Feverfew used to control head and neck pain (neuropathic) after retrosigmoid

[Wendy]

Any input welcome on experience with, knowledge of Feverfew.  I am trying it instead of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain in neck and more importantly what feels like pain in deaf, AN ear which  has been a companion both gentle and at times violent since my surgery in April 2003.  I can no longer take ibuprufen or aspirin as I had erosions documented in my stomach, in the antrum, in Fall 2003 and took Nexium for a year in an effort to heal those erosions.  Too much of these NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) are dangerous for kidney and liver as Becky has noted elsewhere.  I have Hydrocodone for the extreme episodes of pain but try to avoid it and hope that Feverfew may help until the neuropathic pain subsides naturally, as it should by the two year mark from surgery.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts, comments, advice.
Wendy

[Becky]

Hi Wendy,
Someone else once mentioned using FeverFew.  She said it worked to relieve headache and tinnitus.  I have not tried it myself.   Sorry I don't know more about it.

Becky

[cecile k]

Hi Wendy: I also had the suboccipital (I believe this is the same as retrosigmoid) approach to surgery and had to deal  with terrible headaches which began three weeks post op. What I found helped me immensely was finding a physiotherapist well versed in head/neck issues. I went through a few physiotherapists before finding one who really knew what she was doing. After my first visit with her, my medication intake went down to half and slowly decreased from that point on. It did take about two years before I was off meds altogether. I also saw an upper cervical chiropractor (again, I made sure I saw one who had a ton of experience) and he really helped me with my neck movements...

I still do the neck stretching exercises my physiotherapist had me doing and they truly help me a lot. I rarely have physio now. Hope this helps you some.

Cecile

[ConcernedWife]

Hello - Wendy I noticed you said you thought the headaches would go away at the two year mark? Is there a reason for the two years? My  husband had AN surgery July 2004. He was never sick before his surgery. He never had a headache! He now has constant headaches and neck pain. He will wake up at night from a sound sleep and will be in horrible pain. He is also still very dizzy. At this point he is at the breaking point. We are looking for anyone who has had the same surgery and post surgery problems. Again, why the two years? Thank you!

[Janet]

Wendy,

I have similar headaches. I wear a soft neck collar at night to eliminate the middle of the night intense pain. (It lasts 20-30 minutes.) I think bending my head forward while sleeping is the trigger. It seems to cut down on the frequency. I take Aleve and Tylenol every day. I am going to a headache specialist in a couple of weeks. It's been 11 months since my surgery and I am just starting to get serious about finding a solution.

Janet
netsher@comcast.net

[Becky]

Janet,
Soon after my surgery I began using a memory foam pillow shaped for the neck and head.  I was prescribed a soft collar for neck pain, but I don't wear it at night.  I was told not to elevate at night with too many pillows, that it's bad for the neck.  The tempur-pedic pillow is rather flat, shaped for neck support.  I really like it, but it limits one's sleeping positions. 

I wear the soft collar as needed for pain during the day, and always while on the road, as the downward bumps of potholes and speed bumps set off a multi-day headache.

Becky

[alwaysanonymous]

i had a very very stiff neck after my surgery and i was told to elevate it during when i slept. it felt alot better too. and sure enough with the help of phyiscial therapy it was back to normal in no time. so ask your doctor and go with whatever he/she tells you because different doctors have differnet suggestions.

[Becky]

I was told to elevate my head, too, right after surgery.  If you're elevated from the waist up, it's a little different than elevating with multiple pillows from the neck up.  Anyway, it was hard to get comfy after surgery.  The elevation of the head is a caution against csf leaks.

Becky