[victoria_R]

Hello everyone! my name is Victoria and I am from/currently live in Philly. I am 27 and have been dealing with an undiagnosed neuro problem for the past 2 years. You all seem to have a combined knowledge on these things so I hope you don't mind the barrage of info and questions. As fellow sufferers, I'm sure you can also understand the extreme frustration and despair that comes from constant pain and no answers.

OK...so here goes;
About 3 years ago I started suffering from intense and debilitating head pain. At the same time, I was having joint pain that was sever to the point of not being able to hold my coffee cup. It was in my hands, hips, and knees. I was working a very stressful and physically demanding job. I was fired for not being able to do the job, and my joint pain went away so we all assumed it was stress. I did not and still don't have health insurance so I am guilty of letting things go farther than they probably should. anyways, the head pain did not go away. I also noticed a dime sized hard, unmoving lump on the back of my head. For a year and a half, the pain got worse and more frequent. I also started touching my head everyday - eventually more lumps appeared. Currently there are 6 of them - all hard and unmoving...sometimes they get more pronounced. So, cut to a year ago and I went to a doctor that has low fees for people without insurance. He did a base checkup and noticed that my reflexes were strange - hyperreflexia as he called it. That with the pain and lumps and he sent me to a neuro. I went to one affiliated with Cooper Hospital because they were the cheapest. I saw her three times. The first time she ordered blood and an MRI. Now, I don't know if this is sop but on the 2nd visit, she didn't even look at the MRI - she read the radiologists report which said all clear. She gave me a script for neurontin and a nerve blocker in my head for occipital neuralgia. I went back, told her neither did anything and that I was experiencing balance and vision issues (seeing black spots, double vision, and they shake) and all she did was double the neurontin and schedule a new appt. Needless to say I am not seeing her again. That was quite a few months ago and things are getting worse. Symptoms are; near constant pain in my head of all different kinds...small areas that pulse in intensity, stabbing in the back of my head, dull building pain all over. I get very dizzy, I am not sleeping, I have balance issues, noises and the slightest touch (if someone put their hand on my shoulder) makes me jump, my legs and arms feel like the muscles contract and twitch, I am dropping things, my hands shake and I still have the vision problems. Also, I am having crazy mood swings - it changes ten times a day like a light switch going off. I don't have any family...it is just me and you know, I'm scared. I am really unable to work, but I have to to try and see these doctors. I have an appt here in Philly with a u Penn neuro but the receptionist said it's at least 400! oy vey....so basically, does anyone have any ideas or does this seem similar to anything you've seen or are going through? also, what's with the MRI? Can it miss things? and why didn't she even bother to read it?

I am sorry this is so crazy long and rambling! i'm just so nervous and scared and in the dark. thank you for reading this and any responses. I wish you all the best!

-V