Inflammation of Carotid artery and neck pain

[SBBugg]

About six months ago my left neck began to hurt and I noticed what I thought was a lump there. I went to a head and neck specialist and he said that I had inflammtion of my Carotid artery(Carotidynia).  The lump, I guess, was just the bifurcation of my artery that was swollen. The doctor told me to take an anti-inflammatory(ibuprophen) for 2 weeks. The pain finally diminished, but about a month later it started in my right neck. The pain now runs all the way down my neck and into my shoulder and right chest a bit.  It especially hurts if I apply pressure to my pulse(Carotid artery).  It feels like inflammed nerves or something. So, I went back to another doctor and he gave the same diagnosis. He said unfortunatley the cause is unknown. Now I am on a stronger anti-inflammatory. I just want to know the cause so it won't come back. I also got blood work and a head and neck xray completed, but am still waiting for results. Has anyone ever had this?  Any similar symptoms?  Should I be more concerned? Thanks

[keebe]

I was diagnosed in Oct., 2008 with caratidinia and given steroids and antibitics.  It helped.  BUT  my concern is that 2 months later, i went to my doctor with a cough that I just cannot control and now pain on the opposite side exactly like the right side and he tells me I have it again, on the other side.   I THOUGHT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RARE???????   so how did it come back so soon and now on the opposite side?  I refuse to go back to reg. dr., he can refer me to another doctor.   wanted to tell you I sweat like a lizard at night and sometimes during the day.   My eyes have also gotten really inflammed and itchy, and soar?  I don't know .  I am a healthy 45 yr old, 5 7 and weigh within my range.  sorry that you feel like ****.  I hope you will know where to go from here and let us all know.

[mrswhatacop]

OMG, just came from the dr. with the same thing, he told me to take Aleve 3 times a day....I also have a bad cough and was diagnosed today with high blood pressure and asthma....what in the heck is going on.......I am quite frightened......he did an EKG just to rule out a heart attack and some blood work, said it was routine testing but I wonder?!?!?!

[meades]

Follow up...

So $$$$'s later and the Doctors still do not know what is causing me to have these pains so often. The only thing they have said is that most people get this once, maybe twice, during their lifetime and never again. Usually treated with over the counter Ibuprofen to help with the inflammation. I have it this four times in the past year and they just don't know why. I hope I have had the last episode already. Blood work shows slightly high sugars and CT shows nothing. Go figure.

[babs0261]

check for lymph nodes, floating lymph nodes due to sinus and throat irritation, also I had aprocedure done a radiofrequency procedure on facet joints, cleared my problem right up.  If you have inflamation with your facet joints it could be the cause

[babs0261]

go to A pain specialist, (anesthesiologist-pain dr) and search into facet treatment, with radiofrequency, this helps with disc trouble, facte trouble, and all other causes of pain in neck.  It is very beneficial to those in chronic pain and meds do not help.  I have multiple disc herniations, impingement etc and now after I had this procedure done I am pain free.  You can have this procedure done to avoid certain surgeries.  Refer to Dr Gorfine website in Palm Beach, FLorida.  

[swtcountrynana45]

ok I went to chiropractor had my neck poped and then by time i got home my eyes were blooded shot and i couldnt stand neck pain was so bad went to the dr and they had to send me to eye dr i had Uveitius in my eyes (eye inflamation)in both eyes and had to wear neck brace . couldnt stand for my head to sit on my neck . so now im wondering if the neck being pop is what is causing the eye inflamtion. my neck is still killing me been dealing with this for 2 yrs and i cant seem to get any Dr to believe me. this all started when i got my neck popped. has this every happened to anyone else. they cant seem to get my inflamtion to go away in my eyes. im feel like im at a dead in.