the needle in and moves it around breaking up all the muscles that have clumped together and hardens in these areas causing pressure on my spinal cord which causes severe pain shooting up the back of my head causing severe migraines. Also it hurts to lift my arms so he gives me shots in the shoulders and between my shoulder blades. I know it sounds very painful but honestly after the first needle goes in I instantly feel relief as of my head was a blown up balloon that is slowly deflating. No it's not the most comfortable feeling in the world and you're sore back there for a few days like you've been stabbed in the back because basically you have. I usually put ice back there for a day or two. Honestly getting these done is one of the best treatments I'm on for pain and would not give these up for anything. Also the same doctor has put me on pain patches. I've been on these for over a year now and they are a tremendous help as well. They not only help with all my back pain due to MS but they also alleviate all my other back pain especially the lower back and these are due to injuries I suffered even before I was diagnosed with MS. I get a script once a month for a box of for patches. They are like a giant Square Band-Aid and each one stays on for a week. You can go swimming take a shower with it they stay on pretty securely I'm only on a 10 mg patch with my doctor tells me is a pretty low dose so even if you needed a higher dose that is also available. The one thing I will recommend though is that they have patches with and patches without the drug fentanyl in them. Fentanyl is a very powerful drug and used improperly can cause a lot of damage and sometimes even be fatal. I am on the brand called butran and this is without Fentanyl so please do your research and make sure you are comfortable with the brand prescribed to you.

Join the MS gym and see what exercises are recommended for neck pain. You'll find the MS gym at msgym.com or on Facebook and after you answer some questions you are in! To answer your specific question, yes neck pain could be a MS symptom but you can try something to alleviate it

There really is no normal in MS. Talk to your doctor.

Yep, I get really bad neck & shoulder pain. My chiropractor recommended CranialSacral therapy and that has really helped - in fact, when I think about it, I haven't even needed to use my back massager in over a month! I also do regular acupuncture - they also do cupping & gua sha (spooning) at those appointments which really helps keep those areas looser. Good luck to you - I hope you find a solution soon - as I know how painful and incapacitating it can be! XX

Thats one of my main symptoms