Scalp and head pain

[clsygrm]

I am a 61 yr old woman w/severe head pain not associated with a headache.  It started on the top of my head and felt more like individual hairs were being pulled.  The pain got worse and started going down the right side of my skull which started to feel 'mushy' and pressure of any kind made me feel nauseous.  The pain excellerated and sent stabs into the top of my head, down the right side of my head - temple area which is very tender with my cheek and jaw feeling 'strange'.  The pain has excellerated again and is starting on the left side of my head the same as on the right side.  The top of my head feels raw.  The back of my neck from skull to shoulder is very tight and hurts all of the time.  My forehead is sore, eyes hurt, I have ear pain some in both ears, not sure if it is part of the problem, though.  My head feels heavy, I get nauseous when I do much of anything that requires bending or lifting which includes most household chores.  My appitite is about the same as normal.  My sleep is affected as it hurts to lay my head on my pillow.  I get funky feeling pain if my head is in the same position for too long a time, real sore stiff neck, dizzy waves and waves of pain.  This all started about 8 weeks ago and has been progressing with more aggressive pain, inability to concentrate, forgetfulness, extreme fatigue, etc.  I have CFS and take Effexor XR 150 mgs each night.  My doctor prescribed Gabapentin 100 mg cap to be taken 1x each night.  This has caused more fatigue, morning fog, and seems to make me feel worse by the day.  I don't want to take it any  more as I don't feel it is helping me at all.  I got my doctor to reluctantly prescribe a catscan of my head, however, he only had it w/o the dye.  The results were that my skull and veins looked normal, along with the frag?.  He wants to have me in to discuss the next steps, whatever they might be.  My doctor said he didn't know what I have or how to treat it.  He won't give me a referral to another doctor or specialist for a second opinion, either.  I would like to know what your ideas on my situation might be.  This pain is very dibilitating and take away the ability to enjoy my life.  I'm not suicidal and am not anticipating going that route at all.  I have too much to live for, however, I want to be able to enjoy my life w/o this pain, nausea, etc, and feel like my life is worth more than it is right now.  Thank you very much for your time.  I will be checking back for your opinions on my condition.

[clsygrm]

I missed relating that I have had numeral cuncussion areas on my head.  My ex used my head as a punching bag approx. 1979.  It took 6 mos. for the swelling to all go away.  Also, I fell off my my bike in the late fall and hit my head very hard on a garage door, fairly hard on cement, not too hard on cabinet doors.  I also had a bad accident 40 yrs. ago and had a huge goose egg on the back of my skull from hitting 5x's on cobblestone street.  Plus, got hit on the head from about 18" from a solid clothes tree when I worked for a dept. store.

My doctor ran a head cat scan w/o contrast which showed everything as normal.  Not sure if I should insist on the contrast or not.  He is also not willing to refer me for a second opinion which I think I need.

My blood sugar levels run from 103-108 which is good.  My normal blood pressure is 90/60, however, with this pain it ran 118/63 which is very high for me.  

I have been diagnosed w/CFS since 1998 and take Effexor XR 150 nightly for that.  Dr. has me on Gabapentin 100 mg cap, however, I stopped taking this drug as it seems to make me feel much worse - drugged feeling in am, can't seem to get fully awake until around noon and then ready for bed by 3pm.  Head pain seems to get worse on this med.

I had back surgery in 1987 - L4L5 - one of them is now crumbling.  From that surgery I get static which is normally very low key.  It has been very high key w/this head pain.  

I'm wondering if any of this pain could be caused by stress?  I've had 2 stress attacks since 1998, but they didn't cause head pain.  I haven't been diagnosed w/anxiety and normally don't react in a way to require any attention.  My stress normally asserts itself w/more fatigue w/o much else or just a plain headache, not a raw feeling on my head or all of the other symptoms I have been having.

Please let me know what your opinion on this added information is.  I have been trying to find articles that are similar to what I am feeling and have ruled out things that don't seem to apply.

Thank you very much for your time.  I will be checking back for your opinions on my condition.

[clsygrm]

I missed relating that I have had numeral cuncussion areas on my head.  My ex used my head as a punching bag approx. 1979.  It took 6 mos. for the swelling to all go away.  Also, I fell off my my bike in the late fall and hit my head very hard on a garage door, fairly hard on cement, not too hard on cabinet doors.  I also had a bad accident 40 yrs. ago and had a huge goose egg on the back of my skull from hitting 5x's on cobblestone street.  Plus, got hit on the head from about 18" from a solid clothes tree when I worked for a dept. store.

My doctor ran a head cat scan w/o contrast which showed everything as normal.  Not sure if I should insist on the contrast or not.  He is also not willing to refer me for a second opinion which I think I need.

My blood sugar levels run from 103-108 which is good.  My normal blood pressure is 90/60, however, with this pain it ran 118/63 which is very high for me.  

I have been diagnosed w/CFS since 1998 and take Effexor XR 150 nightly for that.  Dr. has me on Gabapentin 100 mg cap, however, I stopped taking this drug as it seems to make me feel much worse - drugged feeling in am, can't seem to get fully awake until around noon and then ready for bed by 3pm.  Head pain seems to get worse on this med.

I had back surgery in 1987 - L4L5 - one of them is now crumbling.  From that surgery I get static which is normally very low key.  It has been very high key w/this head pain.  

I'm wondering if any of this pain could be caused by stress?  I've had 2 stress attacks since 1998, but they didn't cause head pain.  I haven't been diagnosed w/anxiety and normally don't react in a way to require any attention.  My stress normally asserts itself w/more fatigue w/o much else or just a plain headache, not a raw feeling on my head or all of the other symptoms I have been having.

Please let me know what your opinion on this added information is.  I have been trying to find articles that are similar to what I am feeling and have ruled out things that don't seem to apply.

Thank you very much for your time.  I will be checking back for your opinions on my condition.

[Nursepam]

I too have similar but not as severe symptoms--mine are likely caused by herniated cervical (neck) discs between C3-4 and C6-7...diagnosed with cervical MRI...Good luck.  Nursepam

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Have you ruled out any other physical illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension? If you have blood pressure fluctuation, that may bring on the headaches.

Chronic fatigue syndrome resembles depressive disorders. If your main complaints revolve around fatigue more than sadness, we diagnose it as CFS. I won't say your headaches is part of the CFS, but it is possible that they are increased a bit more by this condition.

Have you been assessed by a Neurologist for your headaches?

Regards