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who would you see (medical related)?
I have a history of chronic headaches (truth be told, I've had the same headache for 11 years now - done all the tests, seen every kind of doctor, there's nothing there). since i've been dealing with this for so long, i don't really notice my regular headache anymore - just the really bad ones and the migraines that happen every once in a while.
about 2 months ago, i started getting more headaches. it went from 1 every week or two, to almost every day. a few migraines mixed in there too, which i hadn't had in a long time (over a year). my headaches are stress related, so i kind of expect an increase around the holidays.
right before christmas, i was home one afternoon and sneezed - i got a pain so bad in my head that i seriously thought it might be some kind of stroke or aneurysm. i'm talking blinding, excrutiating pain, where i'm rolling on the floor screaming. it lasted less than a minute. i'm getting something similar (but much less painful) whenever i strain or tense up (cold wind, using the bathroom, touring singapore, etc). i've also noticed my vision getting slightly worse (i don't wear glasses and can usually see perfectly).
so it feels like it's maybe concentrated around the base of my head/top of neck, on the left side. i already had a CAT scan in june when i got hit with a softball in the head, so i'm pretty certain there isn't a tumor or anything (at least there wasn't 6 months ago). would you see your regular doctor? get a massage first (to see if it's tension related)? see a chiropractor (recommendation? i haven't seen one in Austin)? wait and see if it just goes away now that the holidays are over?
thanks! i'm ready for this pain to STOP!
Re: who would you see (medical related)?
When was your last eye exam?
I had one a few weeks ago, and the doc looked at my results and said, "With your eyes, I bet you get a lot of headaches and migraines? Feel nauseous often?"
As a matter of fact, I do!
Apparently, its more than just your vision they are checking. She said that people will put themselves through a battery of useless tests and exams when all they need is an eye exam.
I would try to get in with a Neurologist. Found these when I googled:
www.headacheandpain.com
www.austinheadache.com
Don't know anything about the above but I'd definitely see your PCP and have them refer you out or try a self referral (guess it depends on the dr's office and your insurance). I would not ignore this though.
ok this might sound crazy but i had the SAME thing happen to me about 5+ years ago. i was having chronic headaches (most of the time migraines) for about a year straight. i would get at least one a day. i thought i had a brain tumor or something. i ended up getting an MRI and they didn't find anything. one day i was talking to my uncle who is a dentist and he asked me to stop by so he could take an x-ray of my jaw. turns out i was grinding my teeth at night and, because of this, the muscles around my jaw were really inflamaed so it was causing all of the headaches. he fit me for a nightguard and, sure enough, within a couple days all of my problems were solved and i haven't had problems since.
so because of this, i'm recommending you see a dentist!!!
i hope you get to the bottom of this soon - i have been there and know how painful & frustrating it can be.
I would recommend a neurologist as well. I had headaches for years until I saw her. After I took some medications that got rid of them, I was finally able to figure out my triggers. Unfortunately for me it's food allergies, seasonal allergies and tention, but at least I know what to avoid know and how to address the symptoms without always taking handfuls of pills.
My Dr Recs: For Neurologist I see Dr York (she's wonderful!) and for Chiro I see Dr Kanz (30 min massage before adjustment.)
Take care. I hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for the advice guys! I've made eye doctor and massage appointments. My eye doc is next week, so if she doesn't find anything, then i'll see my PCP and see what he recommends. I definitely appreciate the links and recommendations!
When they first started, my parents and I were determined to get to the bottom of it so I saw 3 PCPs, chiro, neurologist, eye doc, dentist, massage therapist, had a CAT scan and an MRI. I hope they had good insurance back then!!
I've also had a continuous headache for as long as I remember; saw neurologist, neurosurgeon, get my eyes checked yearly (worn glasses/contacts since 3rd grade), and have had a nightguard for my TMJ since I was 17. I used to go to a Chiro regularly, and got frequent massages as well. All these things improved the situation but didn't make it go away.
I finally saw an ENT for some other issues I was having and he did a CT of my head- turns out I had a deviated septum and some other issues that have been known to cause persistent low grade headaches as well as migraines. He fixed those issues (surgically) and while I still get headaches on occasion it's more like 5% of the time instead of 99%. I've had maybe 2 migraines since then as well, and they were much milder than before.
So add that to the possible list.
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Oh my! I think I would make an appointment with each and every type of doctor in Austin. I cannot imagine living w/that type of pain every day. Chiropractor - yes! Arlen Smith @ Lake Travis Chiropractic Center, love him. Acupuncture - wouldn't hurt to try. General Practitioner for referral to others, yes definitely. I'm thinking it could be something with your nose or neck. Of course, I'm not a dr...so I don't know. But good luck, lots of luck and relief dust your way!
This is def why I recommend a Neurologist. Mine did my CT and that was one of the things evaluated. That was also the scan where they found a few of my problems.
Huh, I'd had several CT scans in the years prior and they either weren't looking at my nose or they didn't think it was important.
That totally doesn't make sense. Isn't it a neuro's job to evaluate as many options as possible to determine what's causing head pain? My neurologist put the slide up and showed me that I have a slight deviated septum (she said most people do) but not enough to be a factor. She also showed me slides of my compressed/ herniated discs and gave me info on that. We covered some glands in my brain and other things like that and then she gave me a full copy of her report and the images to take to my chiro. It was really informative. That's why I kept mentioning Neuro, but I guess if they're not all the same it may not be as beneficial.
I would also recommend Dr. Marci Roy, (Bee Caves & 360 area) who specializes in headaches. I have had headaches for a while, as well. I just had my first appointment with her in October, with a follow-up scheduled this month after my battery of tests.
I also recently read an article in a magazine, Good Housekeeping/Redbook/etc., that stated that women tend to get more migraines when the temperature rises a significant amount. I can't say that that is going on right now, but it may be a trigger for the other 90% of the year here!!! Best wishes on a once-and-for-all diagnosis