Daily persistent headache and neck pain

[not4sakn]

Since April of 2008 I have been dealing with undiagnosed daily head pressure, neck pain, brain fog, intermittent facial tingling, along with other symptoms as well. It's as if I'm hungover while being sober. All these symptoms followed a horrible flu I fought for about a month before it finally cleared up. Within a month or two of the flu ending the brain fog and spacey feeling set it. It was downhill from there.

In the past 4 years I have seen 4 neurologists, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, tmj specialist, had MRI's, CT Scans, MRA's, biopsy of my intestines to test for celiacs disease, and a whole slew of lab tests.

The only issues the doctors have found in 4 years is 2 herniated disc in my neck. Based on the location the neurologist says it would cause left arm tingling or pain but it wouldn't radiate up into my head creating these nonstop headaches. He says theres a 60-70% chance the discs are causing neck pain but he wouldn't recommend surgery at my age for such a small chance of improvement. He honestly doesn't think the headaches/pressure are a result of the disc but perhaps another underlying issue yet to be diagnosed.

He's wanting to send me to another neurologist to have a lumbar puncture. He believes I couldve had a viral infection associated with the flu that could have contributed to this illness.

My question is now that it's four years later would a lumbar puncture be worth it? If there is an infection still in my body would the damage be permanent at this point?

[nicblueeyes]

Hi. I'm having a lot of the same issues for the last year or so. I'm about to have my first visit with a neurologist after seeing an ENT and Chiropractor. Iwas wondering if you had found any cause for these issues? I could really use the advice. Thank you.

[not4sakn]

I was tested for lymes twice by two different doctors and the test was negative.

[Red_Star]

Lyme disease starts off with flu like symptoms.  IGeneX is a specialist Lyme lab in the US.

"Some patients insist that IGeneX's tests have been instrumental in detecting the Lyme disease that other laboratories missed. One such patient is Ronald Hamlen, 64, a plant biologist from Maryland who worked at DuPont for 22 years before retiring recently. Tests run by IGeneX, he said, detected Lyme disease that was missed by other laboratories.

"If I had not had the positive result at IGeneX, I seriously question whether I would have been alive at this point," he said in a telephone interview. Before getting tested by IGeneX and going on intravenous antibiotics for 10 weeks, he said, "all I could do at that point was lie on the couch." - Excerpt from The New York Times - Unproved Lyme Disease Tests Prompt Warnings.

"Under Our Skin" is a documentary on the misdiagnosis of Lyme disease. Search youtube for the trailer.  The following list of Lyme disease symptoms is from The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation:

PRINT AND CIRCLE ALL YES ANSWERS ( 20 yes represents a serious potential and Lyme should be included in diagnostic workup )

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The Tick Bite (fewer than 50% recall a tick bite or get/see the rash)
Rash at site of bite
Rashes on other parts of your body
Rash basically circular, oval and spreading out (more generalized)
Raised rash, disappearing and recurring


Head, Face, Neck:

Unexplained hair loss
Headache, mild or severe, Seizures
Pressure in head, white matter lesions in brain (MRI)
Twitching of facial or other muscles
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy, Horner's syndrome)
Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue, cheek or facial flushing
Stiff or painful neck
Jaw pain or stiffness
Dental problems (unexplained)
Sore throat, clearing throat a lot, phlegm ( flem ), hoarseness, runny nose


Eyes/Vision:

Double or blurry vision
Increased floating spots
Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
Oversensitivity to light
Flashing lights/Peripheral waves/phantom images in corner of eyes


Ears/Hearing:

Decreased hearing in one or both ears, plugged ears
Buzzing in ears
Pain in ears, oversensitivity to sounds
Ringing in one or both ears


Digestive and Excretory Systems:

Diarrhea
Constipation
Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping) or Interstitial cystitis
Upset stomach (nausea or pain) or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)


Musculoskeletal System:

Bone pain, joint pain or swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome
Stiffness of joints, back, neck, tennis elbow
Muscle pain or cramps, (Fibromyalgia)


Respiratory and Circulatory Systems:

Shortness of breath, can't get full/satisfying breath, cough
Chest pain or rib soreness
Night sweats or unexplained chills
Heart palpitations or extra beats
Endocarditis, Heart blockage


Neurologic System:

Tremors or unexplained shaking
Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Weakness, peripheral neuropathy or partial paralysis
Pressure in the head
Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
Increased motion sickness
Lightheadedness, wooziness


Psychological well-being:

Mood swings, irritability, bi-polar disorder
Unusual depression
Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
Feeling as if you are losing your mind
Over-emotional reactions, crying easily
Too much sleep, or insomnia
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Narcolepsy, sleep apnea
Panic attacks, anxiety


Mental Capability:

Memory loss (short or long term)
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration or reading
Going to the wrong place
Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
Stammering speech
Forgetting how to perform simple tasks


Reproduction and Sexuality:

Loss of sex drive
Sexual dysfunction
Unexplained menstral pain, irregularity
Unexplained breast pain, discharge
Testicular or pelvic pain


General Well-being:

Phantom smells
Unexplained weight gain, loss
Extreme fatigue
Swollen glands/lymph nodes
Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
Symptoms seem to change, come and go
Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well.
Low body temperature
Allergies/Chemical sensitivities
Increased effect from alcohol and possible worse hangover"