Hello All,

I am new to the forum. About 7 months ago I sustained a concussion from a soccer ball to the head. I was hit on the right temporal lobe and knocked to the ground. I was not unconscious but was confused. All of the dizziness, nausea, vertigo symptoms have gone away. At one time I had this pain that would go from the back of my head to my forehead. It was the most intense pain I have ever felt. I was unable to sleep! Eventually the "pain" went away. Now I am dealing with this "throbbing" sound that prevents me from sleeping. I have it on BOTH sides of my heads and feel it when I am on my back as well.

I have been to the neuro who said it is not migraines. He prescribed Elavil. It does not help with the throbbing but helps me get to sleep. I have had to withdraw from college because of this throbbing that keeps me from sleeping!

It's like I can hear the throbbing of my heartbeat in both ears. Has anyone experienced this? Is it occiptial neuralgia? I have been referred to a pain clinic for potential nerve blocks. I am only 20 years old and want my life back! I've tried almost all pain medications, migraine meds, physio, massage, and chiropractor to no avail. Help!

Carmell

Carmell, I have ON and I also get the throbbing at the base of my skull, both sides. The neurosurgeon I saw told me that it was "occipital neuralgia" but I was kind of taken aback by his words and I didn't think to ask him anything more about it. I have other cervical issues and no doctor has told me any different so I gather that its part of ON, but I'm no expert here. I get the burning and shooting nerve pain in the neck, base of the skull, scalp, and the forehead. I also get hypersensitivity in the scalp and some days just my hair moving is enough to aggravate it. I hope this description makes some sense to you. Take care

I've never heard anyone complain of a throbbing sound with occipital neuralgia (ON,) though I can't say whether it can be ruled out. The intense shooting pain you described is one of the most common symptoms of ON (as someone who has suffered from this for the past 18 years, I can sympathise with you.)

As far as the throbbing sound, did it develop at the same time as the stabbing pains? Is the sound in both ears, and was your shooting pain on both sides of the head? It seems to me quite likely that the sounds are not due to ON, but rather are another complication of the injury you received. No matter what, if the Elavil (amitriptyline) isnt working, ask your doctor about Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) or Cymbalta (duloxetine.) I've tried well over 50 meds (I stopped counting about ten years ago,) and have been on Elavil, and the side-effects were worse than the very little help it provided. I wish you well.

One year ago I had surgery for a bone spur that was beginning to pierce my spinal cord at c5/c6 level...they removed the spur and gave me a fusion....two weeks prior to surgery I developed a constant occipital headache...off the charts in pain....vomiting....couldn't sleep....kept ice on my head constantly...after surgery the headache never let up for 14 weeks...I cried constantly....I lived on Vicodin to keep ot at a level 8 instead of a 10....it also causes recurrent blindness in my left eye...what finally stopped it was a steroid wash into the area by a pain specialist...2days afterward...it was gone....it comes back sometimes once or twice a week...but I take a norco and it wipes mot out....since the headaches have calmed down....I have the pulsating sound in my ears...mine reminds me of the sound of cicadas...sort of a high pitch electronic pulsing...it does follow my heartbeat.

As I posted above, I get the pulsating, throbbing headache/pain at the base of my skull. It is in tune with my heartbeat as well. I'm grateful for the validation I get hearing from others who also experience it.

Thanks for this guys. I have a feeling it is to do with some neck trauma I experienced during the hit. The muscle maybe formed some scar tissue around the nerves so I get some throbbing of the blood vessel around the nerve (I THINK).

Hi I've just had a first rib excision op 2 weeks ago for Vascular TOS. Unfortunately issue is not over with as my left side needs the same procedure. I have some C3 & C4 facet joint sclerosis but apparently my symptoms did not originate from my C-spine. Just to let you know that prior to being given this diagnoses I too experienced occipital headaches and dizziness,pulsing sounds in my ears, along with heavy/fatigued arms, Raynauds etc etc . My GPs initially dismissed as me possibly suffering from ANXIETY because they couldn't pick up on anything that they did!!!!! It was only when I continued to go to my GP with my symptoms that he referred me for PT at my local hospital (5 years of symptoms before doing so)!!!!!! ...... Thank goodness that it was the therapist treating me there who picked up on a possible vascular problem. She got me to do the ROO'S and ADSON'S tests. Both hands turned white and loss or radial pulse in various positions. I was then referred to a vascular surgeon who did various tests including an angiography.... discovering occlusive disease. What I'm trying to say is that nobody knows your body better than YOU! If you still don't feel right, see if any other tests can be done to rule out other contributing factors like TOS?????????? Hope this is useful? Out of curiosity... Have you ever experienced Scintillating Scotoma ( like a crazy "trippy" wavy light show in your vision ), I had it 3 times plus a muscle spasm which still occurs in the opposite eye? I have no idea if this is related in anyway? Best of luck to you all out there. S

Hi Carmell, I am new to the forum but I wanted to let you know that I have occipital neuroglia and i DO hear my hear beat in my ear (it never stops) and feel it down my neck. Not all people follow the text book symptoms. I am going into to the doctors next thurs Jan 12 to talk about different options. I do take gabapentin thats helps but is not a cure.


don't give up there is many options out there

Terri