Mary.T
11-03-2003, 07:32 PM
I have posted on this board most recently last month. I have problems with disc herniations at C5/C6 and C6/C7. and problems with pain/numbness/tingling in the left arm and hand. I shall be seeing my NS in January for results of an MRI that I had done in September. I stumbled across a site covering "occipital neuralgia" just recently, and the sypmtoms mentioned there seemed to tie in with sharp nerve like pains that I get at the base of my skull on the left side and up and over that side of the head to my eyes and a terrible headache. this nerve like pain also goes down the left side of my neck into the shoulder, it feels like an elastic band has been stretched and is about to snap. If any of you who have disc problems at this level have experienced anything sinilar, please let me know. Am fed up with the pain. :(
Hope everyone is coping with their problems as best they can.
Regards, Mary.T
Hope everyone is coping with their problems as best they can.
Regards, Mary.T
Sponsor
KeithEugeneW
11-03-2003, 10:02 PM
Mary, I have the same problem as you at the same levels. I get those headaches as well, and I sympathize completely about being fed up with the pain. I plan on getting some facet joint blocks to see if this will help, since nothing else has, other than being loaded up on pills, which I decline to do any more, except for the worst days when I take topamax to make it through. I get a feeling like someone drove a railroad spike through the base of my skull, and then it works it's way around one side or the other of my head to my eyes. Sometimes both sides at the same time, in which case I'm a basket case for several hours, even days sometimes. I was on neurontin for about 6 months and it stopped the headaches until I'd get used to the dosage, and then they would increase it each time to be effective again. I saw no end in sight for the escallation of dosage and couldn't deal with the fogginess and memory loss, not to mention weight gain, so I chose to do without it. I also tried epidurals with no luck. I got some relief from cortisone shots into the neck muscles, they reduced the muscle spasms and took some tension off, but these only seem to last about a month or less and I'm back for more. If the facet joint injections do help, I'll definetely share it on the board. Actually I'll share the results either way. I hope you find a solution for your pain, but please hang in there and don't stop looking for answers, and don't let depression from the pain bring you down too far. I know it sounds easier than it is, I've been there and can vouche for that, but try to focus on some good things to help counter the pain while seeking solutions. You are not alone, there are many of us here like you and we truly do care about each other, including you! :D
Keith
I have posted on this board most recently last month. I have problems with disc herniations at C5/C6 and C6/C7. and problems with pain/numbness/tingling in the left arm and hand. I shall be seeing my NS in January for results of an MRI that I had done in September. I stumbled across a site covering "occipital neuralgia" just recently, and the sypmtoms mentioned there seemed to tie in with sharp nerve like pains that I get at the base of my skull on the left side and up and over that side of the head to my eyes and a terrible headache. this nerve like pain also goes down the left side of my neck into the shoulder, it feels like an elastic band has been stretched and is about to snap. If any of you who have disc problems at this level have experienced anything sinilar, please let me know. Am fed up with the pain. :(
Hope everyone is coping with their problems as best they can.
Regards, Mary.T
Keith
I have posted on this board most recently last month. I have problems with disc herniations at C5/C6 and C6/C7. and problems with pain/numbness/tingling in the left arm and hand. I shall be seeing my NS in January for results of an MRI that I had done in September. I stumbled across a site covering "occipital neuralgia" just recently, and the sypmtoms mentioned there seemed to tie in with sharp nerve like pains that I get at the base of my skull on the left side and up and over that side of the head to my eyes and a terrible headache. this nerve like pain also goes down the left side of my neck into the shoulder, it feels like an elastic band has been stretched and is about to snap. If any of you who have disc problems at this level have experienced anything sinilar, please let me know. Am fed up with the pain. :(
Hope everyone is coping with their problems as best they can.
Regards, Mary.T
Mary.T
11-05-2003, 08:02 PM
Keith Eugene,
Thank you for your reply. It's nice to know you're not alone out there. I am seeing my pain clinic consultant on Nov 25th, and am taking copies of my MRI scan and written report with me. Although officially I wont have the result until my NS reads it to me at my visit with him on January 13th. Things happen real quick here in the U.K. !!!! My own doctor says I should discuss with her, and maybe she could get some sort of definate diagnosis underway, checking out the occipital neuralgia etc; I have been under the NS for three years, and only seen him twice, it just takes so long. and when I'm going through a bad phase, I start looking up things for myself again, it gives you something to grip on to. I had to come off all my anti-inflammatory meds in May of this year because they suspected I may have an ulcer, I had all sorts of strange things going on with my stomach. Anyhow, I had an endoscopy last week (not very nice), and ulcers were ruled out, but there is inflammation is the osoephagus So now they have given the go ahead for me to re-start my medication, which varies between Meloxicam,Vioxx and Celebrex. I'm not sure if they are known by the same name over there, and I'm also not sure that they do much good. That horrible neck pain and left sided headache has been with me again today. Is it possible that muscles etc and not nerves cause that pain.
Iwish you well.
Regards, Mary.T :wave:
Thank you for your reply. It's nice to know you're not alone out there. I am seeing my pain clinic consultant on Nov 25th, and am taking copies of my MRI scan and written report with me. Although officially I wont have the result until my NS reads it to me at my visit with him on January 13th. Things happen real quick here in the U.K. !!!! My own doctor says I should discuss with her, and maybe she could get some sort of definate diagnosis underway, checking out the occipital neuralgia etc; I have been under the NS for three years, and only seen him twice, it just takes so long. and when I'm going through a bad phase, I start looking up things for myself again, it gives you something to grip on to. I had to come off all my anti-inflammatory meds in May of this year because they suspected I may have an ulcer, I had all sorts of strange things going on with my stomach. Anyhow, I had an endoscopy last week (not very nice), and ulcers were ruled out, but there is inflammation is the osoephagus So now they have given the go ahead for me to re-start my medication, which varies between Meloxicam,Vioxx and Celebrex. I'm not sure if they are known by the same name over there, and I'm also not sure that they do much good. That horrible neck pain and left sided headache has been with me again today. Is it possible that muscles etc and not nerves cause that pain.
Iwish you well.
Regards, Mary.T :wave: