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I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia/TMJ. I have been able to manage it using the many kinds of therapies discussed here -- I exercise, do yoga, have great energy - never really feel fatigued (fatigue has never been a problem anyway). However, I get severe headaches that keep me from doing the things I used to (running, traveling, playing soccer, going away for weekend trips). They're worse than a tension headache, but not exactly a migraine either. I dont get an aura, light doesn't bother me, and I don't get any vision disturbances. They always start out as a contracted muscle in my neck (or muscles). It feels as if the muscles are contracting as tight as banjo strings and are twisting the bones in my neck (my physical therapist said this is happening - she showed me a corrective measure, which helps rarely). I get these contraction pains in my neck, but something precipitates it into a severe headache. The pain becomes a burning pain, as if every muscle in my head and neck is spasming at a micro level. My muscles feel ropey and tight. This pain is the worst pain I've ever had. Burning, contracting, pain. I have to go to bed. If I try to get up, I get nauseous and have to lay back down. Sometimes I throw up. My legs get really wobbly and I can't walk straight. I get horrible diarrea. The pain never gets better until the next day. I've tried all the pain killers and nothing -- not even narcotics help. Massage doesn't help. Ice/heat doesn't help. The only precipitating factors I've been able to identify: exercising any part of my upper body (I can walk fast for 50 min. without any effect, but if I do anything strenuous with my arms or shoulders I get these headaches), the day before my period, and when I'm under extreme stress.
Has anyone had this kind of headache? I've been to the emergency room twice and they had NO idea what it was. My doctor has no idea. Anyone have any ideas? My life would be great if I could at least find something that would help with the pain when it happens. The only thing I can say that has helped, and this is more confusing, is a coca cola. Perhaps its the caffeine, but it lessens the severity of the pain sometimes. I thought maybe you all might know something about this. Thanks so much for your thoughts.
In Reply to: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? posted by Susan on November 22, 2000 at 14:44:42:
Hi Susan,
Sounds like a Cervicogenic headache. There is a recently identified nerve plexus in the upper part of the neck. When this is irritated, all the symptoms you outlined can manifest themselves.
Chiropractic treatment to this area can be extemely effective in eliminating these types of headaches.
Good Luck,
Doc Kim
In Reply to: Re: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is?---Cervicogenic headache posted by Doc Kim on November 22, 2000 at 14:56:09:
Wow. It has a name! Thanks so much. I've done a lot of reading on it ever since you sent your response, and I'm wondering if I should get an MRI or something else to see if I have a disk problem (in my neck). I've had chiropractic before and I didn't get relief from the headaches, but maybe they weren't doing the correct manipulation. Any suggestions on the type of doctor I should see, what type of test I should get to see if there's been any joint damage? I've been to so many doctors and nothing seems to help. But I've never had a neck xray, MRI or anything. When I get the headache, it does feel as if a joint is out of place. Thanks so much for letting me know what it's called. This is a revelation.
In Reply to: Re: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is?---Cervicogenic headache posted by Doc Kim on November 22, 2000 at 14:56:09:
Wow. It has a name! Thanks so much. I've done a lot of reading on it ever since you sent your response, and I'm wondering if I should get an MRI or something else to see if I have a disk problem (in my neck). I've had chiropractic before and I didn't get relief from the headaches, but maybe they weren't doing the correct manipulation. Any suggestions on the type of doctor I should see, what type of test I should get to see if there's been any joint damage? I've been to so many doctors and nothing seems to help. But I've never had a neck xray, MRI or anything. When I get the headache, it does feel as if a joint is out of place. Thanks so much for letting me know what it's called. This is a revelation.
In Reply to: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? posted by Susan on November 22, 2000 at 14:44:42:
Susan, Doc Kim is absolutly right. I had these headaches for several years before I found a chiropractor that could help me. I would almost bet if he will adjust c-1 & c-2 the headache will disappear instantly. Wish you luck Dave
In Reply to: Re: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? posted by Dave on November 22, 2000 at 22:28:14:
Hi,Susan
Listen to Doc Kim, as my chiropractor has been having to adjust as Dave mentioned, the C-1 C-2 area for the past couple of weeks. Prior to each adjustment, I'd been on the verge of getting one of those headaches that nothing seems to help and stress only aggravated the situation. I'm happy to advise that I'm feeling very well at the moment with no pain in that area of my meck or head.:-)
I changed chiropractors due to information Doc Kim gave me a little while ago. Wish I'd have listened to him sooner.
Hope you feel better
Take Care Of Yourself
Paulette
In Reply to: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? posted by Susan on November 22, 2000 at 14:44:42:
I suffered for many years with this. A good chiro is heaven sent. A bad chiro is dangerous. I notice you speak of arm movement aggravating it? Do you spend long hours on a keyboard? Does this aggravate it. If you do, it might be necessary to curtail that. Elevate your monitor so you look squarely at it. There are a few very good voice activated programs for computers out there. But with a problem as severe as yours you should not continue chiropractics without an MRI evaluation. I learned the hard way.
In Reply to: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? posted by Susan on November 22, 2000 at 14:44:42:
Hi, Susan.
ANY professional, with a modicum of training, could make this diagnosis with her eyes shut. This is a typical muscle tension headache caused by severe bracing. The only thing that causes fibromyalgia or TMJ is bracing as well.
Go to the glossary about any unfamiliar terms and use the search engine and archives until you understand this process thoroughly. Read about bracing , SR, Rolfing, massage series and stress-effect.
THEN, if you still have questions, write again. You are going to have to understand this process (apparently) a lot better than your docs--->not too tough.
As you get back in control of your life, please share your experiences with the BB so others can benefit from your learning.
Walt
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is?---Cervicogenic headache posted by Doc Kim on November 22, 2000 at 14:56:09:
Right on, Doc Kim!
I hope she realizes that we are in complete agreement.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Namaste`
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? (Elememtary, My dear Watson!) (Archive in headache.) posted by Walt Stoll on November 24, 2000 at 07:44:25:
Hi Susan,
Walt is absolutly correct(he is so good, isn't he!). Cervicogenic means "comes from the neck". However, it is the bracing that is the ultimate cause of the problem. Cervical adjustments can relieve the headaches but, until you deal with the bracing, you will be just taping over the warning lights.
Doc Kim
In Reply to: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? posted by Susan on November 22, 2000 at 14:44:42:
Thank you very much for your help. I can't tell you how many doctors had no idea what type of headache this is - how many times it was dismissed. I agree it seems so simple now. I'll read up again on bracing and SR, etc. Thanks so much for your help, and I will post again with results.
In Reply to: Re: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? (Elememtary, My dear Watson!) (Archive in headache.) posted by Doc Kim on November 24, 2000 at 10:09:28:
I believe I have read on this post that you claim to be a chiropractor, do you get paid to answer quetions here, and how can we find out IF YOU TRULY are an MD?
In Reply to: Re: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is?---Cervicogenic headache posted by Doc Kim on November 22, 2000 at 14:56:09:
Just found out about a recently discovered bunchof ganglia in the duodenum or something, in the dig. tract, bigger than the nerv endings in spineal columns. Like to read about your new ganglias, too Appreciate you help!
In Reply to: Be very careful with a chiro.... posted by Diana on November 22, 2000 at 23:50:14:
Would you be willing to talk about your bad experience with the chiro? I'm a little nervous about someone messing with my neck. It seems a little tricky. What happened with the bad chiropractor?
In Reply to: Re: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? (Elememtary, My dear Watson!) (Archive in headache.)'DOC ' Kim posted by Bridget on November 24, 2000 at 17:52:05:
Hi Bridget,
I am a D.C. not an M.D.. Like everyone else on this board, I participate only out of a desire to share my knowledge (such that it is) with others. There is no monetary compensation.
Doc Kim
In Reply to: Re: Diana -- question about bad chiropractor posted by Susan on November 24, 2000 at 20:03:34:
I learned from an MRI that I have three bulging disks in my neck. The most painful being the "superman" disk at the base of my neck. The MRI also shows that my spinal column is being compressed in the "superman" area. Unfortunately I kept going to chiro before I got the MRI. I am lucky, none of the disks ruptured but I was in really bad pain from the added swelling. The thing was that I did get relief from the headaches but I think that with my neck being in so bad a shape...putting it in place in one area added to the stress on another..My shoulder swelled up on one side so bad it almost looked like a hunch back...After the MRI the chiro wouldn't hardly touch my neck...scared him good. So I switched chiros and found a great one who had the nerve to try, but he slipped one day and set me back a lot. Haven't been back. I have the option for surgery or therapy...tried therapy for a few weeks and got shingles down both arms...I bought a little neck traction thing that you throw over the door and add weight to on the other side...am trying to get the nerve to use that. They tried putting two different collars on me but I can't stand the pain of the collars. I have an appointment to go back to the doctor..probably going to talk to a surgeon. They are doing great things these days with surgery but nothing is guaranteed and it is a last ditch resort. Has about an 80% success rate some say...some say less than that...They are able to take a piece of bone from elsewhere in your body and put in a wedge...course don't know if that type of surgery can help me...will have to wait and see. good luck...but if you have that much pain...please get an MRI to be on the safe side.
In Reply to: Re: Diana -- question about bad chiropractor posted by Diana on November 25, 2000 at 01:26:55:
Diana, My wife had the surgery on her neck 5 years ago. They fused 3 vertebra or removed 2 disc however you want to say it. But she had no choice they were totally calcified.They take bone from your hip to make the wedges. You really had bad luck with your chiro. I have a chiro that we are so luckly to have in my area. He does not twist your neck to adjust it.He told me do not go back to any chiro that twists your next to adjust it.I have three bulging disc in my neck one real bad, My neusurgeon that I went to told me a bulging disc means nothing.There are people walking all over town with bulging disc and do not know it. When he told me that it made me mad as hell. I told him that was because he did not have any. This doc by the way gets and works on most all professional sport figures with neck injuries in a large area of the state. I had a lot of the problems you were describing shoulder about to burst. He told me I could go on pain management (which I knew was no good)plan or ice plan. I found putting ice on it worked wonders. He told me if ice helps and heat makes pain worst it is a disc problem if heat helps and ice makes it worst it is a muscle problem. I have found this to really work. I am now about 98% pain free after 2 years and I went with my chiro advice on solution. Ice, light stretching exercises, and you must find a rolfer or deep massage therapest. This really put me back on my feet for this problem. Just thought I would give a good side to chiro.They are just like any other profession you have some good and some with just signs in the street. Good luck and wish you the best. Dave
In Reply to: Can anyone identify what type of headache this is? posted by Susan on November 22, 2000 at 14:44:42:
I am working on SR, massages, etc., but I am concernced that thee might be a disk problem in my neck, something askew in my neck/spine. Before I start looking into chiropractors in Seattle (know of any good ones here?), should I actually get an MRI done before (as Diana suggested?) What other diagnostic test would be helpful, to see what disk/spine problems I may have, or shortening of muscles? I want to know so that I can ask my doctor to get them done before I get my neck adjusted. Thanks again.
In Reply to: Re: Doc Kim or Wal Stoll - what tests do you suggest? Good chiros? posted by Susan on November 27, 2000 at 13:49:20:
NMI
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