AHA! headaches from neck muscles!

[pdxmomof3boys]

So finally got in touch with my NS office and the assistant called me back -- my pressure type headaches are muscle tension headaches from the muscles spasming in my neck post-surgery. He said that even if I can't feel the spasms, they are still healing and so are tied up in knots pinching on things. I tried the muscle relaxer and that actually helped my headache better than the pain meds! Still get weird crawling sensation in my head, probably from the same thing. Wanted to post in case anyone else had the same trouble.

I'm officially past my 2 month mark -- WOW! I can't believe it has really been that long. Still feel tired by early afternoon, but I'm managing to get by :) My face pain is otherwise unexplained, so I'm seeing an ENT on thursday to see if there is something wrong with my sinuses. It feels a lot like it did before surgery, but I know that it is allergy season. As much as I wanted to believe that this surgery would cure all my symptoms, it might be something completely different. The allergy test the NP ran on me in december (the one who told me the bubble near my eardrum explained my symptoms and it wasn't "that chiari thing after all") showed really high IGA serum, but none of the typical allergens tested positive, so I still don't know what it is from. I'll know soon, I hope.

In other news...still no snoring :)

Take care and keep healing! It's almost springtime and today in the NW it actually looks and feels like it!

Rosemarie

[Kayera]

This is an old post, but I was wondering does anyone know what type of surgery she had and what ever happened. I too have pressure headache/tightness and also had cervical surgery where I was told my muscles are tight. thanks.

[pdxmomof3boys]

I've never seen a netti pot, but I know that people either use one or the other. You just put the tip of the bottle in your nose and squeeze. The saline helps push and rinse all the mucus and junk out of your nasal passages. The only spray they gave me is a corticosteroid, and you all know how I feel about steroids anymore! I'm really hesitant! I'm waiting to actually be seen on tuesday. REALLY excited. Had to postpone cuz all my kids were sick and couldn't take any more time off of work.

Man, when I have a cold the face pain is WAYworse. I'm getting what my kids had -- along with that darn cough again. Thank God I had the surgery! At least I can cough without falling over and clutching my head in agony!

Absolutely! Days I do too much I feel like I can't take it anymore and just want to push my head between two pillows and die. Meds help a bit, but working doesn't! Soon, I tell myself! When I get this other stuff under control, who knows how great I will finally feel :)

take care you guys! Keep hanging in there!

Rosemarie

[*Stormy*]

Let us know what you find out about the facial pain...I've wondered whether it is allergies or pain from the cranial nerve damage? Or maybe both? Mine always is either coming or going from my ear especially my right one. I know what you mean about feeling kicked! My DH is always like "why are you always rubbing your face?" and it's b/c it hurts!! Some days much worse than others..haven't really figured out why but probably has to do with the days I do too much...it is definitely worse with the headaches.
Good luck with the ENT...
Carolyn

[selmaS]

I can still get the facial pain too...seems when I bend over a lot and if I carry too much......I did take the relaxers longer than my pain meds and occasionally think about taking them....and if I was going to work I would deff have taken them longer.......

Is this sinurise bottle the same as a netti pot?....I hear good things about it....but I did get a nasal spray  and it worked great for me.

So glad u r noticing so many diff benefits from ur surgery.

"selma"

[pdxmomof3boys]

Thanks...Happy to get as far from that surgery as possible! I had muscle relaxers after surgery, but stopped taking them when the spasms stopped. I never did any PT and my NS didn't think I needed it, so I just forgot about those muscles still needing to heal. I wish I had thought about it, I would've stopped taking pain meds and started back up with the muscle relaxers. My neck is cracking lately, and I actually have spasms on the left side.

My face pain is awful -- I feel like someone kicked me! Today it is radiating into my left ear -- sometimes it's the right one. Some days better than others. Hoping to find out the cause so I can deal with it better. I do NOT want to be on meds forever, but prefer to solve the problem straight up (like I did with the decompression :)) especially a steroid, even if it is just a nasal spray. I finally gave in and tried the sinurinse bottle with saline -- feels like going underwater, but it seemed more scary than it really was. Didn't help the pain, but at least my nose is clear :) For me, half the pain is from WORRY and WONDERING so when I have an answer, the empowerment is very healing. Also wondering about the high IGA serum levels that indicate serious allergy, but not positive for any common allergies. My husband asked if maybe it had something to do with my chiari before surgery and now I'm wondering -- who knows? i'll have to ask and hope this ENT has a clueabout chiari!

Hang in there all

Rosemarie

p.s. my aunt yesterday commented on the color in my face (usually I'm ghostly pale and have dark circles) and was like, "wow, who knew the surgery would fix so many things!" I didnt know, either that's for sure! But I am so glad :)

[*Stormy*]

Hi Rosemarie

The muscle spasm thing makes a lot of sense...could really explain why I am still getting headaches too...I know my PT tells me that my neck and shoulders are very tight  with little range of motion. Now, I got a cold too...so with all the congestion and sneezing..I am pretty much guaranteed headaches right now!

I had allergy tests run too awhile ago...they found I had some basic allergies but nothing to explain all the eye swelling and facial pain either.

Let me know what you find out with the ENT...and I'll let you know what I find out (if I ever do...I really hate the waiting game).
Congratulations on hitting the 2 month mark!! I'm glad to hear that things are feeling better!

Carolyn

[selmaS]

Hi Rosemarie...sounds like things r getting better for u....I had sinus issues b4 and after surgery and I was given a nasal spray which helped after one spray each nostril.....

I hope the ENT can help u can figure out what is going on.....

After surgery I was on valium to help things relax.....it worked well and at my 2 month point I was only taking if I would go out somewhere....but , I was cutting them back,.....seems like u didn't get that right away....

I am looking forward to spring too...right now we r having buckets and buckets of rain.....

"selma"