Occipital Neuralgia, maybe?

[Corvus0]

My pain began about five months ago. At first, it was only 2-3 times a day, each episode lasting from 10 minutes to 2 hours. That lasted for a little more than a month. I was taking ibuprofen and acetomenophine, with no result. Though, this was when I first noticed a sharp pain when I would move my head taking the pills.

After this month or so, the pain became constant. So, I found a doctor and was diagnosed with occipital neuritis, given a nerve block in the general area. After the shot, there were no changes, not even a noticeable anesthesia effect. After waiting a week I was sent to an anesthesiologist, who said it was occipital neuralgia and suggested a more specific nerve block. This was injected directly into three different areas of the occipital nerve from a sigle injection point. This time, although there was no relief from pain, the entire occipital nerve path was numb for hours. This confused the doctor...

Since then I have taken elavil, which made me violently ill at low dose, and neurontin, which had no advantageous effects after a month. It's now been about 5 months and I, even now, have to take breaks from writing this, due to the constant pain.

The pain is always there, but the nerve (or whatever it is...) is extremely sensitive. So much that I cannot even nod 'yes' without horrible shooting pain on the entire right side of my head. This same pain is also agitated by walking, driving, basically anything that will send the tiniest shock into my neck/skull.

I feel like I'm going crazy. This is unbearable, but nothing is working! I'm hoping someone will have experienced something similar or can at least lead me in the right direction.

ANY help is greatly appreciated!

Area affected:
Right side of head only, starting from base of skull (just left/down a little of occipital notch), wrapping up on skull to the forehead and eye/temple region. Area around ear seems to be affected at times as well.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. In occipital neuralgia condition headache is usually concentrated in the one region of your head and it is tender to touch and things like combing your hair may be painful. But in addition to this for any persistent headaches, possibilities like migrainous, cluster, tension and refractive errors that need to be evaluated thoroughly with the help of a neurologist here. Migraine like headache can be throbbing, one sided of face & head and preceded by aura (starts with blurred vision). Cluster headache may appear as burning, explosive in nature and tear appears from eyes. Tension headache originates with stress and anxiety disorder. Please arrange an appointment with a neurologist right away who will evaluate the further underlying disorders by clinically examine you & ordering MRI or CT scan here that may be the main reasons of your headache attacks & other symptoms and can provide you an appropriate treatment. Hope this information proves helpful to you. Take Care & Regards!!!

[Corvus0]

Found out I have a mycotic aneurysm in the right posterior cerebral artery. Though, they're not sure it's the source of the pain. Consultation for surgery is on the 31st.

[Corvus0]

MRI/MRA results only showed the possibility of an aneurysm. Going in for another MRA to find out for sure, though, he said he doesn't think it is the cause for the pain, even if it exists. Will also get blood tests for b12, Lupus and hypothyroidism. He prescribed me topamax, in hopes of preventing the headache?
The MRA script is for mycotic aneurysm involving right posterior cerebral artery.

Other than that, it seems that another doc is stumped. The pain hasn't changed, I'm pretty much on house arrest because it hurts too bad to do anything.

This *****....

[Corvus0]

Went to a new doctor today. He says it's POSSIBLE that it could be an aneurysm or small tumor or even trigeminal neuralgia. I am going in a few days to have another MRI (brain, rather than cervical spine) and contrast (veins/vessels). He also started me on a six day pack of steroids, in hopes of it just being inflammation, but I think that was already considered by the other doctor.

Still looking for anyones ideas, thoughts or experiences.


Thank you!

[Corvus0]

Ok, I'm horrible at this....(sorry, couldn't find an edit button)

I've also had an MRI, and they said there were no abnormalities or areas of interest.

[Corvus0]

Also, I do not experience the normal light/sound sensitivity associated with occipital neuralgia. And I do not have any tender spots, anywhere. Even pressure on the nerve itself.

If I've missed anything else, please feel free to ask!