Chronic headaches for three years, disorientation, vertigo

[witcheyez]

I have been suffering from chronic daily headaches for three years now and theses range from moderately painful to excruciating. They have often forced me to take time off work and have affected my attendance at school and affected exam results.

I have been to the doctors many times about these and they say that they believe that they are tension/stress headaches. They have done no testing apart from blood tests.

The headaches are getting worse now, to the point where they are forcing me to stay away from work most of the time.

The headaches are mainly on the top of my head, but they can also be anywhere else. I also experience disorientation, vertigo, dizziness and double vision.

I have also developed a tremor in my right hand (little finger and ring finger), though this may be due to the amytriptiline medication i am taking (though proving ineffective).

Have you advice on how to stop these or press my doctors for further help?

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

Chronic headache is best treated by a neurologist experienced in headache management or with specialty training in headache. Treatment should be multidiscplinary as drugs alone often do not work
Association with vertigo, dozziness etc may mean that the neck (and its balance and sensory receptors) are involved in the headache and specialist neck physical therapy may help
Multidisciplinary headache management includes medications, idenitifcation of medication overuse headache, headache psychology, physical therapy and other treatments such as neck or trigger point injections and botox.
Most major headache centers, such as the Cleveland Clinic have this setup

Good luck

[Citizen T]

You need an MRI brain scan with contrast ASAP.  Tell your doctor this, and do not take no for an answer...be strong

[Citizen T]

i'm not trying to scare you, it's probably nothing since it's been going on 3 years, but you need to know for sure, and the MRI will tell the story

[charley1986]

hey, I agree with citizen t - you should push for an MRI.  If you have a GP like mine - you will really have to PUSH - when it comes down to it - YOU are the only one who knows your body - and you know how you feel - fight to find out what's wrong....it's your body - and it's your right as a patient to ask questions and ask for other opinions.  I know it's hard b/c they're to docs and they know more than we do - but they don't live in your skin.  Hope you find some answers soon.  I have appt with neurologist on June 20....waiting game.....

[angel_mom]

If a neurologist can't help, try a Rheumatologist. I was diagnosed with Cogans Syndrome last year. I would wake up and everything was spinning (vertigo), I had vision problems, and then lost my hearing several months apart from each other. I have a spell about every 3 months and each one gets worse. The headaches are always there, but its more discomfort than a headache. GOOD LUCK! I go for an MRI this Friday.

[cino]

I have had chronic severe headaches since the age of 17 yrs old, every day of my life.  I am now 53 yrs old.  I had a whiplash, and that has significantly degenerated my spinal cord, and I now have 5 bulging discs....you can read my statement on the disc C5/6, and also disc problems. I have a comment on those sites. I now have severe dizziness, and the scans all show it is from the neck.  Aside from C2/3 - C3/4 - C4/5 - C5/6 and C6/7 being herniated and pressing on the nerve roots & spinal cord, I have a bony spur growing on the C4/5.  They say the dizziness is from this.  I have seen a Rheumatologist, chiropractors, 2 Neurosurgeons, Muscular Skeletal Specialist, physitherapist, accupunturists, pain specialist, and on & on to no avail.  My headache are like a train is running through my head.  I have worked for years & years with these headaches. Some days they are more settled, other days I must stay in bed.  I have had disorientation from these headaches for over 30 years, and nobody can help me.  I have been tested for vertigo from the inner ear, but it all points back to the neck.  I have severe pain all throughout my body and they say its coming from the 5 bulging discs.  Sometimes I feel like chopping my head off! Is there any relief for such things?

[baseball81]

hey witcheyez,

my name is jared and june 24, 2006 will mark the 3rd year i have been SUFFERING from constant, 24/7 "HEAD PRESSURE". is this what you mean? or is it a headache that comes and goes? if it is CONSTANT like mine, we need to talk. i have been researching FOREVER and have a lot of info for you. maybe you can tell me of your thoughts too. my email address is ***@**** please email me

[IMSICK]

Hello People out there, I have been dizzy everyday NONSTOP from the moment I wake up in the morning to the moment I go to sleep at night, I get up in the middle of the night 2 or 3 times and sometimes cant fall back to sleep for 2 months straight I HAVE BEEN DIZZY! I cant take it anymore! I am FEELING VERY sick, I have gotton my eyes checked and ears checked and that turned out fine, I have slight headaches constantly not real bad migraines but constant pressure in the head and sometimes burning sensations, The room doesnt spinn but I feel like im going to fall down and even light headed at times,  ITS THE DIZZY UNBALANCED FEELING THATS DRIVING ME CRAZY AND THE PRESSURE IN MY HEAD AS WELL,I HAVE TO LAY DOWN BECAUSE ITS DRAINING ME AND I CANT EVEN GO TO THE STORE ANYMORE,I USED TO GO T THE GYM EVERY DAY AND WORK OUT FOR AN HOUR UNTIL THIS HAPPENED, I HAD ALOT OF ANXIETY BEFORE THIS BUT NOW THE ANXIETY IS EVEN WORSE BECAUSE I DONT KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH ME, BUT EVEN WITH ANXIETY I SHOUDN"T BE DIZZY CONSTANTLY, IS THIS POSSIBLE? EVEN WHEN THE HEADACHE/PRESSURE IS GONE im still dizzy,I was going to have an MRI IF THIS PERSISTS but IM HOPING THIS WILL GO AWAY ON ITS OWN I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO, IS AN MRI EVEN NESSESARY FOR DISSINESS? SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!! I DONT LOOK FOWARD TO THE NEXT DAY ANYMORE LIKE I USED TOO BECAUSE THIS IT WHAT I HAVE TO LOOK FOWARD TOO EVERY DAY, WILL IT EVER GO AWAY???  I PRAY TO JESUS EVERY DAY TO TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME, I CANT STAND IT ANY LONGER, I HAVE EVEN TRYED ANXIETY MEDICINE, BUT I DONT LIKE TO MASK THE PROBLEM AND THEY JUST ME TIRED. HELP!!!

[jimbob59]

I have had a cronic daily headache since November 2002.  I just got out of the hospital last monday due to my headache going to a 9 then 10 on pain scale.  This is the 3 time I have been hospitalized and my headache is still no better. I have had every test you can think of with all negative results.  I am currently taking hydromorphone and kadian but still no releif.  The last doctor I saw on Friday wants to put in a electric stimulater and then maybe a pain pump.  I have been turned down by mayo clinic in Scottsdale Az and my medical insurance approves some things and turns down others.  My headache is in the back of my head where the brain stem meets the spinal cord.  Is there anyone out there with simular headaches and what did you do about.  My life is on hold with all the meds and my wife has gone through the ringer worrying about me.  Any help would be greatful.  Thanks here in Arizona.