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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Headaches, Neck and Shoulder Pain
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Headaches, Neck and Shoulder Pain
by louant, Oct 20, 2006 12:00AM
Since the removal of my thyroid due to follicular carcinoma and follow up rai treatment, I have been experiencing flashing coloured lights which get bigger and bigger until its outside my field of vision, this follows with not being able to focus properly for about 10 mins, a headache and feeling tired. I was told by my doctor that this was a migrane. I have since had six more of these and wondered if they are anything to do with the medication I am on at present 200mcg of Levothyroxine per day?, as I have never suffered with them before. I have also noticed black dots above my eyeline of which I assume are floaters. A couple of mornings I have actually awoken with a dull ache behind my eyes which has lasted most of the day. I also suffer from pins and needles feeling in the back of my neck and a pain which comes on occasionally in my neck and radiates down my shoulder into my arm usually the right hand side. Does this sound like MS symptoms as my nan suffered with it. Is it hereditory or not?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-SH, Oct 24, 2006 12:00AM
First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
Your symptoms are most consistent with cervicogenic migraine headaches (migraines that come from the neck). I do not think the levothyroxine is contributing to your headaches, but it is likely that your neck is undergoing changes after the radiation treatments that lead to muscle stiffness, pain and headaches. Other typical symptoms of migraine headaches include photophobia (lights hurt the eyes), phonophobia (sounds make the headache worse), nausea/vomiting and worsening of the headache with movement. Some other symptoms that can occur with neck related migraines include vertigo (room spinning) and imbalance. There are rare cases of seizures in the occipital lobes (back of the brain) that can cause flashing lights, but this is less likely. I would recommend a migraine medication such as a triptan (relpax, maxalt, zomig, etc). If you continue to have headaches you may consider a preventative medication such as elavil, topamax, nadolol etc. I would also recommend neck physical therapy and a muscle relaxor such as zanaflex. An MRI of the brain and EEG should also be done to rule out others causes (tumor, seizures etc).
I hope this has been helpful.
Your symptoms are most consistent with cervicogenic migraine headaches (migraines that come from the neck). I do not think the levothyroxine is contributing to your headaches, but it is likely that your neck is undergoing changes after the radiation treatments that lead to muscle stiffness, pain and headaches. Other typical symptoms of migraine headaches include photophobia (lights hurt the eyes), phonophobia (sounds make the headache worse), nausea/vomiting and worsening of the headache with movement. Some other symptoms that can occur with neck related migraines include vertigo (room spinning) and imbalance. There are rare cases of seizures in the occipital lobes (back of the brain) that can cause flashing lights, but this is less likely. I would recommend a migraine medication such as a triptan (relpax, maxalt, zomig, etc). If you continue to have headaches you may consider a preventative medication such as elavil, topamax, nadolol etc. I would also recommend neck physical therapy and a muscle relaxor such as zanaflex. An MRI of the brain and EEG should also be done to rule out others causes (tumor, seizures etc).
I hope this has been helpful.
