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Skull based headache??

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 4/3/2007 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
 

 

    I have been having a headache right at the base of my skull, I've had it 3-4 days.  I have had migraines for a long time, no med really helps it just has to wear off.   But I'm a little concerned about this skull base headache, do you think it could be musle spams, or just a tension headache??   It doesn't hurt when I first wake up in the morning, but then after I'm up a couple of hours it hits.   I had brain surgery 5 years ago to remove scar tissue from my brain, and everything went fine.  I always worry about brain tumors.   just wanted your input, and to see if anyone else has these types of headaches.

 

    God Bless,

 

     Mercyme

Posted 4/3/2007 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mercyme,

Sorry to hear you are suffering with this! This may be nothing to do with your normal headaches at all and I am wondering if there may be a little bit of arthritis in the top of your spine - this is purely guess work on my part and I would suggest that your best plan would be to discuss this with your Doctor!

As far as the brain tumour thing goes, if you had anything like that you would have many more symptoms as well as the pain - pain is usually the last symptom you get! Try not to worry,

take care

Ann
Posted 4/5/2007 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Mercyme.

Of course, we can't tell for sure, but I had a very similar pain during the time that I usually get my migraines. At first I thought it was just a severe one, but I went to a chiropractor, and it really helped the pain. Somehow, the very top of my neck/base of my skull got misaligned. Of course, my migraines came back the next month, but the pain was no longer at the base of my skull.

Best of luck!
-kimical
Posted 4/5/2007 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
The pain I have is located in the same place, the base of my skull, where my neck meets my head. What I found out was that my Occipital Nerve was irritated and inflammed. Along with medication (Cymbalta for nerve pain and Naproxen Sodium-anti inflammatory) I had a nerve block, and after about a week and a half the pain was much less severe.

Posted 4/5/2007 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to say thank you to all that replied, I appreciate you taking the time to read my post. I don't go back to see my neruologist for a long time, but if the headaches/migraines keep up, guess I will have to make an appt to see him. I have dealt with migraines for so long, it's just a part of my life. I'm just praying that the seizures will never come back. I had a right temporal lobe lobectomy almost 5 years ago, so I guess the headaches are a piece of cake now :)

Take care and God Bless,

Mercyme
Posted 4/6/2007 2:07 AM (GMT 0)

Dear mercyme,

Problems at the base of the skull or neck, are most always tension based.  Massage therapy in your shoulders and neck would probably be the best place to start. 

After living a very stressful life, complete with migraines, for several years, I literally developed a huge knot at the base of my skull.  I looked like a hunch back.  Chiropractors are good for realigning things, but it's just temporary.  You always have to make repeat visits.  Once I started getting the stress out of my life, I started going to a massage therapist, and after several sessions, my hump was gone...completely.  There was a huge difference, and no more headaches from tension.

Good luck and let us know how are you are doing.

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 4/6/2007 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
I woke up with the worse migrane at 6:00 am this friday morning, now it's worked it's way into my neck and shoulders. Not sure what in the world could cause migraines everyday?? I just took a midrin the only prescribed med I have for migraines, but it really doesn't do much. I've tried other migraine meds but they didn't help or else the side effects were good.

I hope you all have a headache/migraine Free day! Blessings to you ALL!


Mercyme :)
Posted 4/7/2007 8:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hey mercyme,

Unfortunately, what can give you relief, can also cause the problem.  With any kind of headache, migraine or otherwise, your can't keep taking medication, prescribed or OTC, on a continuous basis.  If you take medication more than one to two days a week for pain relief, you will get yourself into a cycle of rebound headaches.  This means you have some kind of headache every day, either mild to severe, but you cannot continue to take medication all the time, otherwise it stops providing any relief.  The ONLY way to break the cycle of daily headaches is to stop taking meds.  You have to clean out your system before the meds will start giving you relief again.  It's a hard thing to do, but you have to get through to it to get to the other side.

Good luck and let us know how you do.  Also, if you can give us a complete listing of all the meds you are taking, it helps us to give you information.

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 4/7/2007 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Leigh Ann, the only meds I am on is Lamictal, even though I am not having seizures now I will stay on it just as a precaution. I lived with complex partial seizures for over 25 years and never want to go back there again, so I will contiune the lamictal. as far as the migraines go, the only thing I ususally take is execdrin migraine, or I take the prescribed midrin which neither really helps.

Thank you for your willingness to help me out.

Happy Easter,


Mercyme/Cindy
Posted 4/9/2007 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Mercyme,

Geez, I can't remember the number of anti-seizure meds I've taken as "migraine preventatives". They never worked for me. The only seizure I ever had was after falling headfirst onto a concrete floor and giving myself a heck of a concussion!!

I personally LOVE Excedrin but it doesn't like me. It's hard on the stomach and it is the WORST of the rebounders because of the added caffeine in it. It's just like getting a headache if you don't get your daily amount of coffee. Needless to say, I had to pretty much give up my coffee habit. But, boy do I miss it.

OH, and I SO TOTALLY agree that Midrin is a totally useless drug. I could have had better results eating chalk.

Let us know how things are going.
Leigh Ann
Posted 1/21/2008 5:39 PM (GMT 0)

Not sure if you are still checking this board or not, but you may want to try MAXALT.  My wife's migraines were not touched by Imitrex, Topamax, and many others...

J

Posted 1/21/2008 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
 

  I can't take maxalt, it makes my chest get really tight.  Just found out I have a bone spur in my neck. So I'm sure the neck pain must be adding to my migraines.  The doctor gave me a muscle relaxer, so I'm just hanging in there.  My hubby ordered something called headache be gone, it's got alot of herbs, vitamins in it. it's supposely suppose to cure your headaches/migraines, we'll see I guess.

  Hope you all have a pain Free day! 

  Mercyme

Posted 5/3/2009 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
I justed wanted to let all know..my entire family has migraines, 1 son has chiari malformation and suffered with a 5 month migraine before brain surgery, my other son has had 8 years of dealing with migraines getting progessively worse. He just went through a bout of 25 migraines in 35 days. We stumbled upon magnesium oxide/sterate, he takes 800mg a day and it has cut his migraines 80% literally. He is no longer on narcotic pain meds and all of the preventatives and since he is only 13 it has saved his life. Just FYI..Knowing myself the suffering that comes with migraines. Thought if it helps anyone we're helping. Thanks, Signshark

Posted 9/19/2009 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
 

  I haven't posted here in a very long time.  I'm still dealing with the migraines as a matter of fact I have one now that i've had for 4 days. confused

 I think I'm just going to stop all the migraine meds and clean my system out and then start over.  about how long should I stop taking any migraine meds before restarting?   right now I take zanaflex for neck pain, fiorcett and phenegran. 

  I hope you all are doing much better with your migraine disease.  I will continue to try and figure out what causes mine. 

  God Bless,

  Cindy wink

Posted 3/4/2011 7:36 AM (GMT 0)
I have had a skull based headache for about a week now. I have never experienced anything like it before. It is a dull pain like my skull is out of alignment with my neck or something. The pain gets sharp if I turn my head or oddly enough if I yawn or try to sneez. I have actually been unable to sneez since the headache started. I will need to sneez and will feel it coming then the pain in my head gets extremely sharp to the point I feel as if something is gonna burst if i let the sneez out and then the urge to sneez just disappears. I know it sounds crazy and everyone I`ve tried explaining it too just looks at me like i`m nutz. I havn`t yet been to the doctor since I`m strapped for cash but i promised my wife if I still felt this way by monday I would go to the doctor. The stories I read here sound very similar except my particular headache moves up on either side of my head to just behind both ears. Any input would be greatly appreciated. And by the way excedrine, tylenol and generic motrin have not helped to ease the pain at all as far as I can tell. Thanks
Posted 3/4/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
It could be quite a few things. My guess is that it is probably just a pinched nerve (w/ occiptal nerve involvement). When you go to the doctor, s/he will probably prescribe a course of steroids (maybe some muscle relaxants) and a few sessions of physical therapy.

If this doesn't solve it my guess is the next move would be to try a couple migraine meds (maybe a tricyclic and an AED). If this this didn't solve it they would probably diagnose as occipital neuralgia or as a secondary headache (other treatments). This is the typical diagnostic progression. In all honesty, the steroids (muscle relaxants) and PT will probably clear it up.

Your doctor may want a head and neck CT, just to be safe. It wouldn't be the worst idea.

BTW, did you get into a car accident or hit your head within the past few months (yes... months)? If so, definitely mention it to your doctor.

Best of luck!

Post Edited (EvilFluorescents) : 3/4/2011 12:43:37 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 6/16/2011 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I have had a knot at the base of my skull on the right side now for about 3 weeks. I woke up one morning and thought I had slept wrong. Now 3 weeks later and no better I started trying to see if it was something else. I have tried otc meds, migraine meds and even muscle relaxers. I get a little relief temporarily but it never goes away. I can turn wrong and it sends a pain up my head. I feel like the knot is swollen and is very sore now. Any help would be greatly appreciated. and I am one prone to migraines but never had something like this.
Posted 8/18/2011 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have suffered from this in the past and am rececently suffering again.  I went to my doctor about this and she gave me a prescription for Imotrex and said it was migraine based.  I decided to try physical therapy first before taking this drug.  Boy, am I glad I did!!!  My headaches were gone in 3 visits and stayed away for 5 years.  I have recently been going through a very stressful time for the last 6 months and believe that all of the stress and tension has gone into my neck causing these headaches again. 
Posted 8/26/2011 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi:  I get them there after my migraine is leaving; however I cannot touch the bottom of my skull on both sides as it is usally swollen and painful.  My doctor told me that these are pressure points from migraines.   My husband uses two fingers and presses each spot as hard as I can stand it.   It does help.
Posted 11/22/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
I have started getting the skull based headaches about a month ago. I believe it is called Cranial neuralgia and it describes a group of headaches that occur because the nerves in the head and upper neck become inflamed and become the source of the pain in the head. what helped me the most is to ice the area of pain in the neck (on 20 minutes, off 20, on 20... etc)... After about two or three ice sessions, the headache starts to fade.

My symptoms are like this... I get a headache over and behind the right eye... after a few hours, my neck begins to ache at the base of my skull on the right side (same side as the headache)... when I apply ice to the neck pain, the headache will fade within thirty minutes to an hour.

Hope this helps someone out there.
Posted 1/17/2012 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
I have the same problem. I have had neck issues for the last few years due to being dropped on my head...it's a long story. The only thing that I have found that helps me is to push in and up on the base of my skull at the same time...hold it for a few seconds until the pain subsides, then I release and do the same thing over again. I usually only get this pain from tension head aches or exercising.
Posted 1/28/2012 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
My mom was a registered nurse and she had hypertension.  she said that she would get these type head - aches in the base of her skull when her blood pressure got too high.  I have them periodically and so I was searching for more info and stumbled onto yall.   anyway, there is one more possibility to your pain:)
Posted 2/25/2012 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Could possibly be hypoglycemia or TMD also referred to as TMJ.
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