I'm a 47 year old male, long term migraine sufferer who has responded well to botox and midrin. Three days ago I came down with a flu-like illness, but there were no respiratory symptoms at all. Fever (102.5), 7/10 generalized dull headache, muscle and joint pain. No rashes or obviously stiff neck.
On day three I now have horrible bursts of pain along the left side of my head, an a 110 degree arc from my temple to behind my ear. The bursts last only a few seconds but they take the wind out of me. They feel like I'm being cracked on the head with a bottle and then they burn a bit. They're coming around every 15 to 30 seconds x several hours. There is also some pain behind my eye.
I've had a much milder version of this on the crown of my head every year or two, but nothing to really seek help for. But this is agonizing. I can see why trigeminal neuraglia is so disabling!
Could my viral syndrome be linked to this occipital-neuralgia like picture? If this is really a form of true neuralgia, could gabapentin or tegretol help quickly or do they always take days to weeks?
Thank you,
F R