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Cervicogenic Headache/constant migraine

Posted , 4 users are following.

joanneb46
joanneb46

Hi

I am new here and hoping to talk to others who suffer like me. I have had chronic almost daily headaches for the past 6/7 years. I have been to my GP and was referred to a neurologist who mainly just tried to medicate me. I have had amitriptyline, propananol and topamax none of which eased the headaches but just gave me awful side effects. I was prescribed sumitriptan for pain relief and it's the only thing that relieves the headaches but I am becoming more and more reliant on them. I tried to help myself and after attending chiropractors and an osteopath who confirmed my neck muscles are really tight and I realised I always have a tender/sore neck I then connected this to my office job where I have spent years slumped over a desk.

I then to my joy discovered a headache clinic here in Belfast where I live who specialise in headaches. I seen a therapist here who confirmed I suffer cervicogenic headaches which are coming from my neck she described the muscles in my neck as being like a rope they are so tight. The therapist performs manoeuvres on the neck vertebrae to loosen up and help. Unfortunately this treatment takes months to help and isn't cheap. I started off having 1/2 sessions a week but still don't have a big amount of relief. I am now in a situation where I can only afford one session once a month and this isn't enough to help. I am suffering badly at the minute I have had headaches every day for past week I feel my neck so stiff and tight. I have had to take sumitriptan every day which isn't good at all.

I am so worried what to do now, who to turn to what next. I seem to have exhausted most things and feel I no longer have any quality of life as I am in constant pain and always exhausted.

Does anyone else out there suffer these? And can offer any hope/ advice/help??

I am really at the end of my tether.

Thanks

Joanne

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • jude62
    jude62 joanneb46

    Posted

    Dear Joanne

    Hello, my name is Jude, I sooo sympathise with you and I can understand why you are at the end of your tether. I had very similar symptoms as your good self, I agree, it's a nightmare to be going through.

    I also was put on amitripyline and propranalol and found the same as you that the side effects were horrible. After not having much luck with these and the side effects were quite depressing. I then went to see a wonderful chiropractor who suggested that he thought I had cervicogenic headaches, my doctor then kindly referred me to a neurologist and he then referred me to hospital where I had an anaesthetic injection in the top of my neck, there is a 60% success rate with this treatment but unfortunately it did nothing for me. I was then allowed to go to the next step which is a botox treatment where you have 32 injections around your face, head and neck, there is a 33% success rate with this treatment . This has been much more helpful and I have had quite a good result from this. I think you have to jump through so many hoops before they give you the treatment. If you would like to chat more, let me know.

    I live in Devon, so we're not so far apart and I would be very happy to chat again if you would like.

    Stay strong

    Jude 

  • elizabeth142
    elizabeth142 joanneb46

    Posted

    Wow!

    It dounds like what I get!

    I've been doing Pilates and have just joined up with a gp referral to my local leisure centre. You must go exercises keep your body moving to lessen your pain.

    That's the only way I'm afraid.

    I've got scoliosis and sacrolitis and that's what I suffer with too.

    I've had trouble with my eyes recently aswell left pupil went bigger than my right one! Off I went to the eye hospital. They said it was all okay thank god!

    But I have gp referral to neurology at Charing Cross hospital. I have been doing Pilates and it does help.

    What do you think about the idea of joining a gym leisure centre where you can do exercise to help your body.

    All the best

    Liz😊

    • joanneb46
      joanneb46 elizabeth142

      Posted

      Hi Elizabeth

      I have been looking up stretching exercises I am going to try and have thought about yoga/Pilates

      Thanks

  • rob16059
    rob16059 joanneb46

    Posted

    The only thing that I can share is that my son who is now 26 have had headaches for 3 years, turned out that since we omitted to have his wisdom teeth taken out when he was a teen they became impacted and damaged nerves/muscles etc.... We had those taken out a couple of years ago and have seen many doctors to make sure it was not something more serious like a brain tumor. Things are slowly getting better, there is mild TMJ but that is getting better as well, and just rest and low tension are helping a lot. We think we identified the cause, so the treatment is to do theraputic mouth and jaw exercises, take Gralisse at night, and slowly improve.
    • rob16059
      rob16059 joanneb46

      Posted

      Gralisse is the prescription name of the slow-release form of gabapentin, and the latter is a medication taken by epilepsy patients, but although my son doesn't have epilepsy the medication is being given to him because it reduces anxiety at night and allows him to sleep better, this is part of how his stress is getting reduced. It may not be for everyone, but ask your doctor about it.

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