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30 years of headache pain
I've had a headache for 30 years--straight! It never goes away, ever. MRI and CT scans are negative and medicine never makes it go away. On a typical day I experience a dull ache. The feeling changed last year after I began exercising with a kettle bell. Now I feel a dull ache and pressure. I feel this pain all over my head.
Last week I had Greater and Lesser Occipital Block injections and now I feel worse than ever.
I was diagnosed with Chronic Tension Type Headache. I was also told that I have a bulging disk in my neck. Could this bulging disk be the cause of 30 years of continuous pain?
Thanks.
Last week I had Greater and Lesser Occipital Block injections and now I feel worse than ever.
I was diagnosed with Chronic Tension Type Headache. I was also told that I have a bulging disk in my neck. Could this bulging disk be the cause of 30 years of continuous pain?
Thanks.
Hi, vix1pal! I appreciate your sympathy. Coming from a headache sufferer, I'm sure you understand. It's encouraging to know that you've found some remedies that work for you.
People often tell me to try acupuncture. I'm a little reluctant because I know my insurance won't cover it. But the honest reason I haven't tried it is because nothing else has been successful in alleviating the pain; thus, I kind of doubt that acupuncture will be any different. Just today a coworker suggested that I try it. And now that you've given me some things to look for when seeking an acupuncturist, it's something I should seriously consider. I won't know whether it will help if I don't give it a try.
I saw a neurologist last week who gave me a shot of magnesium. It didn't help. But he took my blood pressure and it was a little high. This was a bit surprising because my blood pressure is always normal. I hope this was just a fluke. I'll have to see my primary care doctor to be sure.
Anyway, thanks for responding and thanks for the suggestions! And continued success in managing your pain.
People often tell me to try acupuncture. I'm a little reluctant because I know my insurance won't cover it. But the honest reason I haven't tried it is because nothing else has been successful in alleviating the pain; thus, I kind of doubt that acupuncture will be any different. Just today a coworker suggested that I try it. And now that you've given me some things to look for when seeking an acupuncturist, it's something I should seriously consider. I won't know whether it will help if I don't give it a try.
I saw a neurologist last week who gave me a shot of magnesium. It didn't help. But he took my blood pressure and it was a little high. This was a bit surprising because my blood pressure is always normal. I hope this was just a fluke. I'll have to see my primary care doctor to be sure.
Anyway, thanks for responding and thanks for the suggestions! And continued success in managing your pain.
I forgot... carefully monitor your blood pressure. Mine began having weird swings a few yrs ago... randomly check when all is good then check everytime it hurts. I checked every 2 to 3hrs for a month.
Hi I'm sorry you have crappy headaches too. I have had them ever since I had a severe case of meningitis. Nerve blocks didn't work for me either but I have a couple of suggestions that have helped me some. 1st try acupuncture I thought it was ridiculous but amazingly I was wrong. If you do get it make sure and find someone who has a master's degree in acupuncture they have over 2000hrs of training a medical doctor who does it has about 200hrs and check out a chiropractor or a DO( doctor of osteopathic medicine ) who does spinal manipulation the last it an ENT ear nose and throat doctor to check your sinuses (I have gotten some relief using a neti pot... looks like a gravy boat and you put warm saline in it then pour in one nostril over the sink and drain out the other side.... totally weird but it washes out your sinuses)
Thank you for responding!
Having suffered unremitting headache pain EVERY single day of my life for the past 30 years, I've become quite familiar with the various headache conditions including "Cervicogenic headache" and "rebound headaches." Over the years I've considered the possibility that my pain might be the result of TMJ or a PFO. I even considered that it might stem from a nasal polyp that an allergist discovered many years ago. However, when I discuss my hypotheses with specialists, e.g. neurologists, an osteopathologist, and an anesthesiologist, they're immediately dismissed.
I'm currently seeing an anesthesiologist who specializes in headaches. He administered the nerve blocks, and gave me a referral for physical therapy sessions. Unfortunately, the sessions did not help. If anything, I felt worse afterwards. The anesthesiologist wants to reevaluate me. But, I think I may need to seek the help of a neurologist, yet again. *sigh*
Anyway, I really appreciate the time you took to respond to my question.
Many thanks again,
p
Having suffered unremitting headache pain EVERY single day of my life for the past 30 years, I've become quite familiar with the various headache conditions including "Cervicogenic headache" and "rebound headaches." Over the years I've considered the possibility that my pain might be the result of TMJ or a PFO. I even considered that it might stem from a nasal polyp that an allergist discovered many years ago. However, when I discuss my hypotheses with specialists, e.g. neurologists, an osteopathologist, and an anesthesiologist, they're immediately dismissed.
I'm currently seeing an anesthesiologist who specializes in headaches. He administered the nerve blocks, and gave me a referral for physical therapy sessions. Unfortunately, the sessions did not help. If anything, I felt worse afterwards. The anesthesiologist wants to reevaluate me. But, I think I may need to seek the help of a neurologist, yet again. *sigh*
Anyway, I really appreciate the time you took to respond to my question.
Many thanks again,
p
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.
Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
It is difficult to adequately classify the type of headache you describe. (However, you do mention chronic tension type headache). It seems to be posterior head as you mentioned which could be of several sorts including cervicogenic headache and occipital neuralgia. Given that you have had this headache for many years, I am assuming you may be taking over the counter pain meds which can lead to medication overuse headaches. I will discuss these types of headaches, but if you were never a headache person before this headache started, no family history of headaches, trauma around the time of your headache starting, or if you have neurological deficits (weakness, numbness, etc), you really need to be evaluated by a neurologist as soon as you can.
Cervicogenic headache is a headache that is "referred" to the head from bony structures, muscles, and other soft tissue in the neck and shoulders. Symptoms are usually one-sided and include: precipitation of head pain by neck movement or awkward neck positions, head pain when external pressure is applied to the neck or occipital region, restricted range of motion of the neck, and neck, shoulder and arm pain. Treatment for cervicogenic headache includes physical therapy, medications, behavioral therapy, and other modalities.
Occipital neuralgia is caused by irritation or injury to two nerves that run from the upper neck to the back of the head. The irritation could be due to neck trauma, pinching of the nerves (by muscles or arthritis), and other causes. Symptoms include a piercing sharp pain that travels from the upper neck to the back of the head and behind the ears. It is usually a one sided pain but can be on both sides of the head. Treatment includes physical therapy, medications, and in some cases injections, "nerve blocks", during which a physician injects the irritated nerves with an anesthetic.
One of the most common causes of headaches in people with chronic headaches is called medication rebound or medication overuse headache: medications as simple as tylenol or NSAIDs if used too much (e.g., more than TWO days per week) can cause rebound headaches that are even worse than the original headache. It can also occur with ibuprofen, triptans (such as imitrex), fioricet, and commonly with any type of narcotic such as tylenol #3, dilaudid, percocet, etc. The treatment is difficult, but basically involves weaning off the offending agent and replacing it with another medication once the problem medication is weaned off, combined with a more long-term solution. This should be done under strict guidance by a specialist, preferably a headache specialist, or else the headache will not improve and withdrawal side effects can occur.
I recommend that you be evaluated by a neurologist. He/she will be able to diagnose your headaches and classify them, which will lead to the appropriate treatment. If anything is abnormal on the neurological examination or worrisome in your headache history, an MRI of the brain may need to be repeated .
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
It is difficult to adequately classify the type of headache you describe. (However, you do mention chronic tension type headache). It seems to be posterior head as you mentioned which could be of several sorts including cervicogenic headache and occipital neuralgia. Given that you have had this headache for many years, I am assuming you may be taking over the counter pain meds which can lead to medication overuse headaches. I will discuss these types of headaches, but if you were never a headache person before this headache started, no family history of headaches, trauma around the time of your headache starting, or if you have neurological deficits (weakness, numbness, etc), you really need to be evaluated by a neurologist as soon as you can.
Cervicogenic headache is a headache that is "referred" to the head from bony structures, muscles, and other soft tissue in the neck and shoulders. Symptoms are usually one-sided and include: precipitation of head pain by neck movement or awkward neck positions, head pain when external pressure is applied to the neck or occipital region, restricted range of motion of the neck, and neck, shoulder and arm pain. Treatment for cervicogenic headache includes physical therapy, medications, behavioral therapy, and other modalities.
Occipital neuralgia is caused by irritation or injury to two nerves that run from the upper neck to the back of the head. The irritation could be due to neck trauma, pinching of the nerves (by muscles or arthritis), and other causes. Symptoms include a piercing sharp pain that travels from the upper neck to the back of the head and behind the ears. It is usually a one sided pain but can be on both sides of the head. Treatment includes physical therapy, medications, and in some cases injections, "nerve blocks", during which a physician injects the irritated nerves with an anesthetic.
One of the most common causes of headaches in people with chronic headaches is called medication rebound or medication overuse headache: medications as simple as tylenol or NSAIDs if used too much (e.g., more than TWO days per week) can cause rebound headaches that are even worse than the original headache. It can also occur with ibuprofen, triptans (such as imitrex), fioricet, and commonly with any type of narcotic such as tylenol #3, dilaudid, percocet, etc. The treatment is difficult, but basically involves weaning off the offending agent and replacing it with another medication once the problem medication is weaned off, combined with a more long-term solution. This should be done under strict guidance by a specialist, preferably a headache specialist, or else the headache will not improve and withdrawal side effects can occur.
I recommend that you be evaluated by a neurologist. He/she will be able to diagnose your headaches and classify them, which will lead to the appropriate treatment. If anything is abnormal on the neurological examination or worrisome in your headache history, an MRI of the brain may need to be repeated .
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
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