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face and neck pain
I was hit on the head with a pipe 4 years ago. Diagnosis (from time of accident to present) include whiplash, cervical strain, TMJ, herniation of C 5-6 & 6-7, resulting in bilevel fusion 6 months after accident, mayo facial pain, choclear concusion resulting in loss of low range hearing in left ear, and now doc thinks I may have fibromayalgia.
Here's the main problem; my neck, head and face ALWAYS hurt. On 1-10 scale, it's average of 5-6, with flare ups every 1-2 weeks where it spikes to 9-10.
The pain begins where neck and back of head come together (it feels like it's up inside that skull ridge) and then progresses forward in a circle like if you put your thumbs in your ears, put middle finger where head and neck come together, then rotate hands forward until middle fingers touch eyes: THAT'S one of the worst areas, on both sides of head. The pain continues over face and around jaw, especially where jaw hinges and where neck and jaw come together in front, not the widest part of jaw, but forward to the second widest part of jaw.
It hurts on both sides of head, but right now the left is worse.
The pain feels like a combination of a sinus infection, tooth infection and getting hit with something hard in the face.
Also, the area around my eyes, both up in towards eyebrows and behind the eyes hurts.
The pain in head and temples feels like my head is being squeezed until my skull is grinding together AND like my temples are being stabbed.
Activities that aggravate it are lifting, driving, looking down, turning head side to side, talking, laughing, sucking through a straw, whistling and eating hard or chewy foods.
Especially aggravating to neck is using arms or hands away from my body, like getting things off shelf at grocert store. Any weight , even a few pounds, triggers a flare up.
Do you think I could have an OCCIPITAL or TRIGEMINAL problem? Or, do I have more than 1 problem going on? I'm misserable. Docs answers range from there's nothing wrong that I can see to yes there's something causing you pain but we don't know how to treat it because we don't know what's causing it.
I've tried antidepressants like amitryptaline, neurotin, tramodal, methocarbomal, flexorill, morphine, some anti inflamitories, but had trouble tolerating and they did not help much, cold sprays that eveporate on skin, ice, and heat.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thankyou.
Here's the main problem; my neck, head and face ALWAYS hurt. On 1-10 scale, it's average of 5-6, with flare ups every 1-2 weeks where it spikes to 9-10.
The pain begins where neck and back of head come together (it feels like it's up inside that skull ridge) and then progresses forward in a circle like if you put your thumbs in your ears, put middle finger where head and neck come together, then rotate hands forward until middle fingers touch eyes: THAT'S one of the worst areas, on both sides of head. The pain continues over face and around jaw, especially where jaw hinges and where neck and jaw come together in front, not the widest part of jaw, but forward to the second widest part of jaw.
It hurts on both sides of head, but right now the left is worse.
The pain feels like a combination of a sinus infection, tooth infection and getting hit with something hard in the face.
Also, the area around my eyes, both up in towards eyebrows and behind the eyes hurts.
The pain in head and temples feels like my head is being squeezed until my skull is grinding together AND like my temples are being stabbed.
Activities that aggravate it are lifting, driving, looking down, turning head side to side, talking, laughing, sucking through a straw, whistling and eating hard or chewy foods.
Especially aggravating to neck is using arms or hands away from my body, like getting things off shelf at grocert store. Any weight , even a few pounds, triggers a flare up.
Do you think I could have an OCCIPITAL or TRIGEMINAL problem? Or, do I have more than 1 problem going on? I'm misserable. Docs answers range from there's nothing wrong that I can see to yes there's something causing you pain but we don't know how to treat it because we don't know what's causing it.
I've tried antidepressants like amitryptaline, neurotin, tramodal, methocarbomal, flexorill, morphine, some anti inflamitories, but had trouble tolerating and they did not help much, cold sprays that eveporate on skin, ice, and heat.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thankyou.
Hi,
How are you?
Have you undergone an X ray or a CT scan of head to rule out sinusitis?
Sinusitis can cause headache which gets worse on bending and head movement. A simple treatment of sinusitis is steam inhalation 3-4 times a day.
Another cause can be TMJ, which can cause headaches.
OTC anti inflammatory pain medications, soft diet, and warm compresses to the affected area followed by ice packs will help.
Like you have mentioned this could also be due to neuralgia, most likely a trigeminal neuralgia.
I would suggest you to consult an experienced neurologist and take his opinion. Keep us posted!
How are you?
Have you undergone an X ray or a CT scan of head to rule out sinusitis?
Sinusitis can cause headache which gets worse on bending and head movement. A simple treatment of sinusitis is steam inhalation 3-4 times a day.
Another cause can be TMJ, which can cause headaches.
OTC anti inflammatory pain medications, soft diet, and warm compresses to the affected area followed by ice packs will help.
Like you have mentioned this could also be due to neuralgia, most likely a trigeminal neuralgia.
I would suggest you to consult an experienced neurologist and take his opinion. Keep us posted!
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