Ask:
Severe Head Pain for 40+ days?
Hi,
On Christmas Day I was suddenly hit with a head pain that my husband had to help me to a chair ..I was holding my head i could not scream the pain was bad!!! But then my left arm had a shooting pain that made me unable to use my hand was like paralized.My husband called the EMS i spent 2 days there.
my CT nothing,MRI nothing ,spinal tap clear...So i was sent home after two days of shots around the clock for pain .No appts no meds and I thought it was all over ,but it hit me very hard worse than the 1st time 2 days later so my husband called the neurologist that took care of me in the hospital and he put me on Topamax it just got worse and he just increased the topamax ..100mgs twice a day .
I am 40 days with this head clamp on the back of my head,my forehead feels like my brain is swelling,the top of my head is a hammer pain,!!!!!Vain in my neck hurts ,sharp pain up my arm and my hand goes paralized.(Left side)...and he continues to tell us it takes time ,but I can not take anything to relieve the pain except sleep and that is 4-5 hrs. Can you help me ?
Answer:
Severe Head Pain for 40+ days?
Dr. Joshua,
It is a pleasure to my husband and I to have your detailed response !!!
I have had a great ordeal since my last post including going to my neurologist appt. and after my examination was admitted to the hospital (Cleveland Clinic) were I had an MRI of the head and neck, MRV and MRA.
My MRI showed mild disc bulging with sessile central protrusions C3-4 and C4-5 but canal and foramina are patent. At C5-6 there is a broad disk protrusion with eccentric comonent to the right causing moderate to sever cord flattening greater to the right of the midline. Severe narrowing of the entrance to the right neural foraman. Broad but slightly less severe disc protusion C6-C7 with mild to moderate cord flattening greater to the left of midline and moderate to severe narrowing of the entrance to the left neural foraman. Very subtle grade I anterolisthesis C7 on T1. Mild left foraminal stenosis at this level. Canal and neural foramina patent at remaining upper thoracic levels. All other MRI tests were normal.
I also had a complete blood workup. Everything looked OK except my red blood count was below the low threshold (4.2) at 3.88 Hemoglobin was also below the low threshold (12) at 11.8 as well as hematocrit (37) at 35.8 Glucose was high at 170 and Creatinine was below normal level (.7) at .6 Tests reflecting inflammation were normal.
I was released from the hospital with a diagnosis of the problems in by cervical spine (because of the MRI) and "New Daily Persistant Headache". My doctor does not beleve the spine problems are the reason for my headache but contributes to my weakness and pain in my left arm.
I have follow-up appointments with a cervical spine specialist to discuss surgery options on my spine. I also have follow-ups with my neurologist and a head pain neurologist specialist.
I was prescribed Indomethacin (75 mg) twice a day for pain. Prevacid (30 mg) to take along with the pain medication. He also prescribed Quetiapine (25 mg) at bedtime to help me sleep better.
I don't feel any better. What is your take on the results I have listed above.
I appreciate your response.
thank you very much,
Patty