Chronic tension headache diagnosis and long term management

[Lost_Girl]

Hi I suffer from chronic pain. I have a bone shard impacting a nerve root at c8 being treated with cortisone. I have pain at c5 and c6 that is manageable without anything. However I have a constant headache and pressure in my ears that I have had for pretty much every waking moment for the last 7 months. As a result I have become depressed and I have insomnia.

After a trip to a neurologist I have been advised to cease sleeping medication and strong pain killers. I am now only on antidepressants.

A visit to my psychologist today has alerted me that depression does not cause headaches.   

Has anyone been treated for chronic pain with ONLY antidepressants and did it work?

I havr a referral now to a psychiatrist to check but it not until May. While I see if I can find something earlier I sm keen to hear if this has worked for anyone.

Thanks,

Carol

[Guest_5218]

Great news Carol, that sounds very promising. Glad you're feeling more hopeful now.

Dont worry, there's still plenty of time in which to spoil yourself - there's all night, and your nights are long! ( - :

Relax for now and let the anxiety reduce, dont forget your breathing ................ and body scan.

Sherie xx

[Lost_Girl]

You're wonderful Sherie.

When I relax I can feel (and see) the muscle twitching and I am buzzing with electricity all up my right leg and both forearms and hands. It is a weird feeling and hard to not focus on it.

I'lI get there. Thanks for being here for me. It's nice to be reassured regularly when things like this happen.

You're a gem xx

[Guest_5218]

Yuk, it sounds awful. And I guess the pain killers have no effect on those symptoms? Sleep will be difficult then I imagine. And this has only started since cutting back on the ADs? Does your GP think that the ADs have been masking these symptoms up until now, or does she still think they may be symptoms of withdrawal?

So hard not knowing. Even I'm getting frustrated!

Oh dear ................

Sherie xx

[Guest_5218]

Hi Carol. Are you still in the hospital awaiting test results? I read on another thread that you were having some tests in hospital today. And a phone with a battery fast becoming flat!

I havent been around today, so I am not really up with whats been happening. When you get the chance, please let us know how you are.

Hopefully the test results are good ........ some good news would be great right now. ( - :

Sherie xx

[Lost_Girl]

Hey Sherie,

Home now and plugged in 🙂

I woke up with that electric tingling in my tongue and lips with a numb feeling even though I still have sensation. I also have a numb feeling and tingling along my jaw on one side. I went to my GP a little concerned as I am getting more or new symptoms each day. Also when I googled tingling tongue there are a few possible scary reasons that can happen and I wanted to check. GP sent me to hospital.....after a long long day waiting (midday to 9:30pm)for a 3 minute (I kid you not), super fast CT scanner (new tech apparently), then an hour of analysis, my brain is super clear. This is a yay for not about to kick the bucket in the short term and yay for lessening the chances of ms but a boo for still having to wait 3 weeks for new neuro and putting up with my new found symptoms.

On the upside my brain keeps giving me a happy rendition of "It's electrifying!" from Grease the musical...... I have likened the sensation to having popping candy on your tongue (which I love by the way, just not 24x7 and it's more appealing in the form of a choc elf). Mmmm chocolate.

Gosh I am glad to be home.

Thanks for thinking of me.

Hope you're doing ok xx

[blondguy]

Hi Carol

That long and protracted wait must have been awful for you. The result is great that your brain is clear on the scans. It doesnt help you right now though. I hope your new neuro can find out what is wrong Carol. You would have rapt to get back home.

My very best for your recovery Carol xx

Paul (Hugs)

[Lost_Girl]

Thanks Paul

I am very full of emotion. I am reducing my AD's and I am very conscious of the changes. I am being careful to make sure that I am correct in my gut feeling that the pain was causing the depression so as long as the pain is managed I am ok off my ADs. My psych agreea at this point but I am open to the thought I could be wrong.

What I do notice is that the ADs were helping me not care about things that would normally bug me. Things like how tidy and clean the house is. Hubby is happy that in his words I seem more alert and switched on but also says he preferred it more when I didn't notice the mess hahaha

I think waiting and the anticipation is the worst part. After my GP suggested multiple sclerosis as a possible I have an unhealthy obsession of googling symptoms and possible causes. I can't seem to stop myself. It's pretty much all I think about. Not sure how to stop it. I try distractions but then find myself doing it again. It's all I talk about with hubby and I am saying the same things over and over.

Not sure how to stop 😞

[Guest_5218]

Leave the diagnosis to the experts .......... ( - :

Self diagnosing can be a dangerous and non productive passtime. Not easy I know.

Thinking of you Carol.

Sherie xx

[Elizabeth CP]

Sorry Carol, You are having a tough time yet you still make time to help others like me. I appreciate it. One thing that we found helpful when my husband saw a neurologist for the first time is we wrote a list of all symptoms no matter whether we thought they were relevant. We took this into the consultation & ended up passing it to the neurologist to read at his request. If you start now making notes when you think of something this may help you feel like you are doing something constructive & ensure you don't miss anything. Hopefully this might give you something to think of rather than worrying about the diagnosis. Good luck

[Lost_Girl]

Thanks Sherie, I know you're right.

Hi Elizabeth, I much prefer helping others. I am not a very good patient I'm afraid.

That is a good idea. I have been writing down feelings for my psych. Writing down the history of symptoms for the neuro is a great idea and much more productive.