[Emma]

I've been in treatment for my migraines for quite a while, finally with Topamax I seem to make some sort of progress because my cervical issues are not as horrifying as they were 10 months ago, but this month I've been experiencing different things that I can't exactly label them as the migraines I first searched my neurologist for. It is painful alright, but not as painful as the aggravating pain that requires nerve block injections though.

There's this pressure in my head, I feel it on my right and left side. It's starting to drive me insane because I wake up with it and it stays for a long part of the day. But somedays it happens at night and it won't let me sleep at all. It's like someone is squishing my head apart, some days the pressure is not as bad, but some other days (like today) I just woke up in tears out of pain.

Also, one of the things that hurts today is behind my right eye. I'd get this pain along with my migraines when I used to get them (I was diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia) but today it's just the pressure in my head on the sides, and the sharp pain in my right eye.

I'm just trying to make sense out of this. I had a doctor's appointment last monday and we talked about his, he says I've got to cut my hair because he insists the pressure is my neck injury and the pressure in my head is something called cephalgia (sp?), like inflammation of blood vessels or whatever that I just need to relax (going through some though stressful situation right now), but my concern is that - I think I should be happy I am not getting full blown migraines because, God knows how they'd put me in ER when they were bad but, these things like the head pressure and the single eye pressure among other different things like sudden sharp pain and whatnot are things that I did not feel before either... Does this mean my nerve situation is getting worse or something?

I am just wondering because this is all new to me, a different kind of pain and it's becoming consistent now so, I just don't know what to make of it so far.

Am I worrying for nothing?

[Dr. Smith]

Hi Emma,

Originally Posted by Emma

Am I worrying for nothing?

Well... yes. I'm not saying that there is no reason for concern; how would I know -- I'm just some guy on the internet with no professional standing whatsoever.

What I do know is that worry -- of this kind -- serves no constructive or positive purpose. It never accomplishes anything but aggravating physical symptoms, psychological states, and creating more stress in a vicious downward cycle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worry

I don't know why your doctor would advise you to cut your hair unless it's long/heavy enough to put strain on your neck(?) He could be right about the symptoms being telegraphed from the cervical area -- the nervous system can respond in many strange and seemingly inexplicable ways. Many medical conditions don't just appear and remain static; we're living creatures, and whatever goes on in our bodies progresses just as life does, so the pressure may (and I'm guessing) just be a development of your cervical or migraine issues.

I think the important question is, do you believe and trust your doctor when he tells you these things?

Doc

[Emma]

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

Hi Emma,
I think the important question is, do you believe and trust your doctor when he tells you these things?

Doc

Absolutely. He knows my case, and more importantly he knows me.


I believe he says to cut my hair to release some stress from my neck because the pressure it's from my sides around ear level. I do have long/heavy hair.

I've had other unpleasant experiences, such as an airplane landing that left me absolutely sore for 3 days on my right side. Also elevators, some you can feel the pressure going up and it hurts too, same area.


But my concern is that there are no "triggers" with this, this is me randomly during the day getting dizzy with a massive head pressure that won't go away for hours, or waking up like this. It's sort of new to me.

I also know he doesn't want me to worry more than I do, so he just asks more than what he says lately in the appointments. I was just hoping to see if anyone else around here has experienced something like this at all.

[Peter B]

Have you considered neck nerve problems?
A pinched or compromised nerve in this are can result in a variety of pains, including yours.
Joints stiffen up with time, and restrict movement, inflammation sets in and it all becomes tight and under pressure.
Gentle loosening up of the cervical joints works wonders for me when I get similar problems.
Have you tried getting a physio to do this for you?

The other thing to consider after getting the joints back in good health is to get a massage for the shoulders, neck and back.

Muscle tension builds up and we get tight muscles everywhere, putting all sorts of strains on the body, and you need to get these back on track too.
Check your lifestyle and how you hold your neck.
Laptops are the prime problem here.

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Emma

Absolutely. He knows my case, and more importantly he knows me.

In that case, I would cooperate* with him. Don't be afraid to ask questions, especially "Why?" and reasons for his thinking. IME, the medical relationship works best when it's a cooperative effort, with the doctor listening and explaining, and the patient helping the doctor help them.

*I make a distinction between cooperate (a two-way street) and acquiesce (passive compliance). Authority figures frequently/like to use the word cooperate when they really mean acquiesce.

Doc