ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Headaches => Topic started by: Debbi on September 29, 2008, 10:30:53 am
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Okay, so I have been getting these wierd little 5-10 minute headaches for about the last 3 weeks. They come 5 o4 6 times a day, sometimes more often. They are not crippling, but as someone who has never suffered from headaches they are annoying and distracting. They seem to be located around my temple/lower forehead and stronger on the AN side than the other side. I am about 5 months post op. Wondering if anyone else has experienced this?
I am seeing Dr. Roland next Monday and this is on my list for him - but any wisdom in the interim would be helpful!
Debbi
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Debbi -
I had something very similar around 10 months post op. In my case it just turned out to be stress.
This might not be your issue; just my experience.
Jan
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That is so strange Debbi, I just said to my husband I think I have a head ache. It has come a couple of times around my temples and the front of my head. Kind of weird for me because I had pain (throbbing and at times stabbingpain) from my AN behind my ear and up my head never really a head ache. Oh and years ago my GP said AN's don't cause pain so not to worry that I had one, hmmmmmmm really? :o :o
Maybe you have been doing too much lately? I think my little headaches are my bodies way of reminding me to slow down I am not four months post op yet.
Tiger balm is great and a product called Head On is good too, you rub it on your head and it feels good.
Michelle ;D
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Michelle,
Your GP doesn't know what he's talking about!!! Sorry, but I live with headaches like you and Debbi describe on a daily basis. If I didn't take Neurontin and Toradol I think I'd be suicidal.
Both drugs keep the pain tolerable most days.
Take care, both of you!
Anne Marie
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I am 7 months post op, and started to have slight headaches the past month. Nothing significant. It is located around my temple and eye and only on the AN side. I have appointment with my Dr on 10/6. Also, for about 4 months, I have had night “sweats� when I lay on the non AN side. The pillow is completely wet, sleep on the AN side nothing, roll over on the non AN side, the pillow is completely wet again. Every night, every time. Get my 7 month MRI results Monday, provide no new findings, I can live with the stange occurrences.
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Just in case either of you are starting to succumb to what is called "the syndrome" I'd advise you both to start keeping a headache journal--where you get them , what time of day, how long they last, intensity on a scale of 1-10, any specific triggers ( exercise, activity, stressors, weird foods, ) just in case you end up having to get some help with them down the road. Remember that most of us with "the syndrome" didn't develop it until months after our surgeries. I really hope you don't have to follow us down that road!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
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Debbi,
I too had these headaches several weeks ago....I think we had surgery around the same time as well. Anyhoo, I went ot the doc and he seemed to think it may have been some nerves trying to "re-fire" and some of the feeling coming back to that general area......he gave me some steroid injections along my scar and in the general area of the headaches.....it's helped tremendously. I still get headaches....just not as frequently.
Hoping I'm not getting a yucky case of scar neuroma....my scar/incision site is where i have most pain and trouble...but I dont' know much about scar neuroma. Doc wants to wait to discuss until after my GK in a few weels :) Crossing my fingers.
Best of luck, let us know what your doc thinks...
Melissa
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Very helpful, everyone! I am seeing Dr. Roland on Monday and will discuss with him. In the meantime, I had an appointment with my regular GP today and he thinks, based on what I described, that it might well be my nerves re-firing. We'll see what Dr. R has to say. Great suggestion, Deb, on keeping a journal - I will start that immediately. I've been trying to really pinpoint the pain - and realized that it is quite difficult to describe pain in any way that would be meaningful to anyone else. So, I am trying to isolate exactly where it hurts, for how long, etc. The past week or so, I've been waking up in the morning with headaches, which go away fairly quickly - and I am usually laying on my AN side when this happens.
Has anyone here tried Ultram? It is a (new, I think) non-opiate pain reliever for chronic pain. My doc gave me a sample pack to try. I am getting concerned about taking so much ibuprofin, and Tylenol doesn't seem to work. So, he suggested I try this for a few days and see if it helps.
I find it interesting that the "syndrome" doesn't start until later with some people - and I fervently hope I am not one of them! :P
Trackman, strange about the night sweats. I get them, but I am 52 and know exactly why I'm getting them! Unfortunately, doesn't matter what side I sleep on. ;D
Jan, stress - what's that????? ;D ;D
Melissa, I am not sure I know what scar neuroma is - but I am quite sure I don't want it!
Michelle - my headaches are also focused in the temple and forehead area, which may support the whole notion of returning nerves. Of course, that has yet to translate to a blink or a forehead wrinkle!!
Anne Marie, you are always in my thoughts as I know you suffer terribly from headaches.
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Debbi,
Two things that me when I had those headaches: acupuncture and Indocin. I have heard of Ultram recently but I think it is a pretty strong medicine. I sincerely hope that the headaches you have will go away on its own or become manageable!
Eve
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Debbi,
I have a TERRIBLE headache today :'( Just hoping to be headache free next weekend when my husband and I are in New York City! I will be packing ALL of my drugs as I sing I love New York.
Anne Marie
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Great advice Capt Deb!
Anne Marie - I know my GP is a dope, I am the one who asked him if he thought I had an AN. I went misdignosed for 10yrs - no wonder why. :o :o :o In the end it was my persistence that found my AN.
Michelle :D
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Ultram in it's generic form is tramadol and is a mild opiate and is addictive, although not as addictive as hydocodone. (In my headache book under "opiates" it lists ultram and tramadol and is where I got this information.) It depends on who they give it to! Don't let them charge you for Ultram when you can get it in it's generic form of tramadol. Take too much of it and you get into rebound headache syndrome. (This is from experience!) I take it occasionally myself, but try to limit myself to no more than 2-3x a week. Any more than that and I know it's time for another nerve block or time to up my preventative!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
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Great advice, Deb - thanks for the correction on Ultram/tramadol. My prescription insurance automatically subs generics, which is always helpful. I took a low dosage (100mg) yesterday and it did help with the overall pain, but it also made me feel a tiny bit woozy (or, maybe it is the change in barometric pressure - who knows?) Right now, the constant pain in my neck is more problematic than the quicky head-aches, but none of it is fun.
It is getting ready to rain here, which always seems to mess with my balance. I've sworn off high heels (or even low heels) for the foreseeable future...
Debbi
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Great advice, Deb - thanks for the correction on Ultram/tramadol. My prescription insurance automatically subs generics, which is always helpful. I took a low dosage (100mg) yesterday and it did help with the overall pain, but it also made me feel a tiny bit woozy (or, maybe it is the change in barometric pressure - who knows?) Right now, the constant pain in my neck is more problematic than the quicky head-aches, but none of it is fun.
It is getting ready to rain here, which always seems to mess with my balance. I've sworn off high heels (or even low heels) for the foreseeable future...
Debbi
Hey (both) Deb's! :)
Been on Tramadol for years (off and on) and as Captn can tell you, I've done well with it for pain control. Debbi, I believe the lowest dosage is 50mg and it should be noted to not take more than 4 (50 mgs) in a 24-hr period... (I checked with PapaPearl, he's a pharmacist! ;) ).... it can cause extreme upset stomachs, the headaches Captn mentions, etc. Please be careful with it.
I've been on it for over 5 yrs now.... and only take as extremely needed. Works great but please follow physician/pharmacist's recommendations on usage and please do not go beyond.
Ok, off drug pedastal.
xo
Phyl
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Hey Deb, really sorry you are now starting to act up---STOP IT! Tryin to get in on the action huh?
Seriously, have you laid on ice paks for your neck and occipital area? I know this is pretty benign treatment compared to the "pushers" on here but perhaps freezing that area might shrink the pain?! If not take it all away, perhaps help it to STOP MISBEHAVING!
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Oh Debbi,
I feel your pain!! :'( I too have a major headache today. I finally took a Tylenol 3. It helps but it is just a quick fix. I asked my GP about tramadol and he said for me to try to use the T-3's only when I can't take it any more.
I wanted to go for a walk because sometimes fresh air does help but it started to rain heavily so I made banana walnut cake for the men in my life. It did me in! I was trying to take my frustrations out on cracking the walnuts. Now I'm just going to roast some Italian sausage with fresh buns and a salad.
I find heat helps my neck and the occipital area. Everyone is different but its worth a try. I know tonight I will be going to bed with my hot pack resting gently on my neck.
Take care Debbi,
Anne Marie
P.S. A nice massage from hubby helps too ;)
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Debbie and Anne Marie,
I'm so sorry you're in headache land today. I had headaches on a regular basis before dx, just thought it was one of those things. Since surgery, I've had a few but not many. They do scare the **** out of me though! They take on a whole new meaning once you've had surgery. I also find that the weather is a contributing factor and am now trying to convince Brian that we need to move to a warm, dry climate. Debbi, my neck pain has been mostly gone but I have woken up in complete neck spasms a couple of times recently. Very disturbing.
Be well,
Marci
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Hi Debbi, I'm really sorry to hear you're having trouble.
In addition to my pain pills, I also use Lidocaine patches at night, and TigerBalm for my neck and shoulder pain; which I think is a combo of irritation from the "pulling" and stretching of surgery, stress, and decreased movement from the chronic headaches. I also get frequent 10 minute massages at a day spa near by. (it's just enough to help relax the muscle, but not too stimulating for me) Any chance someone would give you a 5-10 minute massage before bed? Karen
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Hi Karen-
Funny you should mention that! I am using a combo of warm/hot compresses on my head/neck and shoulder AND massage. I go for an hour long massage once a month and she just works on my head, neck and back; then I go for a 10 or 20 minute chair massage once a week (conveniently located at the local nail salon). I take advil during the day and then persoset at night if things are really bad. It works and I beleive I am seeing improvement. I still get weird stabbing pains in the side of my head but they last only a minute or so, and Dr. Roland thinks they are my nerves refiring. He also confirmed that the chronic neck pain is most likely post surgical and related to them having to pull the muscle aside for such a long time to get at my skull.
And, yes, I do notice an overall increase in all symptoms (pain and balance) whenever the weather changes! All related to barometric changes...
Isnt' the human body an amazing thing?
Debbi - is that a nail in my head?
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Hi Debbie,
An electric heating pad does wonders for my neck. I use it every day when I feel a headache coming on. If I don't apply heat to my neck immediately, it takes longer for the headache to go away. But rarely do I get a headache that sticks with me for more than a half hour. I do have to take otc Tylenol three to four times a day. I tried weaning myself off to the Tylenol, but found myself using the heating pad more frequently.
Hoping your headaches go away
Syl
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Debbi,
How about an update on your headaches. Gotten any worse or have you learned to manage them? Let us know!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/emoticon___pirate_by_anya1916.gif)
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Hi Capn Deb - well, it turns out that they are not so much headaches as "face aches" if that makes sense. I definitely have a lot of muscle pain on the muscle that runs up along the incision and down my neck. Docs think that the muscle is just being very slow to heal.
And, the right side of my face hurts (no wise cracks, please!) mostly along the front of my ear and temple and down into my upper jaw. The heat really helps - and Syl, I couldn't leave without me heating pad! Docs think the face pain is my nerves trying to recharge. In general, I still have a lot of numb spots on my face, but it seems like what isn't numb just hurts. Ah, the fun never stops. Oh, and I had to stop taking the Ultram because I started itching all over. >:( Too bad because it definitely helped the pain. Back to double advil and percoset when it gets bad.
Oh, and yes, the 10 minute chair massages are a godsend! I get the at the local nail salon and it only costs $10 for 10 minutes, so it's quite reasonable.
Debbi
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You'd never guess that there could be so much pain behind all those beautiful smiles in our photos.
Syl
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Debbi,
When you press on your incision, can you cause the pain to radiate anywhere in particular? I had a tender spot on my incision and when the doctor pressed on it, pain and tingling radiated to the upper ear on top. He said this was the lessor occipital nerve. It was entrapped in the scar. My more severe pain was caused by the occipital nerve that radiated behind the eye and down to the neck and shoulder. This pain hard to live with.
Janet
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Janet - can't say I feel much of anything besides pressure when I press on my incision - it is still pretty numb. The pain you are describing sounds miserable and I hope you are able to get some releif. As much as the pain annoys me and gets me down some days, it is far less than what many of you here suffer from on a daily basis.
Debbi
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Thanks, I had it fixed and I feel much much better. (A peripheral nerve surgeon, outpatient surgery.)
Janet
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HI Debbi,
I was just wondering if you've ever considered seeing a chiropractor. I have been seeing my chiropractor pretty much on a regular basis since mid-August. My neck and back pain are much better, although I do still have some very slight stiffness in my neck. I've never had a big problem with headaches and maybe seeing the chiropractor saved me from that particular fate.
Tammy - If you're reading this, thanks for suggesting the chiropractor -- it really has helped enormously.
Best wishes,
Wendy