Strange headache

[mom2makinlee]

Started with neck pain, muscle pain, nerve pain, pain going down arms, burning pain under collar bone.  Had an MRI and showed nothing but slight loss of curve in neck.

Then I got a headache (6 days ago)...sometimes it is a throbbing burning at the base of my skull.  Other times it is a weird spot on the back of my head that feels cold.  But the one that hurts the worst is down the right side of my face causing visual disturbances (constant even without the pain).  So...I had an MRI of my brain with and without contrast...Again found nothing.  I have taken ibeprofen, loratab, and aleve and the meds seem to only mask the headache and not totally take it away.  

What kind of headaches am I having?  Why wont they go away even with meds?

[mom2makinlee]

I am good.  As long as I stretch my neck and shoulders everyday I am ok but if I skip a day they start to come back.  I never did have the spinal tap done I chickened out...I was terrified!  But I really think all that stuff was from pinched nerves in my neck and shoulders and a little bit of tmj.  Cause like I said as long as I stretch real good for about 30 min every night I am ok.  Thanks!!!!

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Do you still experience your symptoms? Were you able to have the spinal tap done? It is good that your MRI result was clear. Take care and hope to hear from you soon.

[ModernTimes]

Try Echinacea, if that helps, it's viral.

[mom2makinlee]

I got my results of my MRI today...again totally clear.  The neuro asked if I was still having the symptoms on one side of my body and I told him yes and he said then we will need to do a spinal tap.  I am scared to do that...should I do that?  

He said after that next step would be stomach doctor because of my history with Ulcerative Colitis.  

What do you think?

Thanks
Laurin

[mom2makinlee]

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you too!!!!

[tomsant]

Yes, since this is a new symptom, you may contact your neuro about the same.

Merry Christmas!

Thomas Antony

[mom2makinlee]

Last night I had something strange happen.  I was sitting there with my usual tingling on one side when all of a sudden I started to feel really hot and got this flushed feeling that started in my arms and went up the back of my neck and into my head.  Anyone ever had this?  Scared me to death...of course it only lasted a few minutes but still.  

Any thoughts?  Should I call my neuro and advise him of this?  I read something about neurological flushing.  What would cause this?  I feel like I am going to drop dead at any moment.  


Thanks
Laurin

[mom2makinlee]

My mom thinks my neuro is crazy and even bet me money I did not have a stroke.  

I am still trying to quit smoking...way harder than I thought!

Thanks again for everything!
Laurin

[tomsant]

1. Yeah, and being in the US, this was night time for you, and you should have been asleep, that's what I thought :-)

2. About such symptoms in a 27F, I too have been baffled ever since you had started describing the same;  hence my request to you to post the neuro's opinion.

But as the symptoms are not worsening, and probably they are already reversing, think only positively.

And, STOP smoking :-)

Best,

TA

[mom2makinlee]

Oh yes I am in the US...sorry I did not know that is what you were asking.

I guess i am just freaked out that he even said the word "stroke".  What could be some possible reasons I would have a stroke at 27 years old?  I am not on birth control and have not been in 5 years.  I do smoke but he said it would be too soon for smoking to cause such a thing.  I guess i am just wondering...are there many different diseases or conditions that could cause a stroke?

Thanks
Laurin  

[tomsant]

Okay, you are in the right track.
(You are awake?! I imagined this must be night in the US :-)

Best,
TA

[mom2makinlee]

Yes my neuro wants to repeat the MRI of my brain to see if I have had a stroke.  They are going to call me with the appointment.  He said I will not have to come back for a follow up unless the MRI comes back bad and he said he will call me on the phone and discuss my results and let me know if he wants to see me again.

Thanks
Laurin

[tomsant]

I think your guess is right. So, I understand you are waiting to repeat MRI. I don't know how things happen in your place. Your regular doctor will ask for repeat MRI or the neuro? And when did he say he is going to do it? You are asked to go back for  a follow up visit?

Best,

Thomas Antony

[mom2makinlee]

Oh I forgot to ask you in the above post ...if he was REALLY worried he would have sent me straight for an MRI right?  So the fact that he is letting me wait is a good thing right?

Thanks
Laurin

[mom2makinlee]

I know, I know but I am still scared...I am not sure know how to not worry!  I am a worrier!  Worrying is what i do.

He said he wants to repeat the MRI because he believes something may have happened between then and now but I have had all the symptoms since the last one.  I am confused.  

Thanks for all your support.  
Lauirn

[tomsant]

Don't worry, at least you are in expert hands. You have spent quite a few days with these symptoms, so I will think only positively.

Your neuro will find the answer when your MRI films reach him, I am sure.

Hope you'll post the Neuro's comments here :-)

Best rgds,

Thomas Antony

[mom2makinlee]

Ok just went to the neurologist and he REALLY freaked me out.  His exact words were "Not trying to scare you but after my findings on your neuro exam if you were 50 years old I would say that you definitely had a stroke, but since your young we will repeat your MRI of your brain to see if we find anything."  I wanted to say...you didnt want to freak me out but you DID!!!!  I wish I could read his report to see exactly what he said.  He was a very nice guy and said no matter what we WILL figure this out and figure out what is causing your symptoms.  

My regular doctor call me back about my CBC and said my white blood cell count is elevated but is consistant with a viral infection so that is good and hopefully it will go away soon cause I was running a fever.  I told him about the neuro and he said he already knew cause he read the report and told me not to get too carried away and just wait for the MRI.

I think I am scared because I know that a 27 year old can still have a stroke and if that is what I am having (obviously either a bunch of little ones or a few medium sized ones) then what could be causing this????

Please help I am really scared...now every time I feel the tingling or numbness I am going to think I am having a stroke!!!!

I wish they could get me in today!!!!!  But I doubt that is possible.

Thanks
Laurin

[mom2makinlee]

Thanks for your help...I figured it was probably a staph infection.  I guess that would not explain the swollen lymph nodes?  I have been using my daughters topical cream in my nose and it does seem to help.  

I will try to get in to the ENT but it usually takes a month to get into a specialist.  I still have the appointment with the neurologist on Dec 16th so that is good.  

I just dont understand why I have so much going wrong here...I am too young for all of this!!!

Thanks again!!!!

[tomsant]

Yeah, when I'm on the net I just see if any deserving q remain unanswered in the forum and if I have time. I do it for fun :-)

Sore throat and lymph nodes in neck, go in favour of viral fever.
Nose can hurt in viral fever (like in influenza) and inside of the nose can be red.

But you saw broken skin looking like popped blister, now with a little white head. This could be a stahpylococcal infection. A boil in the nose may be very painful and may require antibiotics. But as it has already burst, it may not be necessary. If it is a boil, some advise to stop the Flunisolide spray for a few days. I advice so even in viral fever.
It is likely that you got the staph infection from your daughter.
(To eradicate the staph from the nose, we advice topical cream for a longer duration, at least 10 days)

Since you had these lymph nodes on the right side neck for some time now, and I feel you should have mentioned this to the ENT. Or mention this to him at the next visit, or make a visit in a few days.

You should also  mention about your headache, the "tingling on the right side of face near the corner of mouth, giving way to numbness..."  the bigger right pupil, the transient bruise under the eye and the TMJ problem. He can examin and find out if there is any contribution from your E,N,T to these symptoms.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Thomas Antony

[mom2makinlee]

Hey I noticed you answer most of the questions on the ear, nose and throat board and I posted a question...maybe you can help me...I swear I am falling apart here...LOL

I went to the doctor yesterday for a sore throat and some swollen lymph nodes on the right side of my neck...he said looks viral.  Got home and nose started to hurt on right side, looked and it is all red and some broken skin so makes me think that a blister in my nose popped.  Of course the doctor did not look at my nose so I dont want to go back.  It looks pretty bad in there though all red and a little swollen and under where the blister was there is a little white head.  I figured it could be from a couple things so you tell me if I need to go see the doctor again for this....

1. Part of the viral infection
2. From my nasal spray that I use (Flunisolide 0.025% 2 times a day in each nostril)    
3. My daughter has had a mild staph infection that keeps coming back but hers are on her skin and they are just little red spots.  So maybe now I have a staph infection in my nose?  I used her nasal cream but so far 2 uses and it has not helped.

Any of these sound like they could be the reason?  I have never had this happen before.  

Thanks for your help!
Laurin

[tomsant]

Citalopram, Alprazolam and Gabapentin; the ones you are on now, can help the headache if migraine or psychological in origin.  

But your wheeze and enlarged lymph nodes in neck are pointers to something else. It may be transitory, as in a respiratory tract infection. However, as you have already seen your doctor about it, nothing to worry.

Best rgds,

TA

[mom2makinlee]

You too!!!

I feel a little bit better on the Celexa and xanax...doctor also just gave me neurontin which I have only taken for 2 nights now.  

My GP did not say much when I saw her a couple days ago just said that the neurontin should help with everything and I had some enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and my lungs were a little wheezy.  She wanted to see me back in 3 weeks.  

Yeah I guess I am just gonna have to suck it up and wait for the neuro on Dec 16th.

Thanks!

[tomsant]

Great to hear from you again.

Tingling on the right side of face near the corner of mouth, giving way to numbness, felt also in the right hand and right foot to varying extent..

We already went through 'cervicogenic headache", TMJ syndrome and visual problems with large pupil on one side...

And you are now on Citalopram. Do you feel better now?

I am sorry that I'm unable to comment at this stage. The next step is a neurological exam to put things together. But I will be interested in what the neuro thinks.

Don't feel dejected, you will get help.

Best rgds,

TA

[mom2makinlee]

My tingling has now turned to a numb feeling.  It is on the right side of my face near the corner of my mouth, in my right hand, and right foot (foot is still just tingling though)  Could this still just be from whatever kind of headache I have?  Also when I take Ibeprofen the numbness and tingly stuff seems to get better but does not totally resolve.  I just started taking Celexa again thinking maybe this is all because I quit taking the SSRI to begin with but have only been taking it for 3 days and it seems to be making my headaches worse.  

That spot in my is still there and the right pupil is still bigger.  I tried to get into the neuro before Dec 16th but they dont have any openings.  I am really starting to get scared since this wont go away.  I have been taking my xanax too which seems to help a little bit also but also does not take it away totally.  

HELP