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diagnosed with cervical spondylosis....terrible headache

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headache_spike
headache_spike

i have been signed off work for the last 7 weeks due to a horrific constant headache.After a mri scan last week iv been diagnosed with cervical spondylosis.I have read alot of the posted articles and dont have many of the sypmtoms described by many of you, (numbness and tingling), but have had a chronic headache. Thought to be tension headache initially by doctors i can only describe it as having a balloon blowing up in size under the top and front of my head whilst it being crushed in a vice.iv had very little concentration due to the pain and cannot hold a thought in my head.Obviously its been a horrible experience and i was convinced i had something very sinister going on.im waiting to see a specialist in 4 weeks and am just starting a course of diclofenic and consulting my physio tomorow.has anyone else had these type of symptoms prior to being diagnosed and has anything you done helped?many thanks for any reply

2 likes, 36 replies

36 Replies

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  • Shauno44
    Shauno44 headache_spike

    Posted

    I know the feeling spike ,feels like a cartoon head ,and I just want to put a pin in it and deflate it .i have had those amitrypilne ,and they don't do anything apart from make me feel on another planet,when I tell people all my symptoms ,they look at me as if I am making it up ,.keep well ,.i am now on 30 mill zopiclone ,and had my first night of uninterrupted sleep for about 6 months
  • pat98023
    pat98023 headache_spike

    Posted

    Hi Spike, as this post was over a year ago I dont suppose this will help but your symptoms sound very symilar to what happened to me,along with nose bleeds,

    have you been to the dentist? do see if there is any connection .

    Pat x

  • tracey64776
    tracey64776 headache_spike

    Posted

    hi there, i too get terrible headaches, in fact i have one now, i find using a tens machine on the back of my neck really helps, and i do agree it is very stressful and feels like its never going away, but trust me it does. hope ive been helpful withe the tens machine advice if i were you i would certainly give it a try, what have yoiu got to lose, hope you feel better soon, until then you have my deepest sympathy, all the very best love tracey x
    • Packer
      Packer tracey64776

      Posted

      Been using my tens unit for years. Love the results. I just didn't know my systems were from this. Miss diagnosed for way more than a decade. It explains why the headaches the lower back pain. It also explains why all of my other symptoms are happening with me. Told over the years itsfibromyalgia but that's not really the case there is something else going on besides that. Still learning and waiting for specialist.

  • christymcriv
    christymcriv headache_spike

    Posted

    OMG!!!! Im sorry for all of you but SO RELIEVED to be reading all this!!! (Not sure if this thread is even active.) I, too, have been suffering horribly and none of my doctors connected it to m,y CS diagnosed years ago. Only today as I once again woke at 2am due to the pain did I google any connection and here it is!  I am starting massages, tens machine, and will make an appt with a chiropractor for advice TODAY! Thank you all!!!!!
  • karen72654
    karen72654 headache_spike

    Posted

    Hi,

     I'm glad I found this forum. I was diagnosed with C/S a few years back and every night when I went to bed I suffered a stiff neck. It was manageable. Over the last month and half I have had a constant headache and thought at first it was sinus related. Went to ENT and checked out fine. Then I thought it may be due to my C/S although my stiff neck has subsided. I did a round of PT and did my exercises faithfully. I have cut back on them though. I am taking over the counter pain relievers but they are not strong enough. Any suggestions on where to go from here? I'm thinking of seeing a neurologist for the headaches.

    • Gareth926
      Gareth926 karen72654

      Posted

      Hi Karen

      I have had C/S for 11 years now and had it since i was 26, i have had every pain the goes with C/S and the only medication that will work is co-codamol 30/500 but this only take sthe edge off things. If you really want the pains to go away i would recommend surgery, i have had the surgery done (disc replacement and fusion) in feb 2016 and i can honestly say i have only had one headache since and the pain in the arms/legs have gone. I still need the meds thou as i also had my back fused at the same time, please dont worry about the surgery i have had no problems since and i suffered for 11 years previous.

      all the best

  • Benggo
    Benggo headache_spike

    Posted

    Hello Spike,

                        my greatest sympathies to you,i have had cs for four years now,and I only have neck pain and head pain;my great dread is that it gets worse,at times I feel really misrable with it and misrable is not me,usually I am cheerful and look on "the bright side of things"

       I had to beg/demand an xray and a scan was never offered me,and so I am on the "old faithful"co-codemol,i had phisio but had to put a stop to it as it made me feel worse.

      Anyhow,enough of me moaning and I hope you get a lot better as I do with anyone suffering with c.s.

    • karen72654
      karen72654 Benggo

      Posted

      Hi,

      i hear you! I had to persist with my doctors and he finally order a CT scan.you have to be right on top of them and if doesn't feel right, speak up.

      i have a question for anyone out there about the locations of my headaches. I have them above and behind my eyes and the bridge of my

      nose which gets very painful. I had a sinus xray and I do not have sinus disease but if feels like sinus headaches just due to the location. It is

      baffling to me where the pain shows up! Anyone else experience this??

    • marian55276
      marian55276 karen72654

      Posted

      I have had similar pain with my CS: headaches that start in the lower back of skull then proceed around front of my face above my eyes and behind my eyes! I've had this going on for 6 months! My eyes burn alot and I am restricted at times from Watching TV or phone ......I saw a neurologist who said I have a sprained neck ( orthopedic dr agrees) with moderate CS. But the neurologist said she though my eye pain was a separate issue. Not sure! Exercising and stretching help but stress increases my symptoms..... Thanks for mentioning about your eye pain! I feel comforted that someone else has experienced this. I use a covered ice pack for headaches and most warm heat on neck for tightness. Usually at night I find that very helpful. God bless everyone for better days ahead😇!

  • michelle52302
    michelle52302 headache_spike

    Posted

    I did have terrible headaches prior to being diagnosed. I will confess that I always chalked them up to terrible sleeping positions. Because I didn't know what was going on at the point and I was always tired by the time I got home, I would fall asleep on my recliner and wake up in the wee hours of the night.

  • RaynaMoon
    RaynaMoon headache_spike

    Posted

    I have had a curve which I was told was the start of scoliosis at age 16. Shortly after I was getting severe headaches and migraines. I was diagnosed a few days ago with mild cervical spondylosis(42 years old now). My neurologists could never find the cause of the migraines, but I think I have. I have been using a heating pad on my neck and upper back to try to alleviate some of the pain. Has anyone had any reliefs from the pain with other methods? I would rather not take pain meds if possible. I heard somewhere that using a tens unit on the ARE may help. Any suggestions would be great.
    • karen72654
      karen72654 RaynaMoon

      Posted

      Hi,

      i have cervical spondylosis and I have had constant headaches for the past 4 months. I use a muscle rub on my neck, I also have been trying a air cervical neck traction which I like. Also, heat, epson baths and neck exercises. the one thing that has helped the most is a muscle relaxer. I take a low dose at night and it helps me sleep. People tolerate them differently and I know you would rather not take pain meds. That is how I felt! I think the med relaxed my neck muscles which helped with my headaches. My neurologist said I had cervigonic headaches (caused by neck issues). I hope this helps and good luck! Sometimes its trying a number of things until you find ones that work for you.

  • nancy0902
    nancy0902 headache_spike

    Posted

    I think this is one of the best charts I have seen that shows which level A effects each part of your body I am going to post it for everyone to see! 
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