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Burning, tingling/bugs crawling. Help!

I was wondering if anyone can help me out.  Last year I started having these really bad headaches.  I've never suffered from headaches before either.  I'm 31 y/o female with one child.  They would come on suddenly and last for days, no nausea, light or auditory sensitivty and no amount of motrin or aleve would take them away (I would take upwards of 1,500 mg; shame on me).  I went to the ER and had a CT scan and showed nothing (Feb 2012).

I ended up switching Physicians since the one I was seeing told me to deal with them.  The new PA I switched to ordered a MRA w/o contrast and blood work.  She said she wasn't sure they were migraines due to the length and because I was getting shaky with them.  When my blood work came back she said my adrenals levels were low and put me on Hydrocortisone 10mg BID.  This was in July 2012, she also gave my prescription for Imitrex and I found out the hard way I am allergic to it.  My MRA came back normal. In October  she gave me a climbing dose of Topomax, but I was still getting headaches.

In January, she increased me dosage on Topamax to 50mg BID for 3 months on a 2 month refill.  In April, I had a headache every single day.  I am full time student doing pre-reqs for the Nursing program at my local community college.  

I went to see her in May and she gave me prescription for Fioricet.  One night, I had a bad headache and had taken 3x220mg Aleve at 5pm and another 220mg at 11pm.  At 1230am, it literally felt like my head was hit with a metal bell.  I was dizzy, my vision was blurry and I had my husband take me to the local ER.  The ER doc sad he wasn't going to give me any scans just pain killers.  I got a few shots but wasn't told what they were (it wasn't the hospital I normally visit).  I ended up getting a CT scan (normal).  I got 6 shots and was hallucinating.  When I was discharged I looked at what I was given and it said 3mg of dilaudid.  The strongest I've ever was morphine and I've heard dilaudid is 10x stronger.  Plus toradal and something else.  No wonder I was hallucinating.  Come to find out, the hospital is known for giving drugs if they can't diagnose you.  

I tried the Fioricet a few days later and was out (Percocet knocks me out bad, I'm a light weight).  So my doctor upped my prescription for Topomax to 50mg two in the am and once in the pm and the ER doc gave me precription for tramadol (I've taken before and doesn't make me loopy).  I haven't taken any Tramadol because I haven't had any headaches.  

But now I've noticed I have a burning feeling at the top of my brain (I've noticed this before but always thought it was associated with my headaches), it's always in the same spot, I also have a cross between bugs in my brain and my brain shaking and tingling.  And now, I do not know if this is correlated at all but the sides of my face tingle and not for a few minutes; it's an all day thing.  

I try not to freak out and stress myself out about this.  My family has no history of aneurysms but has a history of strokes.  I will be honest and say I did do Ecstasy and coke a few times in 2006-2008 but I can count how many times on one hand for both, I'm not proud to admit it either.  I feel like I'm going crazy saying I have bugs crawling in my brain.  Can someone give me any input?
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Avatar universal
Hi Elizabeth, I am experiencing very similar symptoms for the last two months and was wondering whether you got anywhere with a diagnosis around your symptoms? I know this post was a while back but being hopeful you can respond.
Helpful - 1
351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi!
Your symptoms could be due to compression of the spinal nerves in the cervical spine region. This can happen due to overuse of computers, work involving straining of neck, herniated disc, canal stenosis, bone disease, spondylosis, poor posture etc. A MRI of the cervical spine and nerve conduction studies may be required. Please consult a neurologist. The treatment is to remove the compression. You have to discuss the best treatment option with a neurologist, which can range from medication to steroid injections to physiotherapy to traction, cervical collars or even surgery. Alternatively you can visit a chiropractor or a physical therapist and learn some exercises which you can do to relieve the compression, but consulting a neurologist is a must.
Use a hard bed to sleep. Avoid a pillow. Roll a towel and place it under your neck while sleeping on the back and between head and shoulder when lying on the side. Initially this will be uncomfortable but with time the acupressure will work. Use an analgesic cream or spray. Anti-inflammatory drugs  and muscle relaxants also help. Also, you must improve your posture while sitting and working. Manual therapy, traction, cervical collar, neck exercises etc should all be tried as all these can help relieve pain. Hope this helps. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hi, I totally agree with Dr. Kokil Mathur. I didn’t know my neck was a mess before some idiot hit me on the road and it set off pinched nerves. I also have occipital neuralgia. Everything he mentioned, if done faithfully will help in time. I’m still working on finding the right migraine prevention medication. I had started on Topamax but after a week I felt like a zombie with a all over mild headache. I couldn’t stay awake. Will be calling neurologist tomorrow. But I am doing dry needling for 3 weeks in a row now. One session per week. I think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. It really helps. I know I’ll never be completely pain free but anything I can do to reduce that constant 8-10 pain to a 1-3 pain I’ll be happy with. I definitely recommend the dry needling. It’s done by my physical therapist. Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Elizabeth did your symptoms go away ? How are you now ? Please update
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi e
Helpful - 0
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