I dont mean to keep posting questions...BUT

[spitfire43]

Hi Guys:)   As Ive mentiond Im due for my3 part MRI tomorrow AM(Brain, Cervical and thoracic)   But heres what Ive been experiencing Non stop thats got me worried......for the last 3-4 days Ive been having the WORSE pain Ive had in a long time ( Very sharp constant pain) in my neck (base of skull to right around the middle of shoulder blades) kinda a strong constant burning pain.....plus a Killer headache ( top of head to forehead) that just WONT go away regardless of how many tylenol I take:(    not to mention all I want to do is sleep ( which isnt always a biggie) and just cant seem to focus on much of anything.  But what is bothering me is the SHear pain in my back that wont go away:(   Ive tried HOT showers, the tylenol, rest( when able) and to no avail.    Im stuck between just letting it go one more day and Hope they pick something up in the MRI tomorrow or do I go to the local hospital( which is very comparable to what MASH used to be on TV) :0  I hesitate n going to the ER cuz 90% of my family is not in the area, and I hate to go solo....and not sure what they could do for me anyhoot......So I thought Id see what my pals on here suggest or think might be going on in this tattered ole body:)   Ok guys, thanks for your insights and for putting up with my posts:)    Hope to hear from ya soon:).....spitfire

[Sumanadevii]

Sprite, honest I would head over to ER.  Truly there is no reason for anyone to be in pain.  Plus the doctor would probably give you enough to get through the tests tomorrow.  

We live in a modern world.  Take advantage of it and get some help tonight.

Sumana

[addicted2harleys]

Hey there, spitfire-

I was wondering the same as ess was about being able to lie still for the complete MRI exam.  I have the exact same pain (not the frontal headache though) you have and made it through my brain MRI and my C-spine MRI, separately.  I have been to the ER twice for this pain.  They didn't hesitate to give me relief for it.  Granted, no scripts were given, but I wasn't after that anyways.  I wanted instant relief for the excruciating pain, which I got.  This was from two different ER's.  But that was for me and it was worth the visit for me.  I am not saying it would happen with you...but it could.  

I also agree with ess about the Tylenol.  Something like Motrin would be much better of a choice.  And, I agree with a phone call to your neuro.  Does he know about your extreme pains already?  I wonder if maybe you can have your MRI's split up?  This way you don't have a huge amount of time in one shot in the machine.  

Oh, I almost forgot!  Have you tried ice on your neck, cervical area yet?  For me, the ice is working better than the heat for me....maybe it will for you.  Or maybe alternating ice and heat?  I believe that helps another forum member with her back.  Have you had previous MRI's before now?  If so, did they find anything?

Anyways, don't worry about too many questions.  That's what the forum is for, silly woman!
  :)   I hope you can find some relief.  I know how it feels and it *****.  Hang in there.

Hugs,
Addi

[essdipity]

Hi, spitfire. Welcome to our corner of the web.

Could I ask you to break your posts into small paragraphs? A lot of us have eye tracking problems, making big blocks of text tough to read. Plenty of white space helps a lot.

Now, back to your symptoms. Do you think you'll even be able to lie still all that time? With your back issues and all? I mean, that'd be tough for any of us, regardless.

I'm assuming your neuro ordered the MRIs, so have you contacted him or her about this pain? That'd be where I'd start. An emergency neuro visit may be in order, or at least a full phone consult. If that doesn't work, do go to an ER, not necessarily a MASH outfit, though. The problem is, they may think you're drug seeking. So maybe wait till you have the MRIs (be sure to get your own, and the radiology report), which is a quick process. That very likely will get your neuro's and/or the ER's attention, in terms of pain relief.

Also, stop taking so much tylenol. It can do severe liver damage, among other unpleasant effects. Go for another OTC NSAID, such as Extra Strength Motrin. None of these are good over the long haul, but this might help now.

Best of luck,
ess