Severe headache with pain and stiff neck

[Lind28]

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting at my computer when suddenly it felt like someone came behind me with a baseball bat and just hit me extremely hard on my head and neck.  I felt nausea, and pain in my stomach.  I also had some diarhea. Then realized my stomach pain was just gas.  But my headache got severely worse.  sometimes it felt like it was burning, but most of the time it was very painful.It hurt all over my head. I took medication for the pain, but it didn't help, it just got worse.  This morning, I woke up with no headache, but my head and neck is very sore.  I also have a cyst growing in my left eye, but I don't think that's it, because I had this same cyst before.  I don't know if it was stress, sinuses, or what. I never had this happen to me before.  I hope to find out what this is.  I would go to my doctor, but usually she wants to give me all kinds of expensive tests, or just tells me to take pain medication or prescribes it.  I just want to know simple basics of what you all think happened to me.  Thank you, lind28

[ggreg]

Normally post concussion syndrome does not get worse, except when a person might be in a situation where they have to concentrate for long periods of time or they are under a lot of stress.  Therefore, if nothing has changed recently in your daily work or normal activities, then I think you should have a brain scan, as well as a cervical spine scan since you report tingling in your hands.  

Since it might be hard to schedule something while you're away from your regular docs, you can get a scan by going to the emergency room in your location.  I think your history and worsening symptoms will indicate they do that for you, right then and there.  I think you should also ask for a higher dose of your meds, or a different and stronger medication for the worsening symptoms, and also perhaps a short-term tranquilizer to get you through this rough patch, until you can get back in your regular physicians.

If you don't think you need a scan, then wherever you are, you can call long-distance and ask to speak to your prescribing physician, and request he call into whatever pharmacy you have access to, either an increase of dose or stronger pain relief, and perhaps a tranquilizer, until you can get back to visit him.  But to be on the safe side, I really think you ought to go to the ER and get a scan, even if you can attribute your new symptoms to stress.  And I think you should go today.

[PatMM]

I had a blow to the head in Sept '08 and the doctor said it was Post Concussion Syndrome.  Recently, (March '09) I've developed more severe, awful, horrific headaches and neck aches and a tingling in my left hand little and ring finger.  My memory is becoming "shot"! What does anyone think could be causing this  We are not near "home" for me to go to the same doctor.  I am not a complainer and LOVE to be busy and walk, ride bikes, swim etc etc.  But I just feel downright awful and the Tremadol he prescribed doesn't take away the pain.  HELP!
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[Lind28]

I forgot. the person who just posted you with severe headache with pain and stiff neck, (who answered your questions, this is lind28.)
Sorry I forgot to mention who I was.

[Lind28]

Last November of 2007, was my last eye examination.  I have been wearing glasses for 16 years now.  According to my eye doctor, I have no medical problems with my eyes accept for the cyst growing in my left eye (under my eyelid)  It's has been growing steady for about a month now.  In April I will go see an eye specialist in Tallahassee, Florida to get the cyst removed again, and discuss this problem.  I am 39 years old, and am very healthy.  I do not have problems or symptoms of cervical spondylitis.  I do have problems with alergies and get sinusitis.  I blow my nose every single morning for 6 months now.  I was getting allergy shots to control my allergies, but the problems kept continuing.   I go to a technical school, and do take frequent breaks when I get stressed out, or am in front of the computer.  I sleep about 7 hours a night, so my sleeping is okay.  There are nights I do wake up and can't go back to sleep for a while, but lately I have been sleeping fine.  I do not smoke or drink alcohol.  I had to change my eating habits because of some weight gain which is not good for a 5 foot 2 tall woman.  Today, my head and back of my neck is very sore, but does not hurt.  Last night my body made me sleep, I got extremely tired. I slept fine last night, but am still sore.My head and neck sometimes aches.  I hope I answered all the questions you needed to know.  

[ggreg]

Could be as simple as one heck of a migraine headache, all the way up to a bleed in the brain.  On the off chance it's the latter, be careful for the next few days to either have a cell phone on your person or be around other people at all times.  In addition, go on and report this to your doctor...you have a choice whether or not to followup with any tests she orders, but she needs to know about this.  

One other thing, I had to work overtime for a couple weeks, in front of a computer 10 hrs a day, 6 days a week, and one afternoon as a storm front came through and the room darkened, without warning I almost fell out of my chair but caught myself on the desk.  Scared the heck out of me.  Turns out my eyes were overly strained and I was tired.  

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Have you had such symptoms before?

Have you ever got your vision tested or seen a doctor for the eye 'cyst' that you mention?

What is your age?

Do you have any problems or symptoms of cervical spondylitis?

Do you have any symptoms of sinusitis like a dripping or blocked nose, headache, sneezing, post nasal discharge etc?

You need to discuss all this in detail with your doctor.

Try not to sit in front of the computer for long hours in a fixed posture. Do some neck exercises daily.

Do you sleep well?

Do you take alcohol and smoke?

I know these are a lot of questions, but they would help in narrowing down the possible diagnosis.

Do keep us posted.
Regards.