Constant headaches & neck pain

[sweetkitty]

I have fibromyalgia and suffer from almost daily headaches. Most days it feels like my head is caught in a vice . My neck is also constantly sore usually at the base going up to my skull.

I suffer from chronic migraines and am on preventer meds I’ve had two in the past 6 weeks that have left me in bed for 2 days unable to eat, drink or talk.

I take dihydrocodeine daily for the pain (try to limit it to 2 a day, 4 on a really bad day) and sumatriptan if I feel a migraine coming on. If I didn’t take them I would probably be having about one a week.

I was having chiropractor treatments up until recently for my head and hips but didn’t see much improvement. It really does get you down constantly having a sore head day after day.

Any ideas on what may help?

Hello, I have similar symptoms to you but without the migraines. I often describe my head as being in a vice and most of my pain seems to radiate from the base of my skull giving me severe neck pain. I’ve been diagnosed with ME/CFS and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome if that matters. I’ve been unable to get an physio on the NHS yet but a friend of mine who is a physio has recommended a neck traction pillow which I’m currently trying. It looks a bit ridiculous when you wear it, you put it on then inflate it with air and wear for 15/20 mins a day. It’s early days but I’ve had really reduced pain so I’m crossing my fingers it’s not just coincidence. It wasn’t expensive - £15 I think - maybe worth a shot.

Research the perrin technique. It is all about draining toxins from your brain and keeping the lymphatic system flowing.

@sweetkitty Your situation sounds exactly like mine. Do you have a Chiari Malformation by any chance?

@JustHavinABreak I don’t think so as I don’t have any of the other symptoms

I’m sitting just now and the right side of the base of my skull is throbbing it is painful to touch but it could just be a fibro trigger point as I’m very sensitive to pain anyway. I’m trying to drink more water and sleep better at the moment too.

The last time I saw a neurologist he was very dismissive and said I was having rebound headaches from the triptans. Despite me telling him I can go 2 weeks without taking any then maybe have to take 3 in 3 consecutive days. I don’t take them everyday.

It’s so difficult right now too as I can’t get a face to face appointment with my GP to discuss another preventer.

I have used acupuncture for migraines. It took about 4 sessions. Prior to that I’d had persistent neck pain and very regular migraines. Then I would have a fortnightly session, then monthly, then 2 monthly etc. It was a Chinese acupuncturist, lots of needles and very effective.

I have exactly what you describe. It's awful. Gp has said it is tension headache/stress, which it could well be as I am very stressed at the money and suffer witn anxiety but I'm really struggling. Do you have it constantly? Mine went for a couple of weeks and is back again this week

[quote sweetkitty]**@JustHavinABreak I don’t think so as I don’t have any of the other symptoms

I’m sitting just now and the right side of the base of my skull is throbbing it is painful to touch but it could just be a fibro trigger point as I’m very sensitive to pain anyway. I’m trying to drink more water and sleep better at the moment too.

The last time I saw a neurologist he was very dismissive and said I was having rebound headaches from the triptans. Despite me telling him I can go 2 weeks without taking any then maybe have to take 3 in 3 consecutive days. I don’t take them everyday.

It’s so difficult right now too as I can’t get a face to face appointment with my GP to discuss another preventer.[/quote]
@sweetkitty
I was interested to read your post. Have you ever been assessed for Occipital Neuralgia?
One sided base of skull pain, radiating into eye/ across back of eyes - very migraine like symptoms. Not always there but comes & goes?
I ask because I had similar symptoms to you - attended migraine specialist, neurologist, sius specialist etc. Osteopath, physio ertc. Finally went to a pain specialist who did nerve blocks which resolved pain 90% of the time. I now have these every three months and they are superb.

I'm not sure if this will help but it took so long for me to get a diagnosis. @JustHavinABreak @Altogether321this might be of interest to you too.

Have you tried Osteopath rather then physiotherapy or Chiropractor?

My dd found it much more helpful for neck pain and headaches. They also did acupuncture with her.

How much are nerve block injections?