Severe Pressure in Eye and Ear and Burning Sensation in Neck

[LR23]

Thank you for taking my question.

I have had pulsating headaches for about six weeks.  They begin in my neck and then move to my ear and my eye.  The pressure in my right ear makes it very sensitive and the pulsating in my eyes get so intense that it forces me to put pressure on the eye with a washcloth to relieve the pain.

A few weeks ago, the pain was unilateral, but alternating sides.  Now the pressue is almost entirely on the right side.  I have a dull ache in my neck and a tingly (almost numb soothing) feeling in the top and back portions of my head.

This pain/pressure is often accompanied by nausea and a little dizziness, but no visual aura or a need to sleep like the classic migraines I used to have as a kid.

***Yesterday, my neck was aching for most of the day and the pressure was intense in my right ear and eye for over two hours.  I moved my neck to the right and felt a searing Burning Sensation shoot up my neck.

The burning pain lasted only a second, but it went from the lower right portion of my neck - just above the end of the shoulder blade - to the top of my neck and lower head.  While the bolt only lasted a second, it was followed by about thirty seconds of tingling in my hands.  I still had strength, but they were very tingly.

About 15 minutes later, I could feel that the pressure was relieved somewhat in my eyes, ear and head.  I still have the numb feeling on the top and back of my head and my neck has a dull ache, but the pressure has subsided significantly.  I am happy about getting a little bit of relief, but I am still concerned about this.

I am a 32-year-old with Crohn's disease who suffers from a lot of extraintestinal soft-tissue inflammation (erythema nodosum, tendon sheaths, hips, hands, feet, etc).  

My most significant new medication started three months ago is Humira.  I feel like I have been experiencing some muscle tension in my arms and legs from the Humira and I wonder whether it is the Humira that is causing my neck and head problems.  

I went through a thorough neuro exam last week.  I had high blood pressure -- which is not normal for me -- although they did not reveal my numbers.  There were no significant findings on the physical exam that I know of, but I was sent for a CT Scan. I am awaiting the results of the Scan.

Any thoughts you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
LR

[mindme]

Hi there,
I have all these symptoms you guys describe plus on and off fever !
Been on antibiotics for 3 months, 9 ENT's, 2 Infectious disesase doce, hospital 3 days, plus numerous ER visits.

I am not kidding when I say I'm at my witts end !

My friend suggested I try Colloidail Silver ! I have been using for about a week, and although I am far from cured, I can honestly say I feel an extreme difference, and things are breaking up and moving around and away from my ear. It's worth a try since nobody else ( doctors ) can help !!!!

[LR23]

Thanks for your comments jfreake.

The CT came back normal.  I took your advice and got a BP device for home.  The first one was 137/87 -- pulse 89 -- and the next two (about 4 hours apart) were normal 122/82 and 120/78.

My neuro thinks that the burning sensation and tingling were likely the result of a severe muscle spasm.  He said he will do more testing if it recurs.  

I still some pain on the top and back of my head and the pressure has switched to my left side.  While still painful, causing nausea, sweating and dizziness, my symptoms have improved a lot.

A little more information:

My headaches began while I was on vacation about six weeks ago.  I am not much of a drinker, but it came on suddenly just minutes after I started drinking a Jack and Coke.  The headache was severe and persisted for two days before resolving.  It would end with a crazy pulsating in one of my eyes!

About two weeks later -- a couple days after my (twice monthly) Humira injection -- the headache came back and lasted for two days.  It seemed to get worse on the weekend when I would watch football (especially when straining my eyes and turning my neck).  This was another very intense headache that resolved after two or three days.  I did not have any neck injury, although my neck muscles feel tight.

This happened for another weekend and then became an everyday headache about three weeks ago.  It gets worse later in the day and makes me very nauseas and dizzy when I lay down.  It may even be worse when the lights first go out.  Unlike my migraines before light seems to make it a little better!

My biggest triggers appear to be alcohol and neck movement.

Is this an atypical cluster headache or something else?

Tylenol and Advil, which usually work for me, were useless.  I have taken a half of percocet on a couple occassions when I just couldn't handle the pain.  The neuro wants me to take indocin, but I am not willing to kill my stomach at this point.

Any thoughts on what this is and what I can do about it?

[jfreake]

You know, it kind of sounds like your nerves are inflammed.  Try icing your neck and have someone massage it for you. It could also be muscle spasms.  My husband has bulging discs in his neck and he has some of the symptoms  you're going through, but not the numbness of his head.  He does, however, have the shooting, burning stinging pains and constant migraines.

As for the Humira, that is a medication that is also used for Rheumatoid Arthritis.  You should most definitely talk to your doctor about the possible adverse effects from the medication.  Have you had irritation of the injection site?

Also, get your blood pressure reading from your doctor.  If it was high, they should have told you your numbers.  Because  you now have hypertenstion, check it whenever you get a chance.  Your local supermarket should have a blood pressure machine in the pharmacy section.  Log your blood pressure and how you are feeling at the time, and this will help your physician and neurologist determine if this is part of the cause for your head pain.

It's good that you're seeking advice from your doctors.  I wish you luck and I hope the results of your CT scan come back clean.  :)

jfreake