Wow, you guys, I know how bad this can get. As I have said many times before; dealt with it for a LONG time. Anyway, yep, the C2/C3 has nerves that go up and in and out of the ON muscles. It gets involved...I know. I never did have an RF because I needed a fusion anyway. But I have had one for the lumbar. It does take time. And as my PM always says...the neck is a FAR different ballgame than the lumbar. You're right...anything going on with cervical spine, nerves, etc., is, to me, far worse since it is such a tightly congested space or rather spaces. Who was it that called ON the suicide headache? Boy, if that isn't the truth. I don't know how many times people insisted it was a migraine. That used to make me so mad. NO! These pains are NOT migraine pains. Although the PM I had at the time said I had "Cervicogenic headaches WITH Variant Migraines". No one needs two types going on at once and this was for 3 years. Anyway, I think it is just plain difficult to explain what it REALLY feels like. We all look fine on the outside but if people could feel the zaps and zings and the constant non-stop vise-like pressure, they would know that these types of headaches are NOT migraines. All I can say is that at its worst I wanted someone to take my head off! You guys are making me remember things. One time the pain was so bad my pupils were fixed and dilated. I know, that means near death right? But that is precisely what the paramedics told me when they came and got me from work. They rushed like mad to get me to the ER. I had asked that I go to the hospital I normally would go to and they said...no way! And this wasn't caused from the meds. I took my usual dose that morning. I am just saying...the pain was so severe. Now, they could have been wrong about the pupils as everyone has told me that just couldn't be. I am just reiterating what "they" said.

Oh, and forgot...I had one of these headaches two days ago; all day and into the night. I KNEW it was the C2/C3 but there was nothing I had done that could have been a trigger. The ONLY thing I can think of was a bad front coming through; barometric pressure gets me every time. So, I upped the Vicodin a bit, nuked the back of my head in the tub and used ice. I also take Klonopin but am allowed to take Valium when it gets bad. I hoard the Valium for the bad times. Anyway, it was around 2:00 am before it finally went away.

Hang in there you guys. My heart goes out to anyone and everyone that has to deal with this on a daily basis. And I hope the RF's, meds or whatever it takes gives you guys some relief.

Kathi, I'm sorry my descriptions are bringing back old, painful memories. I don't usually take klonopin on a steady basis and I'm trying to see if I can make it through the day without it today so cross your fingers. I know it will take time to tell if its successful and I do have a cervical disc issue, along with several other things going. The calf muscle hasn't had a single spasm since this was done so I'm watching it closely to see if there is any correlation to report back to the doctor. As for everything else, I'm still hanging by at least a couple of threads. I hate that the meds make me write so much, anyone else experience that??? Just curious

EEO3,

Oh, don't ever apologize! I am just saying...the ON is one hateful, miserable thing to have to deal with. And it IS difficult to describe what it really feels like. I used to try to tell people it sort of feels like one of those "ice cream" headaches; you know the ones that come on real quick after eating ice cream too fast. Only that it was ALWAYS in the back of my head. If I said that or something similar, then they kind of understood it. Oh, and the Klonopin was prescribed for "burning sensations" in my hands and feet. And, yep, went through all the testing for small fiber neuropathy. Long story short Neurologist now says Central Pain Syndrome or Central Sensitization. I don't think it came on from the surgeries themselves. I think it occured because the nerve roots were compressed for waaaaaaaay to long. But that is just my own theory. Plus, I was on every med under the sun; that changed to Xanax which worked wonderfully and now Klonopin. The good thing is...for the last 3 or 4 years I have stayed at the same dose.
Oh, and yes, I take Vicodin as well but only one sometimes two a day...it makes me real chatty. Can ya tell? LOL! Hang in there and I hope you can see some relief soon. I meet with my own NS next week because my arms are in a lot of pain. So, who knows? I am guessing the C6/C7 but let me see what he has to say.

Kathi, I just posted the results of the lumbar MRI in the spinal disorders thread. I'm really depressed now. More disc issues. I already have enough to deal with and now this! I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't stop talking on these stupid meds. I'm still at the same dose to although until this week, I wasn't taking them steadily. I'm beginning to feel like I'm literally falling apart. Too much gloom and doom here and I'm blaming the meds again. Do you also get brain zaps from klonopin? I do and its a trade off for me - lessen the burning pain and put up with brain zaps. And now a visit with a new NS. Just what I wanted in the new year, another doctor . Anyway, I'm gonna go bury my head in the sand...

Thanks guys for posting here. It's nice to get some convo going, even if the topic is something we'd all like to forget. So EE03, post away. I will keep reading!

Kathy, I loved your idea of telling people it'slike an ice cream headache at the back of your head. That is a REALLY good description and something everyone can relate to. I was the one saying it's called the suicide headache. When I have read things, that's how it's always described and I have to say, it's also pretty accuarate. I had a REALLY bad flare on Sunday night and I did want to just die it hurt so much. I managed to get through the night and by mid-day the next day it settled down some. I think that one was a "12" on the stupid pain chart.

Who came up with numbers anyway? Most women do not think in terms of numbers and I have a hard time describing my pain with numbers. I am creatively wired and would do much better describing the pain with words, instead of numbers. Usually I do and my pain specialist always says "Oh you're so discriptive!" I am guessing she doesn't have alot of patients like me! *laughs*

Anyway, I just thought I would toss my 2c in.

Okay, today my neck feels worse than it did a couple of days ago. I hope this is normal. I'm going to put some heat on it and see if that helps any. I'm still talking way too much, but if it helps me deal with this *#&$@&$^ then so be it. I did watch National Treasure 2 this past week. If anyone enjoyed the first one, you'll like the second, IMHO. Anyway, I was warned that the pain would be worse, I'm just amazed that it vascillates to such an extreme. Anyone else notice this??? Maybe I need to go back to a super soft, squishy pillow. PG, its hard for me to deal in numbers too, but most of the time, vivid discriptions escape me. I get so tired of trying to explain the pain of this conditon and TN to people, that now I usually just give up. Most people think that I look fine, so how can I deal with pain that bad. I'm sure you know the drill. Anyway, I'm still bummed out that I have more issues to deal with. That just bites.

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry it's getting worse instead of better. I know when I had mind done in November it was awfully painful and it seemed like forever till it just went back to the "normal" pain.

Hmm what I can I do? How about some movie recommendations? I don't know what your taste in movies is, but I will tell you some that are favourites: (Look them up on IMDB.com to get more info on story lines and actors.)

-7 years in Tibet (This is one of my all time favs!)

-The Wooley Boys (If you liked Second Hand Lions, you will love this one.)

-Snow Walker (beautiful story about a bush pilot and an Inuit woman, based on a Farley Mowatt story called Walk Well my Brother.)

-Meet Joe Black (Sir Anthony Hopikins is so beautifully elegant in this, I wish he was my dad.)

-A Prairie Home Companion (great music and I love Garrison Keillor!)

-Ironman (It's new and a great adventure.)

-October Sky (Coming of age story about a boy born and raised in a coal mining town who dreams of being an astronaut.)

-Apollo 13 (SO very cool!)

-Astronaut Farmer (Hilarious!)

Oh and the HOUSE series on dvd. I adore HOUSE.

As you can see, I am a movie nut. It's my fav thing to do, aside from reading. Anyway, I hope you can check some of these out. If you need more, I have more!

Thanks for the suggestions.
Also, I added my comments to your reply so I guess it's not your reply any more. I tried putting quote marks around your reply, sorry!

I'm in my second week and I'm still having problems. My head has been on fire and it's ultra sensitive. If I just touch it lightly, the pain increases incredibly. The entire area is still quite sore and I'm still having bad pain in the shoulder blade. So, I'm staying on klonopin since its dulling some of the burning, and I'm still waiting to see what the outcome is with both my fingers and toes crossed.

I know with this crappy cold weather things are just magnified
and I hope you can just relax in hot bath and get rid of some of the aches and stress.
I hope the "K-PIN" med is helping with the burning. I get that sensation in my lower lip and it really s**ks . maybe call doc or go to e.r. if it gets really bad.

Praying things get better for you quickly Ellena.

PEACE
BMW