Terrible Burning Headache

[Jonathanxy]

I've had a terrible headache that comes and goes, but has been burning throughout my face, top and sides of head for over a month and nausea for the past two weeks. Generally, the worst attacks or "flare ups" as I can best describe them occur first thing in the morning when I get up and at night time. There are days much like today where it starts and the morning and continues through the entire day (splitting headache, burning face and head, overheated feeling, throbbing) and is simply impossible to cope with. Was put on Prednisone 40mg (1 per day for 5 days) for "chronic sinus infection", Levofloxacin 500mg which combined were considered to be maximum therapy for my weight and size. Once the drugs were finished my symptoms continued.

Since this issue began I've seen my primary physician several times, been to the hospital twice for pain, was referred to an ENT specialist who did a CT scan saw that my upper sinus was impacted between and behind eyes and got worse as you go higher into the upper sinus. The doctor stated that he was surprised I could pass air through one side of the upper sinus specifically were it not for a small pocket near the outer edge, and there was a lot of polyp formation starting to occur. This being right after I finished my first roud of prednisone and was finishing my levofloxacin I was told to take prednisone 10mg (2 twice a day for 5 days, 2 once a day for 5 days and then one once a day for five days, budesonide nebule .5mg/2mL solution (120 mL in each nostril twice daily).

I called in a few days later unable to deal with the burning pain in my face and the throbbing pain in my head and asked for something for pain so I could actually manage to take care of myself and not suffer needlessly while waiting for some answers. His response was, "Pain medication would not be appropriate for the symptoms you are experiencing." So needless to say knowing that any joy had been striken from my life at this point and I have been unable to look after myself, eat properly, or anything else I looked for a second opinion from another ENT.

This whole time my primary doctor handing me referrals saying hurry up and wait doing nothing herself I went to the new ENT for a second opinion who felt firmly after looking at the CT saying nothing i see and based on the symptoms your having would lead me to believe this is what is causing your pain. So I was sent back my primary doctor and he said he would tell her that he believed it was migraines and explain to her the urgency of my situation.

So my doctor wrote me sumatriptin quantity 9 -_- and 2 samples for replax. Took every last pill over the process of a few days and felt no relief, but it did feel like a giant bandage trying to cover up a completely different kind of pain. I've had no past history of migraines and didn't even know what they were. Still have no idea if this is actually a migraine. Everything in me tells me we're just covering up the issue with serotonin modifiers in place of pain medication basically doing the same exact thing we're trying to prevent (risk, liability, addiction).

So now after migraine medicines didn't work I am being sent to a Neurologist who I hope to god with either have an epiphany and think this kid really can't wait any longer in this kind of shape; he needs help now regardless if we are treating the source of the issue at this very moment or not.

When outside it feels like it does get much worse, but I can't tell what actually makes it that way between the light, smoke, heat, etc with it hurting in so many different places in my face and head that it seems near impossible to pinpoint an exact source of the problem.

Other helpful information:

Smoker for 10 years - lately it feels like I'm inhaling ash or something from everything I smoke, all smoke tastes different, all smoke bothers me a whole lot more. Was vaporizing BHO (butane hash oil) for awhile and stopped once I realized it wasn't purged correctly.

Drugs: marijuana.

Surgeries: broken left elbow (long time ago past), two sinus deviated septum / turbinate surgeries, oral surgery / two wisdom teeth removed.

[CBIsraeloffOD]

Ask the neurologist if you could have trigeminal neuralgia. I have it and I usually get a terrible burning pain in my face. I am well controlled with gabapentin. Hope you feel better soon.

[AKC_75]

Hi and welcome to the Migraines & Headaches Community.

I takes a good 3 months for preventative meds to even start working and 6 months for full effect. Treating migraines is a marathon not a sprint. Yes, its painful and stressful but, that is just the way it is. Everyone wants a fast cure and that just isn't always possible.

P.S. I have no idea what is causing the burning in your face unless it is an allergic reaction. You need to talk to your doctor again and see if he wants to change his course of action.

[Jonathanxy]

Age: 25 years old

Sex: Male

Starting weight about a month ago: 155

Ending weight currently: 136