Extreme Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches..etc..

[xmelax35]

I am so sick of feeling this way and just want a good week! Well I want to feel better period! I have been through 2 decompression surgeries for Chiari, after the last one I have felt even worse and I have symptoms worse than I had before and newer symptoms. I recently turned 40 years old.  My recent MRI's were NORMAL (as stated from the doctors). The Brain MRI, just states previous decompression surgery for Chiari Malformation and also mentions a lipoma in the supersellar region (it didnt' give the size and it differs on all my MRI's & CT's as to size and whether a lipoma, dermoid, or rathe clefts.

As to my Cervical MRI, they state:

Findings: There is a vertrebal body hemangioma of T4. The curavature of the cervical spine is within normal limits (weird because other MRI's stated lordosis). Theere is disc space narrowing and osteophytess at C2-3, C3-4, C4-5 and C5-6 and C6-7. The bony spinal canal is congenitally small. No abnormal signal is identified within the spinal cord.

C2-3 There is disc protustion or osteophytes causing mild narrowing of the left neural foramen. The thecal sac and right neural foramina are intact.
C3-4 There is disc protrusion and osteophytes measring 2mm. The thecal sac measures 9mm. There is mild narrowing of the neural foramina bilaterally.
C4-5 There is disc protrustion and osteophyte measuring 2-3mm. The thecal sac measures 9mm. There is mild narrowing of the neural forimina bilaterally.
C5-6 There is disc protrusion or osteophyte measuring 2-3mm. The thecal sac is flattened anteriorly. The thecal sac measures 8mm. Disc and/or osteophyteds result in narrowing of the neural foramina bilaterally.
C6-7 There is disc protrustion or osteophtye toward the left measuring 3-4 mm. The thecal sac is flattened anteriorally. The thecal sac measures 8mm. Disc osteophyte narrows left neural foramen greater than right.
C7-T1 The thecal sac and neural foramina are intact.

There is no abnormal enhancement in the cervical region. There is a suboccipital craniectomy.
Impression: Disc Protrusion and osteophytes throughout the cervical region resulting in mild stenosis of the thecal sac and narrowing of the neural foramina as discussed above.

Now could any of this be causing my symptoms? I know it is not in my head and it is NOT depression causing my issues! Something has got to be causing this. I want whatever it is gone and fixed.

Here are just a small amount of the symptoms I have of many:
I get severe pain in my neck and into my face to eyeball and above (all at once - starts in neck) - mostly my right side, but once in awhile I do get in the left - mostly the right though, big time!
I get severe pain/migraine that feel like an icecream headache times 100!
Pain in upper back area worse in one area.
Pain extending into arm.
All kinds of migraines!!! Different kind/areas
Bad memory/concentration
some tinglng and pins needles
nausea
lightheadedness
face freezes up like paralyzing almost - feel like can't breathe, feel like going to pass out (and i have before so I know what that feeling is like), weak, get dizzy but is not spinning dizzy, it is up and down up and down. It is very strange!
I have much weakness in my arm/hand (left side) and my left leg! Big time! I am having trouble typing and more trouble writing. Can't hardly hold pen to paper.
Off balance

Those are just some! (that is just my upper half).

So why are those results considered normal? They don't cause symptoms? I am in pain here and I need someone to help me but so far, a lot of the people I have gone to see, look at my MRI's for literally 30 seconds and say, "you have a headache, that is normal", etc...  or they say, "everyone has those things in your MRI'.  I want to feel better. I miss going to concerts, football games, and fishing! I can't stay at family function but for an hour or less. Sitting up etc..makes my neck pain much worse and then I get that into the face, eyeball, etc...!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time!

[jemma116]

What is "chiari"?

Go back and see your doctor or a different on in the practice.
There are medications available for migraine headaches.
But also keep a note of what you are eating drinking to rule out any triggers.  I suspect though that your migraines are through stress and worry or from blood not flowing correctly to the brain because of the narrowing that you have.

Best wishes.

[xmelax35]

My neck pain (as its been getting worse - with worse symptoms which is why the MRI), woke me up very very early! I took a treximet which has yet to work! It doesn't help the neck pain but will help take the edge off the migraine up the face to eye to above somewhat.  This is not in my head at all! I am getting angry this morning wanting to call my family dr up and tell him just that! If they can just admit there is a problem in my neck area but if they admit and say there is but they can't do anything then..... I realize I will always have issues because of the chiari BUT my issues should NOT be this Bad!  People probably can't tell by looking at me but sometimes when I have bad pain I put on a game face, only because I know they are sick of hearing about it. Mean while I am suffering in horrible pain.  I pray so much that there is a doctor willing to hear me and to try to help. One that looks at my tests and one who believes me!  Of course come to think about it my family dr said my EKG was quite normal & b4 my broken disc surgery they informed me it was NOT normal by any means that it was abnormal. Every heart test I've had has been abnormal which the cardiologist believed it was neurological issues causing my POTS and stuff.

[jemma116]

I have experienced that when I have been reduced to tears in front on the doctor, they palm you off with antidepressants or refer you to a psychiatrist.

When I was suffering really badly with my neck (I have degeneration in the bones - osteoarthritis), the doctor told me to only sleep with one low pillow and to wear a scarf.  He also told me to apply a hot water bottle to the area to apply heat.  

Try that to see if it helps you.

I had a severe neck problem a couple of days ago, may be got caught in a draught.  I wore my scarf to keep it warm and it was settled by the next day.

You already may be taking pain relief medication, but be cautious when taking Ibuprofen as this can cause damage to the stomach so only take it with food or have a stomach medication like Omeprazole to protect your stomach.  I cannot take Ibuprofen because I get swollen legs from it and Tramadol does not suit everyone either.

The heat remedy and the low pillow will not cure your problem, but may help to alleviate the severe symptoms you are experiencing.

With regard to your migraines, keep a food diary of everything that you consume to see if there is a pattern that emerges.  Some migraines are triggered off by certain foods.  Citrus fruit, chocolate, red wine, cheese are the main food triggers for migraine, but some people may have different triggers.  You only need to eat one of the trigger foods to set you off.  Stress and anxiety can also cause migraine problems.  So try and relax (easier said than done, I know).

The other point is that any stress, anxiety and depression can exacerbate any physical pain.

best wishes

[xmelax35]

Thanks for the suggestion and I am pretty sure I have to pay for the appointment. Their office is setting it up. Well I probably won't go.  If I did go I would probably go and see that psychiatrist and tell them that I don't have anything to say that it is a waste of time and then I will just not say a word in the appt.  My neck/head pain woke me up out of sleep this morning (as it does a lot of mornings). I hate that waking up thing to a migraine/neck pain. I am sure it is the way my head goes when I am asleep. There are mornings that I wake up and when my head is facing right and I am on my stomach....that is what causes the most horrible one that wakes me up.  I mean I get it all the time every single day but it just depends on what I am doing that makes it worse (ie sitting too long, etc...).  I have that other migraine that is baffling to me. Want to hear something strange? I was on a chiari place (some doctors page) and it gave different types of migraines/headaches. One of them matched me.  The reason I ended up there was that I decided to take my health into my own hands and I usually don't do this, but I googled my symptoms!!! That was one the pages that came up. It was

Cervicogenic Headache
Empty Sella Syndrome

I don't see the reason for the name of the icecream type migraine, bc it is NOT like stabbing pain or icepicks or any of that sort. Most of us know that an icecream headache is not like that, exactly. Hard to describle, but it is not stabbing pain exactly.  I agree with you a lot! I do need to see another doctor. I don't need dismissed or passed off like that.  I almost wonder if he did that 1.) because my husband was not there and 2.) because he didn't know and didn't want to look dumb infront of the medical resident. Either way it was wrong!!! It is wrong to pass me to a psychiatrist when I have done nothing but be honest with him and that he can see me in obvious pain at times when I am there.

[jemma116]

I would see a different doctor and take your husband with you for support.

Your pins and needles and arm problems are as from pressure on nerves from the bone problems in your neck.

It is NOT in your head.  You have xrays and MRI scans to prove that.

Just because you are not old, does not mean that you do not have a problem.

If the psychiatrist appointment is free of charge, then go to it.  If you have to pay for it, then personally I wouldn't go.  But that is your decision to make.

I am sorry to hear that you have not been seen by a doctor that is knowledgeable and sympathetic to your condition.

Hope you get on OK.

Best wishes.

[xmelax35]

Thanks and yeh, I probably did make a mistake there. It was sorta hard to keep the tears back when the Resident was questioning me and asking me how long it has been and I said too long and that I just want the problem fixed (whatever I said to that extent) about feeling better as there are things I want to do again. Then the waterworks started. I never cry in front of them except when I am in severe severe pain. I was just in severe pain at that time.

The Resident kind of looked like, "what??" when he said it was normal and to see a psychiatrist. Gosh, I hope the heck that is not the kind of doctor she becomes.  I hope she goes with the way she was before he came in the room!