Carotidynia anyone?

[heart2heart]

I've had migraines since I was a kid. I am 53 yo female. Since my 20's I've had right sided migraines at times followed by burning pain and pressure in the right side of my jaw,neck,ear. Sometimes these symptoms last for weeks and are very anxiety provoking. At first the drs said it was tmj, then they ascribed it to my arthritic cervical spine, then anxiety. My last episode following a migraine was really bad. I could not touch my face without feeling sensitive like little shards of glass. I called my internist who gave me another possible name "carotidynia" I still can feel my pulse in the right side and some burning in that ear, the headache is gone though. Its been over a week. Has anyone ever experienced this? What kind of tests should I have, prev. brain MRI,brain MRA normal (2 yrs ago) Carotid doppler shows highly tortuous left carotid,otherwise normal. Previous Crp and sed rates -normal. CBC (last month) was normal. I'm getting worried there's something going on.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

Carotidynia is a contorversial diagnosis and some specialists arue whether it exists as a seperate condition at all. It is also called 'facial migraine' - there is an acute form lasting 1-2 weeks and a chronic form thought to be realted to migraine and is treted with migraine medication. It is so rare that it is hard to study it and find more answers. The pain is thought to originate from the carotid artery . The carotid artery should be evaluated for other disorders such as an arterial tear, blockage or growth by MR etc. Carotidynia usually responds well to a course of steroids.

Good luck

[silf]

I have taken prednosone (steroids) unfortunately did not work and the side-effects were terrible. My neurologist has suggested Topiramate/25mg first week and 50mg second week which I'm on my second week which I have not seen much difference until today. However, in addition to this medication I have been reading and if we are missing magnesium/potassium in our diets this can increase our head aches. I have been taking both and I have started seeing a difference today which is my 3rd day. My head aches are less, my sight is better, my confusion is much better, however, long way to go. However, this may be a combinatin of both the vitamins and Topiramate.These have been been my symptomm, very bad head aches, confused, my brain hurst, it feels like it's on fire, my vision is not the same, my hair bothers me, I can't put my hair up, can't sleep, ear pain,my neck if very sore, racing heart, fatigue,basically homebound and off work. What has been confirmed is that my ESR-sedimendation rate is 30 should be below 20,and low potassium, done via blood work. Please confirm if anyone has any of these symptoms. Take care

[4131Corky]

A related discussion, What is Carotidynia? was started.