It is interesting that nobody here can mention the "C" word - chiropractor
When the tests come in negative and thousands upon thousands of dollars have been spent, it is sadly rare for any doctor to recommend seeing a chiropractor for a couple of weeks just to see if it is a chiropractic problem.
Chiropractors are so low risk that their malpractice insurance costs less than your full coverage car insurance. Unfortunate not to try.
Upper cervical disturbances can, and do, cause many of the complaints listed above, including TMJ. I should know, I've been doing this for a quarter of a century.
Have any of you folks been tested for Herpes?? Herpes can present these types of symptoms. Viral loading can cause all types of viral related infections, especially when it follows the nerve endings. The nerves that pass behind the jaw in front of the ear , I think its the 5th through 7th cranial nerves which when affected by Herpes out break can cause all types of complications. then its gone. dental pain, jaw pain, ear pain, and on and on, get a blood test if positive take 800MG's of Generic Valtex daily for 5 day to 7 days and it should help resolve the issues, but its not a cure.
2012/05/27 I have been having the same symptoms (headache, stiff neck and light headedness) and decided to google them and this thread came up. For several years now I have been getting these bouts of Vertigo that occur just when I am waking and standing from rest. The vertigo would slowly get weaker and go away after about six weeks. After two ears, eyes and nose visits and a neurologist, it has been diagnosed as Benign Positional Vertigo. After cutting out salt, alcohol and caffeine (I know, what is there left to live for) I have found the best resolution is to simply cut back on stress. Unfortunately that is difficult to do in my career, but I have gone the distance to not work beyond my hours and recognize the signals my body gives me to just walk away. Aside from the occasional wisp, I have not had a bout of vertigo for about three years now. I still get the occasional stiffness in the neck and headache. I am not sure if it is associated. It almost appears it might be an allergy and suspect it might be to processed foods. Since the change in lifestyle, I have been eating pretty much everything home prepared. It seems I only get these headaches anymore after eating processed foods. Interesting thread though, I will be watching closer. -Keith
I know it is 2011 and most of the posts are two to four years old, but I hope people are still checking this site or even better have found resolution. I have similar symptoms since 2007 when I was diagnosed with a spontaneous cerebral spinal fluid leak. After seeing four doctors and no concurrence as to what my health issue was, a fifth doctor sent me to a neurologist who ordered an MRI with contrast of my brain and spine. My brain MRI had findings indicating that I had a spinal fluid leak; however, they never found the source of the leak. I do know that it was precipitated by a bout of sneezing and a runny nose. The runny nose was more like a faucet for about three minutes and then it abruptly stopped. I was in excruciating pain and very sick for about eight months. As mysteriously/spontaneously as it happened it resolved spontaneously as well. However, I am not the same. I have many of the symptoms mentioned in the posts on this site. Most of them are intermittent, but some are constant, such as numbness of my head. I have other symptoms cropping up as well. Perhaps, the repercussions are an autonomic failure or syndrome or a disease process. I don't know.
hope you still check this site. it sounds to me as though a lot of your symptoms and daily life (if this is still the case) is that you may have some type of autonomic failure - have had it and it seemed to go into remission but is now come back. I plan to fight it {tooth and nail). Most painful, annoying problems go along with this neurological syndrome. i will not call it a disease, as i don't know for a fact that it is a disease. the headache is often and agony in itself, and i cannot perform daily life as before; my workouts have gone downhill. Eating food gives me a headache, i wake up at night or have a terrible time going to sleep and then if i do get to sleep, only to wake up extremely early. Of course, i am tired all day. Then you get up and go thru it again the next day. All drs tell me to do is treat the symptoms. My bp used to be great: 120/80 and now am lucky if i have 90/70. i have to drink tons of water to try to elevate my bp. Also i am lucky when i am not having a bout of other annoying symptoms: exercise intolerance, sexual dysfunction and obstacle with sweating properly. The worse thing is just not feeling like yourself and not having any energy. Let me know if you still check this: how are you doing.
I had similar problems several years ago and was referred by my dentist to a dental hospital where a stress test was carried out. I did initially wonder why I was answering questions relating to stress (I thought I had been sent to the wrong place!) but it was explained that a lot of face pain e.g. burning, tingling, a feeling of bore holes in your head, shooting pains and numbness, to name a few, can start from high levels of stress. I was under a huge amount of stress but didn't really realise it at the time and then had a car accident where I suffered whiplash and also broke a dental crown which became infected causing pain but because of my high stress levels my brain was unable to 'switch off' the pain messages even when the infection had been treated. As you have had many tests, all negative, then perhaps the stress test would be useful. It is possible that you do suffer from TMJ but if you are overly anxious or stressed about what is wrong with you then perhaps the pain caused by TMJ is not switching off and the pain/stress cycle goes round and round. Anyway, my treatment was nortryptoline which is an antidepressant primarily but is also used to numb the pain messages/activity from the brain and is also used to treat trigeminal neuralgia. The tablets took about a week to work and then I was pain free. I had to continue with the tablets and gradually reduce the dosage over several months before coming off them altogether. I hope that if you read this message your pain has been sorted but if not then my story may help you to look at an alternative for treatment.
Hi I injured my neck years ago and everyday now I deal with headaches ,and migrains. I can't rest because it is taking over my life.Why am I getting them now. At first when I hurt my neck which has bulged dics.I use to get few headaches. Why know and everyday too. Please can anyone help me. Allana
I have been suffering the exact same symptoms and I suspect that it is stress. I just recently started feeling like this since I started working full time for the first time in my life.
I personally have found if I get quite a bit of sleep 9-10 hours I feel alot better then the reccomended 6-8. It might be worth a shot. I think some people just need more sleep then others. I hope this is the problem I'm too young to have anything serious, and am somewhat afraid to go to the doctors. Also my vision is going a little but I think it has something to do with staring at a computer screen all day.
I too have the same symptoms and was wondering if you have found anything out. This has been going on for a few years now, and I too have had all of the test, and still no answer. Please help if you can. I was told that it could be anxiety and stress (though I am NOT a depressed person) was the root of the problem. Have you heard anything about that?
I have the same symptoms as you, feel like I've had every test possible. Have you found any answers? Please help!
Hi,
You have provided a detailed history!
An unruptured brain aneurysm would not be expected to cause these symptoms. Plus, all baseline tests for detecting these are normal.
TMJ (TemporoMandibular Joint) disorder can cause the jaw joint to be unstable. Theoritically, it can indeed result in most of your symptoms like headaches, facial pain and burning, ear stuffiness, neck stiffness and pain.
Spells of light headedness are unusual in TMJ.
There are no board-certified TMJ specialists, and most patients typically end up visiting (like you) dentists, ENT doctors, internists, maxillofacial surgeons, and neurologists.
I suggest you see an experienced internist, and have him examine you and review your reports.
I hope that helps!