Neurology :: Headache Associated With Occipital Neuralgia?
Jan 7, 2016
I have had horrible migraines for 10+ years which have become chronic daily headaches, manageable, but daily. A year ago I started having horrible pains at the base of my skull on the right side, some days it is a horrible stabbing pain, some days it is just a dull ache, but it is always there. I saw my neurologist in May about the pain since it just would not go away, she really had no ideas for me, she thought it might be a pinched nerve but said she really didn't know, she started me on nortriptyline, after being on the nortriptyline for 2 months and no change, she switched me to gabapentin, I am now taking 1200 mg 3 times a day. Some days I notice a difference, other days no change at all. My Neurologist said to stay on it and it should be helping. About 3 months ago the same type of pain started on the left side of my neck, about 1.5 inches below the base of my skull, closer to the middle by the spinal cord than the outside of the neck, it felt like a muscle knot that wouldn't go away, for the first few weeks, thinking it was a muscle knot, I was trying everything to get the knot to go away, after no relief with heat, massage, ice, I saw my neurologist and basically demanded that we get an MRI to see what was going on, she said she didn't think that was necessary, but ordered it anyway. She said my MRI looked totally fine and that i should still stay on the gabapentin, but no more help than that. After that I decided to find a different doctor. I started seeing a physiatrist, specializing in neurologic issues. My first appointment with him was fantastic, right away he said from everything i am describing i have occipital neuralgia. He explained what it was, and that it is a tricky thing to get under control, and he really couldn't say what is causing it. He said that the gabapentin is what he would prescribe, and it probably is helping, just not taking the pain away totally. He did prescribe a cream to apply to my neck, that he said he has great results with. He said he likes to try this first before doing any injections. It is a special compound cream that is specially made at a pharmacy he uses, its a mix of baclofen, gabapentin, ketorolac, and lidocaine. Its hard to tell if the cream is working, kind of like the gabapentin, sometimes it feels great, other times the pain is the same...
My true issue and reason for posting is, I have had a bad headache on the right side of my head, it moves from the right base of my neck, around my ear to my front temple area. Throughout the day it is in a different spot and I can pinpoint exactly where it is, it feels like someone is stabbing a knife right in that area, but it lasts for hours, throughout the day it does get a little "better", but i can always feel it, when it gets "better" it just feels like a massive pressure in that area. I have been a headache sufferer for as long as i can remember, but this headache is different than any headache I've ever had, and it going on day 19. I have tried everything; my many different headache medications (including an injection i give myself), I've taken a dose pack of steroids along with some anti nausea medication my neurologist gave me, i have gone to get a DHE treatment from my neurologist, i have gotten a toradol shot, and pretty much anything else i could think of, and nothing is kicking this headache. After doing lots and lots of online research, it leads me to believe that this is related to my occipital neuralgia, not a "normal" headache. Has anyone has a headache like this before? Do you think it is related to the occipital neuralgia, or something else? Does anyone have any ideas to make it go away. Also, if anyone has any tips on dealing/treating neck pain from occipital neuralgia.
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For nearly two years now, I have had a severe pressure pain at the base of my skull on the right hand side of my head. It has steadily got worse, often flaring up whilst I have been in the gym, but now, like tonight, it has been throbbing/stabbing so badly that I am unable to sleep.
I have been back and forth to my doctor about 5 times so far and every time she has sent me for a blood test and concluded that I have low iron and to take supplements for that. My whole family are susceptible to iron deficiencies and I am a regular blood donor who has never been turned away, so I am confident low iron has nothing to do with it.
I was getting quite frightened that I could possible have an AVM in my head, or something putting pressure on my skull, so after much persuasion, my doctor referred me for a CT scan that came up 'normal'. She called me and suggested that I keep taking iron tablets as this must be the cause of my 'headaches'.
I do NOT have a 'headache'!! I keep reiterating to my doctor that it is a constant pressure in that area, sometimes my head even hurts to touch, but she is insistent that it is a headache. Occasionally I get a pain behind my right eye and over the top of my head, so I am getting a lot better at wearing my glasses any time that I am reading or studying. I have looked online at my symptoms, and I think it could possibly be occipital neuralgia - does anyone have symptoms like this? I have looked on other threads but there seem to be a lot of associated physical symptoms, for me it is just the head pain.
If you would believe it, my doctor actually asked me if I wear my hair up at night as she thought having my hair in a loose ponytail could be causing the pain. When I said I wanted a scan, she told me she would 'have to make something up' that sounded worse than what I told her because if she sends a person for a scan and it's not serious, she gets a slap on the wrist, as scans are expensive and she can only request three per month.
I am going back this week to discuss occipital neuralgia with her (let's hope she knows what it is!) and to insist on maybe an alternative treatment to injections or meds - maybe acupuncture?
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Ever since I've contracted HSV2 my life has been a living hell! I've been having sharp pains all over my body , leg pains, itching sensation all over my body, and last but not least pains in the back of my head and neck which sometimes radiates to my scalp. can herpes cause this to happen? If so is it life threatening or deadly?
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Does anyone have problems with occipital neuralgia? I have been having headaches everyday going on 7 months now that are dull and cause shooting head pain. It travels from my neck, to the top of my head, behind my ears, and behind my eyes. I have had MRI's and CT scans, and everything has come back normal. I have gone to PT for 4 months and had 2 nerve blocks. Nothing has given me relief. I went to a new doctor yesterday and he suggested that I may have occipital neuralgia. I am desperate to hear about what has helped other people and to hear about how everyone else copes with this/if it has gotten better.
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I had bad head and neck pains and lightheaded/dizzy days for about 18 months. Would last a day or two then feel fine in between. Held down a super full time career and ran a home really well. Was successful etc. But since xmas when I had a major headache/pain in the back lower part of one side of my head which started boxing day and went on and on I saw a neuro who thinks it is occipital neuralgia. On gabapentin and awaiting some procedures in theatre to help (I hope!) Anyone else have this out there?
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My friend has had diagnosed with occipital neuralgia. I am now living in my country of origin because I developed Parkinson at the age of 28. I kept receiving medication in the UK but opted out for DBS at this clinic abroad. They were so great that they offered me a job as I recovered. I told the doctors about my friend and they told her to come over for something called peripheral nerve surgery as they had a doctor visiting from the States. She initially exhausted all medication therapy and also nerve blocks, I think she used botox did not help her. Now she is migraine & headache free, happy, smiley person.
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I was told by my neurologist that's what I have which is fine I have a lot of the symptoms (burning in head, ache, sharp pains, etc.) however I would like to know if anyone else experiences a metallic taste with theirs?
Or bitter taste? Hard to explain the taste exactly but I noticed I only get this taste when my ON acts up.
My right cheek also feels numbish when it comes along. I have a nerve test for neuropathy in a few weeks (to see which kind I have) and have had CT/MRI of brain which was clear so the taste may be related to the neuropathy but it just seems weird it comes when the ON comes.
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I had this unit put in in Dem. 2013 but because of the lead trying to push through the back of my neck it had to be revised in August 2014. Was doing great until January 19, 2016 when the lead again pushed entirely through the skin on back of my neck. Now my insurance company will not approve for me to have another unit put back in. I was free 90% of the time with my unit in and now I am back to having so much pain in this area. It makes it very hard to have any quality of life except to wait around for another horrible burning pain that takes 3 mores days to overcome each time. Has anyone else had their insurance refuse this especially when it worked great?
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I have not officially been diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia, but I am beginning to think that that is what I have been suffering from. I will be going back to a doctor soon (husband is military and we are currently getting ready to move to a new country...so it will be a few months before I settle and can get to specialist). In the meantime, I wanted some advice from others who deal with this. I am curious if this sounds like ON to you (I know you can't diagnose me...just curious if my story is similar to anyone else's) and what you do for the pain.
I am 25 years old right now. The headaches started when I was about 18 or 19 years old. It started on the right side of my head right at the base of my head and neck. I got them almost everyday. It was just a dull ache. Nothing awful, but definitely annoying enough that I would have to take advil (especially when I had class or work or something). As months went by and the pain continued, I started getting nervous that I had a tumor (I am a pretty big hypochondriac). I went to my doctor and he sent me to get a CT scan. Everything came back normal. The headaches continued. Went to a neurologist and got an MRI. Again everything came back normal. The headaches still continued. Went to physical therapy. Still not much improvement (granted, I don't practice the exercises he taught me very often). At this point, to be honest, I gave up hope. I took advil almost every day and learned to deal with the pain. I assumed it was just tension headaches. The pain has now gotten worse. The headaches are still only that one side of my head, but the pain spreads behind my ear and up to my right eye when it is at its worst. It feels like a deep ache and I constantly want to stretch or crack my neck or something (which doesn't work). I have a "knobble" that I use to massage the area. Applying a lot of pressure on it hurts...but in a good way. It sort of relieves the pain for the time being, but unless I take advil it will usually come right back and it will last for a few hours if I don't do anything.
I am a teacher and I obviously have to be at my best everyday. The pain makes it impossible, which is why I usually give in and take meds even though I KNOW I should not be taking it everyday. If I am just at home and have nothing to do, I try to massage the area and relax until it dies down.
Does this sound like it could be Occipital Neuralgia? Does anyone have any other idea of what it COULD be? I haven't had much help from doctors, so I sort of want to be armed with information the next time I go see one. I am sick of being told it's nothing when I am spending every day in pain.
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I had no idea what Excruciating Pain was. Does Radiofrequency Ablation in the facet joint nerve work?
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Four days ago I woke up with pretty bad pain on my Occipital bone one the right side.It felt bruised and hurt to touch.Then the pain was constant and throbbing.Now,four days later my neck on that side is tight and sore and have had a constant headache. Before this I was having pain on the same side in my face right near my ear as well as ear pain.I am SUPER dizzy too.I do have meniere's disease as well so I think this problem is aggravating the menieres and dizziness.
I saw my ENT for the ear and face pain and she noticed I had fluid in my ear and treated it,but said it did not look like an infection.My nose has been super stuffy as well.
Having meniere's I tend to hold my head stiff in fear of dizziness and I sleep propped on 4 pillows due to dizziness.After researching all I keep seeing is OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA 😳.I read it can be from neck issues or sometimes infection and the lymph nodes in the Occipital swell.I plan on calling the Dr tomorrow but does anyone have thoughts or similar symptoms? The pain is pretty bad. It feels just like I bumped my head.....Anyone?
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This usually happens randomly, when I'm sitting down or standing/walking. I get this dull pain in my head and my vision will go black for about 5 to 10 seconds. Along with that I feel dizzy. One time it lasted for about 20 seconds and I couldn't walk until I got my vision back. Not only that but sometimes I'll feel the same dull pain on either side of my head, near my temples, but my vision does not go black.
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I'm 27y,male,weight 44kg. I've started to have headache after having a very tough semester at college 2 months back and it become worse 2 weeks back when i visited a neurologist who diagnosed me with "tension headache".
He prescribed me a cortisone injection in addition to 9 days of prednisolone (3 days 60mg, 3 days 40mg, 3 days 20mg).
The tension headache has gone, however, I still have headache on the sides of my head and behind my eyes, some pressure in my ears sometimes.
During my prednisolone course,I had severe depression, mood changes, anxiety (i couldn't sleep), sweating & lose of appetite. (I didn't have any history with these weird side effects)
Now, it's day 6 after stopping the prednisolone and i still have some depression/worried but i think i'm getting better day after the other.
My questions:
1. How long does it take for Prednisolone to clear out from my system?
2. Since tension headache has gone, why am I'm still having headache (sides of head,behind eyes & sometimes pressure in ears).
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The patient had NO symptoms or back pain/spine related issues prior to a car accident in Sept 2015.
Now the issues are gradually worsening with sporadic pain down the legs, left forearm and hands.
MRI was done Dec 2015 with the above stated result.
Additional results related to the L4-5 was:
... with high signal intensity dorsal/left lateral annular fissuring and mild dorsal bulging. Normal facet joints. No disc herniation, stenosis or impingement.
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I'm a 15 yr old girl and I have found 2 lumps on my neck about 2 inches above my collarbone on my right side about a week ago. They are painless and immovable, and they have grown in size slightly since i noticed them. One is about 1cm in diameter and the other is about 2.5cm in diameter. I also have a long lasting headache, dizzy spells, slight chest tightness (worse when lying down), itchiness of my upper back, quickly losing weight (5kg this week) and extreme fatigue. What could this be? Should I be worried?
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at night difficult to be relaxed...also have bursitis in hips....tingling and numbness on both feet, the right one is much worse and even goes into my hands a little. feeling off balance This discussion is related to Right Leg & foot pain and numbness.
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I'm a 41 yr old who has been suffering with tingling and numbness in my face, hands and feet and my tongue deviates slightly to the right. I have also had periods of dizziness. I have been hospitalized twice in the last month. Every test has come back negative... One neurologist suggested I could be having Tia while another said its not. I have a strong feeling that my menstrual cycle may play a part in this. I was looking at post from 2011 and their were other women who have similar symptoms!
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I have a painful and migraine inducing bump on the left side of my Occipital bone, located an inch away from my ear. It's extremely painful and I have noticed some mood swings and it's driving me insane. Lately I've been having bad back pain too. I just want to know what are the possibilities or potential issue. It's very very painful and sore. It almost feels like a cyst by its hardness. I also am having a little case of the cold on top of this.
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can frontal lobe atrophy cause headaches and pressure all over your head and pain behind eyes come from this have a appointment with neurologist on 16 of January have had stroke but no severe ....
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I have been experiencing headaches since 2006. I have been to the doctor numerous times trying different prescriptions. I have absolutely had it with dealing with this. I went to the doctor this week because I am on my 13th day of this headache with no relief. She put me on nadolol and butalbital. On top of what the previous doctor prescribed months ago amitriptyline and to topiramate. After taking the new medicine my headache was so bad all day. It is the worst. It has only been three days on the new meds but I am wondering if I should take them because I feel worse than I have ever felt. I go back to the doctor in a month. Anyway I just wanted some opinions on this. I'm 36 and I am sick and tired of these headaches. I have them about 80% of the month since 2006. I am fed up. I need to get pain free.
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This has been happening to me for several months. It doesn't matter if I am up and active or sitting down doing nothing. It starts at my shoulders and goes all the way down both of my arms. They are numb. No pain or tingling but I cannot use them or move them until this passes. Usually 1 to 2 minutes. Any Ideas?
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