Degenerative Disk Disease

Not too long ago i was told i have  Degenerative Disk Disease in my neck and  arthritis there too. I wanted to know if this can cause the big headaches  i am getting? when my neck is in allot of pain  i seem to get a build up of pressure at the base of head and my head just starts pounding and nothing i take clears it. I get this happening about 3 times a week and it will last from 12 to 48 hours. Can anyone help? Thank you for your time.

[ferret5]

Absolutely your neck problems can cause headaches. They are called cervicogenic headaches. They can last for hours or days. I have had the same problem for a few years. The onlly thing that worked for me was radiofrequency ablation. They laser the nerve endings in the neck. Doesnt work for everyone and it is not a permanent solution. I have yet to find a doctor with a permanent solution. I believe with the arthritis and degen disc disease, there is no permanent solution simply due to the fact that it is degenerative, so the discs will continue to degenerate. The first radiofrequency lasted me pretty well for about 6 months and then the headaches came back, slowly worsening. I just had it done again and hope it works this time also. It is quite a relief to get rid of the severe 3-day headaches for awhile.

[Agggony]

Feret5 is right, I too have Arthritis in my neck, and I got it B_A_D ~BAD!, I had a fusion in Feb.1999 C-7 ~ C-5 following an at work accident when the machine in my Profile pix was dropped on my head & neck. I get those same headaches, and They are NASTY!, I take a lot of morphine to control the pain in my neck and lumbar as well as Knees, hands etc. But the morphine does Nothing for the headaches. What I found that works , The ONLY thing I found that works, Is the "Headache Medicine" sold at the $1store ! It has a mix of Aspirin-Acetaminophen & Caffeine. It is the "HEALTHCARE" brand and simply says "Extra Strength Headache Relief" on the label.  I only take 1 tab and in 20min. my headache is gone! Try it, let me know how it works for you, Best 99cents I spent in some time! Steve

[kd414]

Hello,
I have to agree. I have the same thing.!!  My headaches are almost constant!  Even my scalp hurts. I massage my temples and scalp with a massager. It helps.  I just got a cortisone injection on Monday, and I was switched to Methadone . I  have really felt an improvement. I have had this since 2006. Sometimes I feel like the top of my head will explode. Try the little hand held 3 legged massager. Excedrine migraine helps too

[anickstairs]

Does "Methodone" work? I've heard of that and still as addicting as codeine or worse. Can you tell me how well it works and the amount and times of day if any...meaning a once a day pain relief? I'm hurting allover...shoulders, legs, lower back, front left trunk area, foot....

Thank you in advance.
NY Nicky