Hi, all. My husband has had a lot of issues with the neck, shoulder pain (radical neck dissection plus other issues). Went through the ringer but finally pain management doctors were able to address it to a degree and gave him some real relief. WEakness from the rad. neck. dis. is still an issue and the PT gave exercises that do help. Remember that nerve endings get damaged, muscles atrophy, everything works against you sometimes and you have to address each item as it comes up. Fran, if you haven't already, I also encourage you to get straight to a PT and possibly Pain Management doctor. My husband despises the pain meds even though they are necessary at times, so is like you in wanting other options. If you went thru the rad. neck, you know that things ar enow missing and other things are compensating for them. One doctor put it as formerly having a leather strap holding up your 10 pound head and now having 2 strings -- you have to teach remaining muscles and tendons to compensate correctly. I wish you luck and please, please keep looking til you find the answer.