Head Pains
I have been having short stabbing head pains that typically last 15-20 sec. (sometimes as long as 25-30 sec). They started on May 19th of which there was just one a day, a week later there were two a day, and now they are up to one every two hours. The Drs. put me on indomethacin, no help, then they put me on Propranolol, again no help.
On June 1st I started also getting episodes where I would get light headed and get numbness in my arms and sometimes in my arms and legs. This lasted 3-5 minutes and was not at the same time as the head pains (in between)
On June 2nd I started getting pressure feelings in my head. Again not at the same time as the head pains but inbetween.
June 6th the pain started to be in my head or in my spine ...still every 2 hours.
CAT scan came back normal
MRI was abnormal - Family Dr. said possible Vasculitus (sp) or MS. However I then saw a nuerologist who just said that was wrong, he said these are just common ice pick headaches. He put me on Trilomax (which has given me more numbness in my arms and more pressure in my head, and since I've only been on it a couple days it has not stopped the pains)
I really don't think these are just headaches. They are stabbing pains. I get them while I drive, while I'm sitting, standing, sleeping, all day long. I'm starting to get worried because they have been happening for over a month now. Until now I have not been under stress or been worrying but I just feel like nothing is being done.
Do you think this is just a headache or do you think it might be something more serious?
I hope you can help me! I will look forward to your reply.
Nikki
Answers:
It would be good to get a neuroradiologist's report on the MRI. If the MRI is truly showing abnormal findings, the significance of those findings should be evaluated. If the first MRI interpretation was wrong and the MRI is normal, it'll be a good situation to start finding a remedy for these headaches. Lightheadedness and arm/leg numbness could result from stress but can in some cases be a sign of a neurological illness.
Ice pick headache often affects the region of the eye and forehead, up to and slightly behind the hairline. This may be a type of trigeminal neuralgia in some cases. Are there any activities or events that provoke the pain? Such as brushing the teeth, combing hair, eating, cold air, etc?
A thorough history and a physical examination is absolutely necessary here. Talk to your neurologist if the problem persists.Thanks so much for your reply.
There is nothing that triggers the pains and they occure through out different parts of my head, and a few times in my spine now as well. The first one of the day may be in the front right and the next may be the back left, then the back right, etc, no pattern what so ever. I could be sitting, standing, laying down, even sleeping when they occur.
I do have an update.... I called my family doctor and told him that the neurologists did nothing and that since he was the only other one to see the MRI I wanted his opinion of what to do. I think he was a little shocked that the Dr. did not do much, in fact he told me to get a second opinion and he had the office make the appt (asap to get me in faster then I would have been able to do it) So I have an appt with a different neurologists this Wednesdays. I'll let you know how that one goes. I'm sick of these head pains!UPDATE
I saw another neurologist in order to get a second opinion. He called for a spinal tap and some additional blood work.
Also I have a copy of my results. Here is exactly what they say.....
FINDINGS: The ventricles are normal in size and configuration. There is no shift of midline structures. There are at least 30 focal small areas of abnormal increased signal within the periventricular white matter. ICAs are symmetric. Chronic right globe deformity noted. Visualized paranasal sinuses are clear. Meckel's cave is symmetric. FLAIR sagittal images were obtained which show no definite corpus callosal or upper cervical spine lesion. Diffusion weighted images show no definite acute area of infarct. The pituitary gland is within normal limits for the patient's age. Cerebellar tonsils show a normal location.
IMPRESSION:
1. At least 30 small foci of abnormal increased signal throughout the periventricular white matter greatest in the posterior parietal region. Findings are most concerning for MS in this 21-year old patient. Other etiology such as vasculitis would be an additional consideration. Clinical correlation requested.
2. Chronic deformity of the right globe noted.
I still do not have a diagnosis and my symptoms are still present... any ideas? I will update again after I receive my results. I really want to find out what is wrong.Thanks for the update. I'm happy that you are now in the care of a neurologist and proper examinations are being done. Keep us posted!My headpains had significantly reduced down to once or twice a day yet I had already scheduled the spinal tap so I went ahead and did it, just in case.
Halfway through the spinal tap my right hand started shaking. The Dr. was almost done so he went ahead and finished up. During recovery my right hand continued to shake, then my left, then my legs. My whole body was twitching, the next thing I know it is the day after (Tuesday) and it is almost night time, then the next thing I remember after that is that it was Wednesday morning. My fiance who was with me said that I first was taken to ER and then admitted. I was told that on Monday I had about 10 seizures and on Tuesday I had 6/7 seizures, I did not have any on Wednesday, and had 2 on Thursday, and 2 on Friday. I was released from the hospital on Saturday morning (6 days later) of which I only had one more on Saturday night. The doctors call me a medical mystery of which I agree! I currently am on Dilantin but am going to be switching over to keppra next week, since I have a lot of side effects from Dilantin.
Anyway, my question for you is do you have any guesses on what caused the seizures? They did 12 blood tests, and an EEG and everything came back normal. Do you think the Dr. that did the spinal tap messed up, or is that not possible? The doctors told me that was not the case but I am not sure if they would tell me or not since it is their career on the line. I am 21 years old and have never had a seizure in my life until this month. I have tried searching the net but have found nothing. What are some typical causes for a late onset of seizures?
Oh and also, the head pains have reduced down to just 1 every couple of days which is great...could these head pains have somehow been the cause for the seizures? I only ask this because they are now gone and now I have the seizures!
Thank you in advance for your reply!
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