[AJBsMom]

Two weeks ago I got a bad headache. I have done everything I know of to do for it and it just won't let up.
Ice ~ Heat ~ Tens ~ Ibuprofen ~ Tylenol ~ Excedrin ~ Caffeine ~ Massage ~ Chiropractic adjustments ~ muscle relaxers ~ pain pills ~ anti anxiety pills ~ kenalog injections in neck muscles ~ physical therapy.

A bit over a year ago I was in a fender bender and hit my head (behind and slightly lower than my ear) on the door post. It was considered a "minor" accident and the paramedics said since the air bags didn't go off I should be fine. I was dizzy and nauseous with blurry vision so I went to the ER. They said I was fine, and it would go away. I saw my chiropractor, had massages and waited for several months but it just wasn't getting better. I saw a chiropractic neurologist and he gave me some simple exercises to do that helped. I wasn't dizzy any more. But I still had a lot of neck pain and got headaches very easily. So I continued having massage because it helped in the short term and eventually asked for a PT referral since the neck pain wasn't better. I attended 3 PT sessions when this headache started.

It started like they have before with a dull throbbing in the left lower occipital area. But this one is not responding to anything and feels different. The pain goes up the top and around the side of my head (following the occipital nerve). My jaw hurts, I feel pressure in my ear like an ear infection, I have decreased range of motion in my neck, and I feel like my eyelid is drooping (even though the mirror shows it is not). This is all on the left side only. I have trouble sleeping and the pain frequently wakes me up. Bright lights bother me, turning my head quickly or looking to the left is difficult and makes me nauseous. Now I am starting to have difficulty focusing and feel like my responses are slowed down. But I don't know if this is from the pain, the lack of sleep, a bigger problem, or being nervous about what is causing all of this.

The urgent care doctor said I had a migraine and prescribed hydrocodone. My PCP said I had a spasm in my neck and injected kenalog. My chiropractic neurologist said I had a occipital neuralgia and a displaced occipital condyle and did some neck adjustments and gave me astaxanthin.

Any idea what this could be? Is it serious or just annoying? How long is too long to wait for it to go away? Any suggestions appreciated

[Kitt]

Welcome AJBsMom.

Someone will be along to help you.

[razzle51]

I would have a Mri just to be sure ... could be Chiari Malormation