Question Title: Help: Head and Neck Pain:

Hello, I am a 52 year old male suffering daily headaches which sometime
progress to migraine type. This problem has been ongoing for the past
two years and has now become unbearable. I do not have a diagnoses
although it has been suggested a possible pinched nerve in the neck could
be causing the problem. I am still following that up. There are very few
specialist in my community so advice is hard to come by.
I have listed my symptoms below, would you please offer your opinion.
Hello, I am a 52 year old male suffering daily headaches which sometime
progress to migraine type. This problem has been ongoing for the past
two years and has now become unbearable. I do not have a diagnoses
although it has been suggested a possible pinched nerve in the neck could
be causing the problem. I am still following that up. There are very few
specialist in my community so advice is hard to come by.
I have listed my symptoms below, would you please offer your opinion.
Here is a list of my symptoms:
1. Daily headaches which Progress to migraine at times.

2 Pain behind the ears which radiate down the neck to the left shoulder.
(This pain is located about 2 inches behind top left ear.
)
3 Decreased concentration.(maybe because of the constant pain)

4 When I turn my head to either side or up and down I hear a crinkling sound and my
ears start ringing. ( This crinkling sound is a crackling sound that's hard to describe.)

5 I find it hard to sleep, lying down seems to aggravate the pain.
Pain killers give temporary relief at times but not always.

6 When I turn to look somewhere I turn my whole body because turning my
neck causes pain. The head, neck and shoulder pain seem to be linked.

Generally my condition is so bad that im afraid to leave home.
The constant headaches and dizziness are very frightening and a
the lack of a diagnoses doesn't help either. The local hospital emergency
dept. just keeps giving me Demeol for the pain and sends me back home.
Please offer some advice.

Sincerely

SAM

=

Dear Sam,
I would start you on Elavil, an antidepressant that works well for chronic headache and will give you a good night sleep (drowsiness is the major side effect, along with dry mouth). I would start slow, 10 mg at bedtime and titrated as tolereated. SOme patients can take 50mg, some 100mg, some only needs 10 mg. This will help the chronic headache and insomnia.
Unfortunately it will take a few weeks for the drug to work. You have to be patient, but your condition did not happen overnight, so cure will not happen overnight either. You also may have a flavor of panic disorder,
you mentioned that you are afraid to leave the house,and you said that the dizziness and headache is frightening. Sam , these conditions, can be treated, if you have not been evaluated, I suggest that you seek help.
You want to lead a normal life don't you, then don't let these symptoms run your life. If you live near Cleveland, and would like to be evaluated here,\
please don't hesitate to call us, 1-800-CCF CARE. Good luck

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