what do you do for pain

[keshia3017]

Hello everyone I went to see my family doctor yesterday to talk about the chiari and if she had any other suggestions on things to help manage symptoms.  SHE perscribed me some cream to rub on wherever im having pain. The cream doesn't help much at all along with the tylenol 3 and neurotin. She didn't seem to know much at all about chiari.  Im pretty frustrated and getting depressed because I never feel good. I own my own business and work 60 hours a week plus 2 small children and household. I start physical therapy next week twice weekly for a month. I'm really hoping it helps. Has anyone done physical therapy and had good results? Also what are somethings you do or use to manage pain? My sister has fibromialga and uses a tense unit and suggested that. Some days I just want to lay in bed and do nothing ; (

[Nellan12]

HI keshia, when i first started with my headaches i thoughts it was seasonal,after the decompression back in 2012, the they started to be daily so i din't pay attention to everything else like the stiff neck pressure in my head and hears, blurry vision and the pin that went from the back of my head down my shudders into my right arm(i am right Handed) i would drop things, and the burning feeling in my neck. don't Waite to long,to go see a  GOOD Chiari doctor..This time around i kept going to other doctor ,even thought my PC had ordered the MRI and it showed something, i went to see a headache specialist then i saw a neurologist hoping he would give me meds,, then i saw a ENT, because the dizziness was getting really bad (at that point 5 months had gone by) and the neurologist had said i had fluid in my inner ear ,so i went there thinking i was going to get some MAGICAL PILL and all my systems would go away!!!!  but no Dr came in after a very an 1 1/2 hr of testing to tell me i had no infection in my ears they were perfectly fine!! At that point  he told me it was all coming from the Brain again i was in such shock because i refused to believe it ...that i broke down in the doctors office like a 2yr old who just had their favorite toy taken away.thank God my husband was there because i had to leave the office and he finished talking to he doctor...My point is don't waite!!! the longer you do, the worse your health will deteriorate..believe me i had to stop working last nov. took me several months to find the rite doctor,and 8 months now fighting the insurance companions, because in my state they think they can rule!!  IT'S BETTER TO KNOW THAN NOT TO KNOW  :0)

[selmaS]

   PT  did  not  work  for me  and b4  I  had  surgery  the more I did the more I hurt  so  it is best  to save  energy  for when  you need  it  so rest  the rest  of  the time,,,,I  know  it is not  easy  and b4  my  DX  I was  working  70  plus  hours  a week....granted  my  DD was  grown,  but  I  was  driving  to Philly then  NYC  many  times  alone...(college) so  it  was  not  easy  and  the only  thing  that worked for  pain was relaxing and  resting....

[Elisaandbucky]

Driving is not comfortable for me either, mainly because of the feelings associated with car sickness. I even get sick when I drive! My vision is also blurry - reading is impossible without strong reading glasses. I have a whole collection (about 10 pairs), but I am still looking all over for them every time I need them. But I must say that sleeping is very healing for me as well. How many hours do you try to get on a given night? I really seem to need more than 8.

[baccalynnwv]

I am in PT now. I will be having decompression and fusion surgery in January. The PT right now just focuses on releasing the muscles at the back of the head, neck and shoulders. No straining. He is thinking about adding some very slight neck strengthening exercises to prepare for surgery.  I think it helps a little. So far it has been very brief  releif of some burning and stiffness in the muscles. I usually ruin it by my 30 minute drive home on a bumpy,  curvy road  though.  :(
He suggested getting two tennis balls, laying down with the balls at the base of my skull, to help at home. I haven't tried it yet. Sometimes pressure there hurts.

[keshia3017]

Hello I don't have many headaches but when I do only thing that helps is going to sleep. I have more arm,neck, and back pain. I have muscle weakness hurts to drive I drop things alot. Blurred vision and dizziness.

[Elisaandbucky]

I spend a whole lot of time in my bed some days - mostly exhaustion, but plenty of days with headaches. Like you said many things really have no effects on my head. However, my sister swears by Extra-strength Excedrine for Migraines. Some days I also darken my room.

I do hope you can get some relief from your PT. I had  single week and then insurance got in the way, so someone with more time with it may be able to tell you more. I just remember the therapist was like a drill Sargent and I was dying trying not to laugh. She was certainly good for cheering those 2 days that I worked for her! Post back about any answers you get that give you some relief for you head pain.