Quality of life slipping away - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

4thman · 07-14-2006, 11:59 AM

Hey. I'm new to this board. I'm having some head issues that are really driving me crazy. I've suffered from headaches my whole life, but about 12 years ago they became more intense. I finally was diagnosed with migraines. Anyway, I had a really bizarre experience a few years ago. I had a relatively medium grade headache and while I had it, I sneezed. I felt like I had been hit in the head. For a few days I had general numbness in the right side of my head (where 99% of my headaches are) and couldn't sleep. Within about a week I began to have bad headaches. I went to my doctor and he sent me to a neurologist. He checked me out (thought I was fine) and gave me an MRI, which came back normal. I had dizziness, minor slurred speech and some severe headaches for weeks after. I only found relief after going to an ENT, who gave me some steroids and Flonase. About a year and a half ago, I had another bout of really bad headaches that lasted for days and didn't respond to OTC medication. I went to another neurologist, had another MRI (was normal) and was given Relpax, which really helps with the migraines. The problem now is that I'm having all sorts of bizarre sensations even when I don't have headaches. Tingling in my head, inability to do strenuous things because they lead to headaches, dizziness, eye pain, ear pain, scalp pain, neck pain, pressure sensations in my nose, pains above the roof of my mouth. I've been to my doctor, ENT, neurologist, oral surgeon, eye doctor over last six months, no one can give me a clear answer. Everything seems normal to them. I don't know what to do. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Worried1977 · 07-14-2006, 08:10 PM

WOW yes ive expirienced this. i also have had headaches for several years (almost 16) i never had an MRI (no insurance) but i did have a CT Scan to rule out tumor. and if i had an aneurism after all this time i would of definitely known by now.

I started getting slight dizziness about 2 months ago it wasnt really room spinning dizzy just sort of a off balance feeling. but the off balance feeling was never accompanied by a headache. The weird sensations you are talking about im wondering if its like mine. they are hard to explain. sometimes i feel like a cringe..sometimes like my brain falls asleep for about 2 seconds like a spasm or something. this mainly happens when i falling asleep but has happened when im looking at a certain patterned paper ( i do scrapbooking) the first time i noticed dizziness was when i looked at a piece of checkered paper it threw me off and stuck with me for 3 weeks. i went to ER had heart tests, ct scan everything was normal they said something with my inner ear. and even now if i look at something checkered i get off balance for atleast a couple hours.
My headaches are located on my left side. they start in front of my ear then behind my ear then into my temple and into my left eye i also have really bad scalp pain. a heating pad takes them away within 5 or 10 mins (i just found that out by trying) my doctor felt my jaw and said it felt like TMJ but he never related it to headaches but so many people say yes tmj causes the same exact headaches that i explain. i even google searched ear..scalp..temple..eye pain headache and TMJ was the first thing that came up with those exact words. so im now going back to my dr on monday to talk to him more about it then ill be going to a dentist for xrays. im on 25 mgs of topamax right now and ive only been on it for a week and a half and so far im 3 days headache free from normally having severe migraines every single day. They are not fun to have. my neck even gets sharp pains and sometimes into my shoulder all on the same side (left) and just so happens the left side of my jaw is really bad. when i open my mouth the joint pops out about half an inch and the right side doesnt. im wondering if theres some kind of connection here since we both have same kind of pain with no explanation. i figured this out because i started to keep a diary and noticed my headaches started shortly after i ate. ive posted on this board so many times im sure people are sick of me by now! but its nice to relate to others with this awful pain so maybe everyone can help everyone else figure out what the heck is going on and whats causing these things.
Good luck and keep posted!

4thman · 07-19-2006, 08:05 AM

Thanks for your reply. I also thought this could be TMJ-related and visited an oral surgeon. What I described to him seemed like TMJ, but when he examined me I barely had any symptoms. Still, I do know that I clench my teeth when I sleep (I've woken up doing it) and have also had headaches soon after eating. The real problem is that I'm not sure if TMJ is really what I have, if it's the only thing and if not, then what the heck else is going on with me?

I'm so frustrated. As I type this, I have some slight eye pain and dizziness, along with some pain in my cheeks. That seems like sinuses. However, when all of this really started back in January, I went to an ENT and he examined me and didn't find anything unusual. I also take sinus medicine that doesn't seem to do anything for me. I feel like going back to him again, but I'm tired of going to all these doctors and having them tell me they can't find anything or that there's nothing wrong with me. Again, thank you for your response.

Idgiebay · 07-19-2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thman

I also thought this could be TMJ-related and visited an oral surgeon. What I described to him seemed like TMJ, but when he examined me I barely had any symptoms.

What do you mean when you say you barely had any symptoms? Not everyone experiences all of their TMJ symptoms all the time. My last TMJ flare up was two years ago. That is, until a week and a half ago... But in between that time, the only "symptoms" I had were a popping jaw and random (very random--averaged about once a month or so) soreness that went away after about an hour.

Just curious as to what you meant, is all.

Did the doctor say you didn't have any symptoms? Perhaps you meant signs...

Worried1977 · 07-19-2006, 12:04 PM

mine is really bad on the left side. my dr referred me to a specialist finally!! and now im on LYRICA and wow i feel like a new person. i have no pain after eating...no headaches so far and NO SIDE EFFECTS. topamax was messing me up really bad! and thats why he took me off it. good luck and keep us posted