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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
occipital nerve pain
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
occipital nerve pain
by NoreenMc, Dec 31, 2003 12:00AM
I have had two neck surgeries in the past two months. The first surgery was to repair two discs, which were herniated. The herniation had caused my right shoulder to freeze and I could not turn my head to the right. Almost immediately after the surgery I had some sever head pain – I thought it was associated with the surgery. My incision did not heal well – it was very angry looking and lumpy. I was running temperatures between 100 and 103. I was put on antibiotics after the second week and was on them continually for the next four weeks. After six weeks of severe discomfort the decision was made to go back into the incision and clean it out. That surgery was performed exactly six weeks after the initial surgery. I was told there was tissue inflammation but no staff infection, which was initially feared.
I am still on antibiotics, now going into my sixth week. The incision appears to be healing but I am still having the severe head pain. While I am lying it is tolerable but when I sit or stand – it become intolerable quickly. The doctor now tells me that the pain may be from occipital nerve due to swelling lymph nodes in the base of my head, near my neck. How long could this last? I am still out of work and am getting very concerned. The doctor said I can go back to work when I feel up to it but had no idea when the head pain would go away.
I had never head of occipital nerve pain and know very little about it. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
I am still on antibiotics, now going into my sixth week. The incision appears to be healing but I am still having the severe head pain. While I am lying it is tolerable but when I sit or stand – it become intolerable quickly. The doctor now tells me that the pain may be from occipital nerve due to swelling lymph nodes in the base of my head, near my neck. How long could this last? I am still out of work and am getting very concerned. The doctor said I can go back to work when I feel up to it but had no idea when the head pain would go away.
I had never head of occipital nerve pain and know very little about it. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 02, 2004 12:00AM
, Jan 02, 2004 12:00AM
I think you want to ask this question to the neurology forum, they are the ones who have the experience to answer this question. I am a psychiatrist, and we don't see these kind of problems.
One night, I ran across one of those healing shows that they have on television. I prayed and prayed to Jesus Christ like never before. I don't know why it never occurred to me before to try this, but I didn't. I could only crawl and lay down, that's how bad my injury was and getting worse.
This went on for three months.
The next morning, after I had prayed, I was crawling towards the door and I noticed that I felt different somehow than I had been feeling. I sort of tried to stand up a little, and then a little more. I could actually sort of hobble out of the door. I continued to get better every day from that day on.
Anyone who has had a back injury knows that the back pain isn't the only problem. You just feel ill all of the time no mater what you are doing. I knew the minute I crawled into that doorway that something was different, different than I had felt in three months.
I know that I was healed the night that I prayed for it.
I am 53 years old and fat right now, and I can lift anything I want too with no problem at all. I have never had any problems since that night.
PRAY! The spiritual world really does exist and is full of people wanting to help us. I think you have to ask for it though. In any event, what could it hurt. PRAY!
beach-***@****
and thanks!
deb