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Severe headache with right-sided numbness
Two days ago, I began with pain in the back right side of my head, neck and mid-back pain. This lasted throughout the day and into the night. The next morning, I awoke with an intense right-sided headache (behind right eye) which continues now, but last night, I had shooting pains in my right leg and arm. This led to tingling, and my foot began burning with numbness from the knee down. The headache continues this morning, but the numbness and tingling have almost subsided. I have been having these varied symptoms on and off, days and weeks at a time, for the past two years but never all at once and with such sudden intensity. This all began following a MVA and I have since been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome (post-traumatic migraines), diffuse axonal injury and fibromyalgia. This latest episode leads me to question these diagnoses. I have been given a number of migraine medications samples but are reluctant to try them due to the symptoms accompanying these headaches. I am a 40 year old previously healthy female. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.
A related discussion, miggrain help was started.
I am 84 years of age.I am desperate for a cure for a persistant
severe headache immediately following an operation to unblock
a cartorid artery.After the operation I suffered a minor stroke,
which took my speech away for a day,and left my left part of my
jaw partially paralysed.The headache evolves immediately on awakening,and is occasionally unbearable.Has anyone experienced
the same post operational problem?
Kindest regards
EDITH
severe headache immediately following an operation to unblock
a cartorid artery.After the operation I suffered a minor stroke,
which took my speech away for a day,and left my left part of my
jaw partially paralysed.The headache evolves immediately on awakening,and is occasionally unbearable.Has anyone experienced
the same post operational problem?
Kindest regards
EDITH
Dear Laura C.
Yes, I would see a neurologist. I think that the brain MRI needs to be revisited. There are a variety of things that could have caused your problems, and likely they are related to your Lupus. However, see what the MRI indicates and then your neurologist will precede with the proper tests and treatment.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Yes, I would see a neurologist. I think that the brain MRI needs to be revisited. There are a variety of things that could have caused your problems, and likely they are related to your Lupus. However, see what the MRI indicates and then your neurologist will precede with the proper tests and treatment.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOM FOR THE LAST 4 WEEKS
-I FIRST STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IF I HAD A COUPLE OF GLASSES OF WINE.
-I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO AWAY BUT IT GOT WORSE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN I COULDN'T GET OUT OF BED. I FELT LIKE I WAS ON A BOAT,RINGING IN MY EARS, TERRIBLE PAIN THAT RADIATES FROM THE BACK OF MY HEAD TO MY SPINE, COULDN'T HOLD MY HEAD UP, LOST TOTAL COORDINATION AND ABILITY TO CONTROL MY OWN BODY, VOMITING, SLURRED SPEECH, NUMBNESS IN MY LEFT ARM, AND THOUGH I HEARD PEOPLE TALKING AROUND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WHERE SAYING.
-THOUGH ITS GOTTEN BETTER I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BALANCE(CAN'T STAND IN A UPWRIGHT POSITION WITH MY EYES OPEN OR CLOSED, POSSITIVE ATAXIA, ROMBERG SIGN)RINGING IN MY EARS, THE PAIN IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD THAT RADIATES TO MY SPINE. I'VE GOTTEN SOME OF THE STRENGTH BACK IN MY LEFT ARM. BUT I STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
- ALSO I'VE ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY TO MEMORIZE THINGS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (NOW I FIND MYSELF THAT I CAN'T RETAIN WHAT I LAST READ). I SEEM TO HAVE FORGET HOW TO SPELL SIMPLE WORD LIKE COST (COSED,SO I ALWAYS HAVE TO CARRY A DICTIONARY NOW). I NEVER HAD THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS I'M 28YRS OLD AND ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT STUDENT.
History: I been diagnosed with Lupus for the past yr, ever since I started losing my peripheral vision in both eyes(including my central vision in right eye). Was prescribed 80mg of prednisone for 6months since Nov of 98. My vision is still affected, but improved greatly on the prednisone. I have a history of Hoshimotos thyroiditis(since I was 8yrs old), endometriosis, diagnosed at 17yrs old, had the mumps twice(8yrs and 11yrs old). Recently because of the reaction of the prednisone, once I was tapered off had an episode of thyroiditis (fever of 103 and tachycardia of 158-160 per minute) Submitted to hospital and given inderal 80mg 3 times a day (in July). When I went to the ophtomologist about 4 wks ago when all these new symptoms . I was put back on 20mg of prednisone and I thought this was the cause of the onset of these unusual symptoms. But the doctors insist that it isn't. I don't know what to think. My internist says that I had a similar episode in 1/8/97. But not as severe. I'm really concerned. What can I do? Do you have any idea of what this could be (also do you think I should go to a neorologist even though my MRI was normal back in Nov of 1998). Also the CT scan in the hospital in Nov was normal. Ihope this is not to much information I just want some answers.
-I FIRST STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IF I HAD A COUPLE OF GLASSES OF WINE.
-I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO AWAY BUT IT GOT WORSE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN I COULDN'T GET OUT OF BED. I FELT LIKE I WAS ON A BOAT,RINGING IN MY EARS, TERRIBLE PAIN THAT RADIATES FROM THE BACK OF MY HEAD TO MY SPINE, COULDN'T HOLD MY HEAD UP, LOST TOTAL COORDINATION AND ABILITY TO CONTROL MY OWN BODY, VOMITING, SLURRED SPEECH, NUMBNESS IN MY LEFT ARM, AND THOUGH I HEARD PEOPLE TALKING AROUND I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WHERE SAYING.
-THOUGH ITS GOTTEN BETTER I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BALANCE(CAN'T STAND IN A UPWRIGHT POSITION WITH MY EYES OPEN OR CLOSED, POSSITIVE ATAXIA, ROMBERG SIGN)RINGING IN MY EARS, THE PAIN IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD THAT RADIATES TO MY SPINE. I'VE GOTTEN SOME OF THE STRENGTH BACK IN MY LEFT ARM. BUT I STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
- ALSO I'VE ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY TO MEMORIZE THINGS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (NOW I FIND MYSELF THAT I CAN'T RETAIN WHAT I LAST READ). I SEEM TO HAVE FORGET HOW TO SPELL SIMPLE WORD LIKE COST (COSED,SO I ALWAYS HAVE TO CARRY A DICTIONARY NOW). I NEVER HAD THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS I'M 28YRS OLD AND ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT STUDENT.
History: I been diagnosed with Lupus for the past yr, ever since I started losing my peripheral vision in both eyes(including my central vision in right eye). Was prescribed 80mg of prednisone for 6months since Nov of 98. My vision is still affected, but improved greatly on the prednisone. I have a history of Hoshimotos thyroiditis(since I was 8yrs old), endometriosis, diagnosed at 17yrs old, had the mumps twice(8yrs and 11yrs old). Recently because of the reaction of the prednisone, once I was tapered off had an episode of thyroiditis (fever of 103 and tachycardia of 158-160 per minute) Submitted to hospital and given inderal 80mg 3 times a day (in July). When I went to the ophtomologist about 4 wks ago when all these new symptoms . I was put back on 20mg of prednisone and I thought this was the cause of the onset of these unusual symptoms. But the doctors insist that it isn't. I don't know what to think. My internist says that I had a similar episode in 1/8/97. But not as severe. I'm really concerned. What can I do? Do you have any idea of what this could be (also do you think I should go to a neorologist even though my MRI was normal back in Nov of 1998). Also the CT scan in the hospital in Nov was normal. Ihope this is not to much information I just want some answers.
your welcome.
CCF Neuro MD
CCF Neuro MD
I made a mistake, corneal erosions, not ulcers. Thanks for the advice- I'll ask my neurologist when I see him in March.
Dear Deb:
Shooting parasthesias are usually from spinal nerves, radiculopathies. That is my best guess. So, I am not sure what to tell you. The eye pain could be from the ulcers, these are usually very painful. Fibromyalgia usually does not induce shooting pain. I would tell your neurologist and get his/her opinion.
CCF Neuro MD
Shooting parasthesias are usually from spinal nerves, radiculopathies. That is my best guess. So, I am not sure what to tell you. The eye pain could be from the ulcers, these are usually very painful. Fibromyalgia usually does not induce shooting pain. I would tell your neurologist and get his/her opinion.
CCF Neuro MD
I'm not sure if you read messages from old postings, but I thought I'd take a chance- Migraines which have persisted for two and a half years have suddenly stopped, but pain remains. Facial pains have intensified and right-sided symptoms have recurred. Some days, even a deep breath causes tingling to shoot all the way down to my feet. I'm not sure what significance all of this has, if any. The biggest problem is with my eyes. I saw an ophthalmologist a month ago and I'm currently being treated for suspected recurrent corneal ulcer (night-time lubricant). Despite this treatment, my eyes continue to hurt, sometimes scratchy and sometimes sharp pains from behind. Also, floaters have increased to the extent where they frequently interfere with my vision. I don't know what else to do- he said that my eyes looked healthy, so I assume everything is OK. Could this possibly have any connection to fibromyalgia? -Thanks
Dear Chris:
The ligaments that hold the vertebrae together, along with the joints are very strong. If they stretched, they would pull the discs along with them and probably compromise the vertebrae along with them. Most of the time, the process is due to degeneration of the bone and discs. Muscle problems would not cause radic pain, but muscle type pain. Although painful, the pain would not shoot down the leg or arm.
CCF Neuro MD
The ligaments that hold the vertebrae together, along with the joints are very strong. If they stretched, they would pull the discs along with them and probably compromise the vertebrae along with them. Most of the time, the process is due to degeneration of the bone and discs. Muscle problems would not cause radic pain, but muscle type pain. Although painful, the pain would not shoot down the leg or arm.
CCF Neuro MD
Could the sypmptoms be due to stretched ligaments or
other causes of instability that would allow the
spine to randomly pinch nerves and cause radiations???
other causes of instability that would allow the
spine to randomly pinch nerves and cause radiations???
Dear Deb:
One cannot guarantee that osteo changes will not cause a radic type pain from MRI films alone. Signs and symptoms along with a good history and physical will usually tell the physician whether radic pain is there or not. Given that you have had all three then likely it is not radic pain (although shooting pain is usually the sign). If the pain is therapy related, then it should be time framed to your therapy and should get better over time. I hope your pain source is found and handled.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
One cannot guarantee that osteo changes will not cause a radic type pain from MRI films alone. Signs and symptoms along with a good history and physical will usually tell the physician whether radic pain is there or not. Given that you have had all three then likely it is not radic pain (although shooting pain is usually the sign). If the pain is therapy related, then it should be time framed to your therapy and should get better over time. I hope your pain source is found and handled.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Thanks for the prompt and informative reply. I have had a brain MRI last Dec. which was normal, and a cervical MRI which showed osteoarthritis at C5, C6 with slight spur formation. The report said no signs of radiculopathy or myelopathy. Neurologist said that this would not cause the types of symptoms I was having. Because of back pain and resulting muscle stiffness, physiatrist recommended physical therapy which I did for 8 weeks and am still doing recommended exercises. Sometimes it feels as if these stretching and strengthening exercises may be aggravating things? I'm just not sure anymore what hurts and what helps because symptoms are so unpredictable. Thanks again for your supportive comments. Your forum is a great service.
Dear Deb:
Sorry about your headache. Post-traumatic headaches are difficult to control. This is because the torsional injury induces damage to neurons. However, to have radic type pain (shooting pain) is alittle unusual so long after post-trauma. I would see your neurologist and see if your don't have a disc. Have you had a cervical MRI? If it was negative then likely this is something different then a radic (this is where the problem is the nerve roots).
All medications have side effects, and it depends on how much pain you are willing to put up with and balance with the possible side effects of the medication in question. Side effects are usually patient specific and one never knows about what side effect you may or may not have unless you take the medication.
If your MRI is negative, you will have to make a choice about medication unless the pain doesn't bother you. Post traumatic pain is individual and it may or may not remit on it's own.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry about your headache. Post-traumatic headaches are difficult to control. This is because the torsional injury induces damage to neurons. However, to have radic type pain (shooting pain) is alittle unusual so long after post-trauma. I would see your neurologist and see if your don't have a disc. Have you had a cervical MRI? If it was negative then likely this is something different then a radic (this is where the problem is the nerve roots).
All medications have side effects, and it depends on how much pain you are willing to put up with and balance with the possible side effects of the medication in question. Side effects are usually patient specific and one never knows about what side effect you may or may not have unless you take the medication.
If your MRI is negative, you will have to make a choice about medication unless the pain doesn't bother you. Post traumatic pain is individual and it may or may not remit on it's own.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
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