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Chronic Pain
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Posted 3/22/2016 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I have been suffering from extremely painful burning at the base of my head and neck that radiates all into my head. It feels like stabbing, piercing, and fire-like. I also have an intense pressure feeling all in my head that feels like my head is way too big, and is hard to hold up. I have 24/7 constant dizziness as well. All of these symptoms are extremely debilitating and affected my life for the worse. They make me want to do absolutely nothing all the time. It has caused a lot of stress for my family, as this has been going on for a year now and I still cannot seem to get a diagnosis. I have seen a ton of doctors, have had CTs, MRIs, blood work, but all were normal. Until they figure out what's wrong if they ever do, I need help coping in the meantime. I am not sure how to do that with being in such severe pain all the time. I am only 21 years old.
Posted 3/22/2016 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hello & welcome to Healing Well. So sorry to read about what you are dealing with. It really compounds the situation when the drs cannot figure out what is going on.

Did all of this come on suddenly, or did you have some sort of fall or injury? I know you said you have had a lot of tests & seen lots of drs. Has the drs checked out your cervical spine too, such as doing an MRI of the cervical spine?

You may want to consider going to a large teaching/university hospital & letting them see what they can find that is going on. It is not uncommon to take this route, especially when drs shake their heads & say I can't find anything wrong.

Many of us here that has lived with chronic pain for more years than we can remember have sought out professional help to learn how to cope. A good psychologist that is well schooled in chronic pain can be a life saver in many ways. It takes a very strong person to live this sort of life, so what I am saying is getting some professional help is not a sign of weakness by any means.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Posted 3/22/2016 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
I have had an MRI of my entire neck and that was normal as well. And I have been to the hospital several times this past year, and they still say they can't figure out what is wrong.
Posted 3/22/2016 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
It all came on suddenly.
Posted 3/23/2016 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Have you had your ears checked? A fluid imbalance there can cause dizziness.

I've had 2 rear end collisions which caused whiplash. The base of my head where it meets the neck gets 'tired of holding my head up'. The pain is ridiculous. I've learned to take a tennis ball, wrapped in a pillow case, and place it in the area while laying on the floor. Then I move my head around a little bit. The pressure of the ball massages the area. I started doing this early in the morning and throughout the day, to prevent the muscles from getting too tight and fatigued. Perhaps your issue is muscular too. Nothing shows up on imaging and because it doesn't 'swell' it's missed.

Your screen name "Gymnast123" is a clue to me. I did gymnastics and my sister operates a gym. Whiplash could be the culprit.
Posted 3/25/2016 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
I found out I am severely iron deficient as well as vitamin b12 deficient so they are treating that currently, as well as vestibular migraines. I think I am on the path to finally getting better!
Posted 3/25/2016 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Gymnist, I too have dealt with anemia issues & low B12. If I am remembering correctly according to my dr the low B12 is an indicator for anemia. I hope your dr can get to the bottom of everything.
Posted 3/27/2016 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
I hope you stay on that path, and I also hope it's really short:)
Posted 3/27/2016 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have any similar symptoms with anemia? Especially severe dizziness and lightheadedness? My level is a 10.
Posted 3/27/2016 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
As in my iron level is a 10.
Posted 3/27/2016 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Anemia can cause most of your symptoms. Dizziness, headache, weakness, tiredness and more. Look it up.

I'm usually anemic, most recently from surgery for a broken ankle, and have a hard time getting it back to normal, 5 months so far and still anemic. I don't tolerate iron daily, and once a week isn't enough. Nausea can be a sign you are taking too much.

You have to take iron correctly. It doesn't make a whole lot of difference what kind of iron it is, but you have to take it with acid, like orange juice, not milk or anything that raises the pH of your stomach. Make sure you are eating a healthy diet too, getting the right vitamins, other nutrients. It's no good taking iron if you can't metabolize and use it.

Keep in touch.
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