Hi Everyone:
I am new to the boards. I have multiple problems. I have posted in Chronic Pain, Osteoarthritis, I.B. and Fibromyalgia.
My head pain/headaches are believed to possibly be caused by the Osteoarthritis in my neck. I have been living with daily chronic head pain for the past 12 years. I am in Canada. I currently see a Headache and Pain Relief Doctor as well as my Family Physician. I am referred to Specialists if the Family Physician deems it necessary. My Headache Doc believes I have combination headaches. I have had 2 migraines with aura many years ago and the head pain I have now is not the same.
The pain began at work one day. I was looking down reading and I began to feel pressure in my head. That was the only way I could describe it. At the time I worked in TO and my Health Care Docs were all in TO. I am on disability now and Docs are in the GTA. I had a CT Scan which recommended an MRI. They did not feel that it was a stroke. I had the MRI done in the US as TO had quite a wait time. I have had another MRI on my head since. Both see foci in white matter. The Technician said it was not the same as those seen in MS patients. The Technician ruled out intercranial hypotension and no tumors. She did suggest that they are seen in Migraine patients.
I was referred to a Pain Management Clinic in a TO Hospital. I was being cared for by Neurologists and at the time the Clinic did not have any Rheumatologists on board. Head pain came first for me. Neck pain followed. The Clinic had an X-Ray done on my neck. The Technician had me move in so many different directions. I quickly went downhill in the week that followed. I could tell I could not drive properly and on route home I hit nerves. Pain shooting up into my head. I had to stop driving. I was off work for a month. I did go back to work but I was still in pain. The Clinic diagnosed the Osteoarthritis in my neck. The Clinic put me on Vioxx. I was taking up to six Xtra strength Tylenol to try to get through my work day. I mentioned it to the Neurologist and he said no you can't take so much Tylenol - cut down to maybe 2 (even though I won't want to). I follow all instructions. The Neurologist then prescribed Topamax. He said it would stop the pain and as it might make me nauseous I might lose weight. I was so hopeful of having the pain stopped. Unfortunately, the Topamax caused worse head pain. The pain was squeezing all the way up into my head. Not sure why it did not work for me. I stopped it. Next, Fentanyl Patch. Was using it for awhile but I got very sick and stopped it. Next was Oxycontin. I was spaced out of my mind and could not sleep. I stopped it and a new Neurologist that I was assigned to said he would not try any more pain meds. My last day of work I just could not type anymore. In route home I hit nerves again. I was not able to return to work. The Pain Clinic said I needed long term physio and would be better off cared for in my community. They were going to try botox but did not.
My current Headache Doctor is doing nerve blocks. I gave him extensive notes on what was happening to me. He recognized that I had nerve damage. I did see a Dentist at a top TO Hospital about
jaw pain. The pain has always been - base of my skull, up the back of my head, then across both sides and sometimes into my forehead. I can tell that it is above my upper gums but below my nose. I felt that the Dentist was telling me it was not real. She prescribed Nortriptyline and Naproxen. I had just begun Celebrex but came off. Did continue to take a PPI. My Family Physician said take Naproxen or Celebrex but not both. I went with Naproxen. I have had some things get a bit better. I was at first getting what I call brain zap. Sitting on the couch and I start to fall asleep and then I get a zap and wake up. Had it happen in a Pysio Pool. I was doing exercises and would start to fall asleep and almost go under the water. Then a zap would occur and I woke up. I have not had this happen for awhile. I also had some episodes where I was holding a cup and then my arm would just lose its muscle and fall down. Havn't had that happen for a long time.
I went back to the Dentist last year. Told her my gums feel like they are swollen and tight. She began to look in my mouth but just the same as my regular Dentist, can't see serious gum problems. She told me this time I have Neuralgia. I was not taking Nortriptyline. The Headache Doc got me off and put me on Lyrica. Lyrica did not not stop all the pain but it did not cause horrible symptoms. I was taken off mostly do to weight gain. Off Lyrica I was having nerve spasms in my back and behind and had restless legs. I was put back on Nortriptyline and the nerve spasms have stopped. I am still in horrible pain trying to get by a day at a time. I can walk but with pain. I get relief when I go to bed and Nortriptyline puts me in a deep sleep most nights.
I have read some posts. I am not anywhere near understanding all that is happening in me.
This is my last long intro. Hope I can continue to learn from others who have posted.
Loring
Post Edited (Loring) : 7/29/2014 1:00:54 PM (GMT-6)