pain in neck/headache

[leila]

My partner has been suffering from frequent headaches.  They seem to emanate from his neck and he describes the feeling as being "like lying on a ball-bearing at the base of his skull and someone pressing him down on to it".  His doctor thinks it is some kind of muscle tension sydrome caused by an imbalance in his spine.  I am worried, though, that his headaches are so bad and last so long.  He regularly gets this pain about 1 week in 4 and it lasts around a week each time.  It is physically and mentally disabling - he walks around in a daze, his concentration totally taken up by the pain and is slow to respond to questions or requests.  He is unable to do any housework (no, I don't think it's just an excuse!). His posture changes in response to the pain and he becomes pale and drawn looking.  His eyes sometimes become red, but I can't tell if that's due to the headache or lack of sleep.  Any task of any kind is a huge effort and he often ends up taking methocarbamol, nurofen or paracetemol and trying to go to sleep.  All this seems quite extreme to me and I don't feel satisfied that his pain is being taken seriously enough by a doctor who is too ready to ascribe anything to psychological causes.  He has had an x-ray which showed nothing.  He is 46 and suffers from osteo-arthritis in his fingers and knees for which he takes glucosamine (which he finds pretty good).  Should he be seeking a second opinion on these head/neckaches?  They are pretty disabling and he's obviously suffering.  Have you got any ideas on what to do next?  Thanks for all suggestions and help.
L

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

Yes, a second opinion by a neurologist (perhaps a headache specialist if there is one in the area) may be helpful.  I agree with your concerns regarding the disabling effects of the pain and think he would do well to have a new doc get a fresh look at him.  If he's never had an MRI of the brain and cervical spine, that is something to consider so that we know what we're dealing with in terms of severity of spine disease (rather than just "imbalance" and to make sure everything looks ok in the brain.  All of this needs to be taken into clinical context as some tests may be necessary and some not - it's a decision that should be made by the doctor who examines him.  As for treatment, if they are muscle tension headaches some patients have responded to injections of lidocaine and steroids in the neck (done by an experienced neurologist) and now even botox injections. Start with a referral to a headache specialist. Good luck.

[Annabel]

leila does your husband osteo of the hands make his fingers bend up at the ends and give him shooting pains along the sides of his fingers and tingling and numbness and pins and needles if he holds anything for long?

Is the pain in his knee at the side of the joint and swells up like a hard ping pong ball?

[bwj]

I strained my neck on a new pillow in September..I am still having severe neck pain, dizziness, weakness, and severe throbbing one sided pain at the temples..I have tried every otc to calm head pain to no avail...I have tried chiropractic which made it worse...I have tried massage, hot baths, jogging etc..The pain is still here!  Been to the neuro 3 times and they claim muscle tension is pulling the muscles of the neck, face and scalp causing the head pain...had ct on neck with problems...I am on nortriptyline 50mg going on 4 weeks with no change...Do you have any idea what I can do to try to get some relief? can a bad pillow cause me to have all this pain? ..I'm always tring to stretch it in hopes that it will just fix itself..also my both eyes burn with this pain..I have no allergies...Going on 6 months og chronic pain with no relief i site..any advise.

[leila]

No the osteo-arthritis does not have the effect you describe - it's mainly pain and stiffness.

[Kare Bear]

This may not be applicable to you, but it's worth a shot.  My mom, and my sisters and I all have jaw problems.  Some of us have jaw and face pain, while others don't.  I personally don't have face pain, but had bad headaches and neck/back pain everyday for the past 12 years.  I ended up going to a Dento-Cranial doctor and after I got my first treatment (a stabilizing appliance) my headaches lessened considerably.  Over the last couple years I have gone through treatments to move my jaw into proper position so it doesn't put tension on the joint and muscles along with going to a chiropracter as my jaw moves to keep my neck and back in line.  I rarely have any pain from that any longer.  My mom also has symptoms of numbness in arms and legs, burning feeling of the tongue, along with her face pain, headaches, and burning feeling on top of her head.  Best of luck to you.