Inflammation of Carotid artery and neck pain

[SBBugg]

About six months ago my left neck began to hurt and I noticed what I thought was a lump there. I went to a head and neck specialist and he said that I had inflammtion of my Carotid artery(Carotidynia).  The lump, I guess, was just the bifurcation of my artery that was swollen. The doctor told me to take an anti-inflammatory(ibuprophen) for 2 weeks. The pain finally diminished, but about a month later it started in my right neck. The pain now runs all the way down my neck and into my shoulder and right chest a bit.  It especially hurts if I apply pressure to my pulse(Carotid artery).  It feels like inflammed nerves or something. So, I went back to another doctor and he gave the same diagnosis. He said unfortunatley the cause is unknown. Now I am on a stronger anti-inflammatory. I just want to know the cause so it won't come back. I also got blood work and a head and neck xray completed, but am still waiting for results. Has anyone ever had this?  Any similar symptoms?  Should I be more concerned? Thanks

[keebe]

I was diagnosed in Oct., 2008 with caratidinia and given steroids and antibitics.  It helped.  BUT  my concern is that 2 months later, i went to my doctor with a cough that I just cannot control and now pain on the opposite side exactly like the right side and he tells me I have it again, on the other side.   I THOUGHT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RARE???????   so how did it come back so soon and now on the opposite side?  I refuse to go back to reg. dr., he can refer me to another doctor.   wanted to tell you I sweat like a lizard at night and sometimes during the day.   My eyes have also gotten really inflammed and itchy, and soar?  I don't know .  I am a healthy 45 yr old, 5 7 and weigh within my range.  sorry that you feel like ****.  I hope you will know where to go from here and let us all know.

[NonnieInTN]

I also have pain in my neck along the carotid mainly on the right side. As a person who had a successful gastric bypass 12 years ago, I also had the whooshing sound in my ears.  I saw a fabulous ENT about my sinuses and mentioned the whooshing sound that was driving me insane since it happened with every breath.  He looked in my ears and quickly stated that I had a common condition that is found frequently in patients with rapid weight loss, stretched Eustachian tubes.  He stated that he could place tubes in my ears to help with the whooshing, which we did at that same appointment.  I left that appointment with the irritating sound gone after 5 years of it driving me insane.

Have not had the sore neck along the carotid checked yet as it was not a problem at the time of this particular ENT appt.

[NonnieInTN]

I also have pain in my neck along the carotid mainly on the right side. As a person who had a successful gastric bypass 12 years ago, I also had the whooshing sound in my ears.  I saw a fabulous ENT about my sinuses and mentioned the whooshing sound that was driving me insane since it happened with every breath.  He looked in my ears and quickly stated that I had a common condition that is found frequently in patients with rapid weight loss, stretched Eustachian tubes.  He stated that he could place tubes in my ears to help with the whooshing, which we did at that same appointment.  I left that appointment with the irritating sound gone after 5 years of it driving me insane.

Have not had the sore neck along the carotid checked yet as it was not a problem at the time of this particular ENT appt.

[Ashbrook84]

I had such things happen and ended up having pseudo tumor cerebri. Diagnosed by lumbar puncture. Spinal fluid was double the norm.

[Ashbrook84]

Everyone with high bp and sweating and lumps in neck should be screened for a rare net called paraganglioma.  I just had an abdominal one removed , but they can occur in the head and neck also. Specifically the carotid (cbt) just on the off chance.

[La_Owl]

I found that if you lay on your right side and get a good sized feather pillow and place it tightly against your chest and somewhat under your chin and lay your left arm up on top of the pillow it helps ease the pain somewhat. (at least enough to allow you to sleep.)  I also found that taking a large tube sock and filling it with dry uncooked rice that's then microwaved really seems to ease the pain when used in conjunction with the feather pillow. I don't know why it works but it does.

I hope this helps anyone else.