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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think a month is too long.

78 replies

picklejimmy · 08/02/2018 06:54

I've been in consistent pain for over a month now.
I've constantly had a headache. It varies from a dull ache to a searing blistering headache but it's always there. I can pin point exactly where the pain is coming from because the pain radiates from there. I've seen Dr after Dr and chiropractor and it won't go away. In exhausted and my work is suffering because I can't concentrate. the Dr has put me on various pain killers which don't even touch the pain. Aibu to think a month long head ache is too long. I have a neurology appointment but it's not till march. I don't think I can take another month of this.

OP posts:

ADishBestEatenCold · 08/02/2018 09:09

Do you have any other symptoms, picklejimmy?

For example any dizziness, unsteadiness, numbness or tingling, hearing or vision things, nausea? Anything else?

If so, what does your doctor say about other symptoms (or is it 'only' the headaches and neck pain ... bad enough, I know).

CiderwithBuda · 08/02/2018 09:11

Def go back to your GP. Ask for a physio referral. Preferably an urgent one.

I rate chiropractic treatment but osteo is also very good. Look some up in your area. My chiropractor does acupuncture- I went with bad neck pain this week and he did some massage and acupuncture and the difference was amazing. But try an osteopath.

Also try keeping a diary. Time of day it starts. What you have eaten or drunk. Sunny or dull. Stress levels at the time.

How long did you try the amitryptaline for? That takes a while to build up in your system.

I would def be looking at postural/musculoskeletal reasons though while you wait for your neuro appointment.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 08/02/2018 09:19

HI Pickle, sorry to hear about the pan. One thing rang a bell for me:

Right now it feels like a hot poker going through the base of my skull on the neck

I have had this on occasions when my neck goes into spasm.

Have you ever had a neck injury? Doesn't have to be recently. I have had 2 severe ones (trampoline accident as a kid - landed on my head and extreme kite flying - wind picked me up and dumped me a few meters away, again, on my head). So once every few years the injuries just cause my neck to spasm, which is extremely painful.

I used to use a combination of heat (tiger balm or hot water bottle but not together) and a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel, would place these at the base of my skull then lean back on sofa or armchair to hold them in place. It helped a bit!

used to have to see a chiropractor to sort it out though when it was really bad.

Hope you get some relief soon. You have my sympathy!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 08/02/2018 09:20

*pain not pan!

Caroelle · 08/02/2018 09:24

Cranial osteopath worked for me in a very similar situation, but you will probably need more than one treatment. When yiu have something like this, yiu hold your neck and shoulders in a position to minimise the pain, which then affects your head. Yiu can also get rebound headaches from taking too many painkillers.

smurfy2015 · 08/02/2018 09:24

@picklejimmy gentle hug, first of all im not a medic im another sufferer of headache and migraine, so this isnt medical advice.

Is that spot where the pain radiates from kinda 2 fingers width behind your ear, if you can put 4 fingers with to the nape of your neck if you know what i mean, is the "spot" about 2 fingers either side that bit in the middle, i dunno how else to describe it

Have you been able to get your BP checked? high / low
Any pins or needles anywhere (head, arms, fingers?)

Hope you get to see someone today about this? Ive had similar thats why im asking those questions

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/02/2018 09:30

That sounds awful OP. How long have you been at the chiropractor? I'd be inclined to go back again to the GP and then look into seeing an osteopath. Hope you get some pain relief soon.

MissDuke · 08/02/2018 09:33

I agree about the physio, I would book a private appt asap, if they come up with a cause you can always ask for an NHS referral but by booking privately you won't have so long to wait to get started.

Can you take sometime off work? You may need a rest too, this sound absolutely exhausting and to be honest it would be better than making mistakes there. It must be so hard to concentrate You poor thing.

Katyb1310 · 08/02/2018 09:38

Syndol is just cocodamol now. It used to have a muscle relaxant in it and it used to work very well for me but they changed it a few years ago and it's just a more expensive version of generic 8/500mg cocodamol.

Closetlibrarian · 08/02/2018 09:43

I second (third, fourth) the suggestion of a good private physio. This is exactly what they're trained to do!

Are you in/ near London or Sussex? If so, I can recommend an excellent one who has sorted out various aches, pains and injuries I've had over the past five years. Pm me if you like.

Aworldofmyown · 08/02/2018 09:46

Yes, sadly the old Syndol has been removed from sale in the uk. That was the only thing that would help my migraines too!

OP keep badgering your doctor.

HLBug · 08/02/2018 09:57

My DH suffered terribly with exactly the type of pain you are describing - we even had a consult at the local hospital for a brain scan, but could find nothing. Literally the week after the scan he had his 6 monthly dentist check up - out of the blue the dentist asks if he ever gets bad / long lasting headaches, sore neck etc. DH couldn't believe it. Dentist said he could tell that DH had been clenching his jaw and grinding away his teeth, probably as he was sleeping. This was causing the headaches. DH was fitted with a plastic mouth guard that he now wears every night and the pain has gone. His poor teeth are another matter entirely...

So...trip to the dentist?!

Italiangreyhound · 08/02/2018 09:58

Can you call the office for the specialist you will see and beg for a cancellation etc. If you can get a friendly receptionist or secretary who is able to find a gap in the consultant's busy schedule you may get in early. I would be tempted to ring a few days in a row, very politely, and obviously in pain, and see if a gap can be found. Good luck.

smurfy2015 · 08/02/2018 10:02

I hit a really bad migrane attack in 2011/12 and it floored me for 3.5 months and finally persuaded a GP to come out and assess, i was admitted to hospital and saw the neurologist 3 hours later.

To get the simple tips on how to deal with headache and migraine, there is a free pdf ebook and ecourse which comes to your email with no spam by a NHS neurologist consultant (i can personally recommend him, i see him on NHS)

www.severe-headache-expert.com/safe/

Eliza9917 · 08/02/2018 10:04

Have you had a problem with your teeth? Problems there can cause issues elsewhere in the body.

Do the headaches come on at the same time of day?

And I second speaking to NHS direct about going to A&E, when I had cluster headaches I thought I couldn't go to A&E for a headache! even though one particularly bad night I thought I must be having a stroke or aneurysm and I'd probably wake up dead but I found out after, that they treat them as a medical emergency and I should have gone.

nocampinghere · 08/02/2018 10:06

forget the GP they clearly don't know what's going on and at least they have referred you on.

it sounds musculo-skeletal radiating from your neck, could be a trapped nerve or similar.

can you get off the PC, no tablets, minimise phone use - anything that causes your neck/shoulders to be hunched or your neck in a forward position. How is your posture generally? is your head on top of your shoulders or does it jut forward?

second the idea of getting a new decent pillow

do you do pilates? yoga? anything like that? I find whenever i stop pilates i end up needing physio for something or other...

Tatara1982 · 08/02/2018 10:12

OP - I have had really similar symptoms which are basically a migraine (even though they last for weeks at a time). The best thing I have found is targeted migraine medication (things called triptans - Naratriptan is the one that has worked best for me but you can also get Sumatriptan from the pharmacy). They aren't pain killers, rather they are targeted at the cause of the symptoms. I can seriously sympathise with your situation, it is so hard - hope you feel better soon!

mari652 · 08/02/2018 10:13

I had debilitating pain radiatingup from the neck as you describe - not a migraine as I also used to get those and it was nothing like it. I went through every test going - it was good to get things like neurological problems ruled out but frustrating to still have the pain. My GP then asked me more about my work position ( desk) and suggested changing chairs and height and also referred me to an Alexander Technique practitioner. I am definitely not a 'woo' person and found the first couple of sessions utterly baffling and useless and almost dropped it but then suddenly 'got it' and got terrific relief. Even now, years later, I make conscious efforts with my posture and 'revise' from a book from time to time. There are youtube videos and lots of info out there - but at first the hands on experience was helpful.

converseandjeans · 09/02/2018 00:10

I agree with osteopath - great for releasing neck tension - then monthly sports massage. Tiger balm rub for tension headaches. Reflexology. I also have PCOS and find if my blood sugar levels are messed up I get headaches.

Original poster

picklejimmy · 09/02/2018 09:04

Sorry I haven't been on to reply. I actually had a weird day yesterday. I got to work and about an hour in I just didn't feel right. The whole right side of my body went numb and pins and needles like and I was struggling to talk, stammering and stuttering a lot, I don't normally do that. Its like I couldn't say what I was thinking. It was really scary. Work sent me home in a taxi and I managed to get an emergency appointment with the Dr. She said she would get my neurology appointment moved to sooner.

OP posts:

nocampinghere · 09/02/2018 09:52

i would have gone STRAIGHT to A&E
why didn't you?

RedCarsGoFaster · 09/02/2018 09:57

That sounds very much like one of the many types of migraine. I get paralysis and loss of speech - very much like a stroke - yet the GP seems to think its OK. In 20+ years of migraine and neck pain, I've never had a referral to neurology!

Has the GP talked about migraine with you? They can prescribe many different triptans amongst other things for that.

And as for not going to to A&E, easier said than done when you can't think straight. Bloody poor that your colleagues didn't take you there or call an ambulance rather than send you home.

Original poster

picklejimmy · 09/02/2018 10:18

I was seen by first aid and once I'd calmed down (was really scary) it eased off. I called 111 as soon as I got home and they didn't seem too concerned. The Dr saw me a couple hours later. Couldn't really explain it but did give me a note for work and said she'd get my appointment moved closer

OP posts:

CiderwithBuda · 09/02/2018 11:14

If it happens again go straight to a&e. Yes it COULD be migraine but then again it might not be. You need a proper diagnosis.

Original poster

picklejimmy · 09/02/2018 11:26

I will. I've got today off so I'm just going to rest today. My head is not as bad today but its still painful

OP posts:

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