Chronic Headaches

[briazen]

I have had headaches for as long as I can remember.  I find relief by taking Ibuprofen at the onset of each headache.  I suspect that after many years of taking Ibuprofen that my liver isn't too happy.  Anyway, the reason I am writing here is it feels as though many of my headaches originate somehow from the spine.  I can sit certain ways and actually cause my head to hurt.  Then I can move back the other direction and the headache will subside.  There are times, though, when I move certain ways and the headache starts, but then I can't get it to go away.  This seems strange to me.

I often have pain at the base of my scull (top of the spine) to the point where it hurts to bend my neck to look straight up.  Also, when sitting for a little while and then getting up, more often than not, I feel a sense of dizziness like I stand up too fast.  This may be somewhat of a normal thing, but it happens way too often to me whereas it doesn't seem so normal.

I have different kind of headaches.  Most of them go away when I take the Ibuprofen, but there is one kind of headache (which I *think* is a migraine) that does NOT respond to Ibuprofen and it will last sometimes for days at a time.  Thank goodness these bad ones only occur maybe once every couple of months or so.

I am about to request that my primary doctor recommend a specialist for me to see to try to get to the bottom of why I am having these various symptoms.

Oh, also I believe I have chronic post nasal drip where I am always clearing my throat.  This sinus problem may have something to with my chronic headaches.

Any thoughts, ideas, or advice about this would be MUCH appreciated.  Thanks!

[calgal7822]

Hi - I had very similar symptoms before I had decompression surgery for Chiari Malforation.  Please check out my website for more information on the condition.

http://edendejulio.googlepages.com/

I suggest that you ask your doctor to order MRI scans of your brain and visit a neurosurgeon for correct diagnosis.

-E

[briazen]

I forgot to mention that I have begun to experience noticeable leg twitching in both of my legs.  This has been since December 07, since I began taking Cymbalta, an anti-depressant.  Could that be a side effect of Cymbalta?

I am a 39 year old female.  I work full-time as a computer system administrator/engineer, I am a professional trumpet player, and I am a full-time caretaker of an 84 year old handicapped man.

Thanks and I look forward to any helpful response.