I would like to speak with others who suffer from cluster headaches and/or chronic pain in the thoracic section of the back. I am trying to find others who suffer back pain along with the headache.I have developed chronic pain in my back in the thoracic section between T3 and T5. The pain in the back mimics the cluster. It comes in stages, excruciating pain, disappears for anywhere from an hour to 12 hours, appears again. When I have the pain in the head, I never have the pain in the back. When I have the pain in the back I never have the pain in the head.
Hi I came across your post after googling my own symptoms. How are you doing?
I also have a t3-t4 disc herniation, head pressure/pain and neck pain. It seems like my pain moves around often from day to day. Some days it also becomes more “white hot” and other days pressure. My neuro thinks it is a form of migraine but it doesn’t respond well to anything. Sometimes I also get “spacey” during the episodes and yawn a lot. It’s the worst honestly…
Hi I came across your post after googling my own symptoms. How are you doing?
I also have a t3-t4 disc herniation, head pressure/pain and neck pain. It seems like my pain moves around often from day to day. Some days it also becomes more “white hot” and other days pressure. My neuro thinks it is a form of migraine but it doesn’t respond well to anything. Sometimes I also get “spacey” during the episodes and yawn a lot. It’s the worst honestly…
Hi, @slefman. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. If I understand correctly, you have similar symptoms to the original poster in this discussion, @chrisc8450, and you want to know how they are doing. Hoping chrisc8450 will return and talk about how they are doing now.
Glad you found Connect in your internet searching.
You mentioned your neurologist thought you might have a form of migraine with the pain and pressure you are experiencing. Did they say what kind of migraine they suspected? You said your symptoms do not respond well to anything. Did your neurologist prescribe you medication for the potential migraine?
I have been living with episodic cluster headaches for over 20 years. I have used everything a doctor can prescribe with little relief. I still have my Triptans (nasal) but I don't use them any more. I would research everything I say for yourself, I am no doctor. Saying that I will say this, at first sign of a cluster cycle I microdose Psilocybin Mushrooms, and follow up with another dose one week later. It breaks the entire cycle, not just one attack. I did this for the first time four years ago and it stopped the cycle in one attack, and I experienced the longest remission period (four years) in over 20 years. I again last week took a single dose and it stopped the cycle completely. ClusterBuster.com is a great resource. I pray this helps at least one other person get rid of the living hell that we deal with.
I have chronic migraine and probable cluster headache that is doing very poorly in the last year or so but especially the last several weeks. I also have lots of degenerative changes in my C-spine, facet arthritis and degenerative disk disease. I am very very VERY cautious with procedures, but I think I finally need to consider the spine injections they are recomending as I feel like the pain in my head and in my neck are in a feedback loop. Has anyone else had either MBB (medial branch blocks) or facet steroid injections? What level and how did it go as far as decreasing headaches? (I a not so worried about the neck pain, I am worried about how it triggers the migraine). Has anyone had a (RFA) radio frequency ablation? Again, what level and did it help headaches? Did anyone have the RFA flare up their migraine and for how long?
Last question, and I don't know if there are any rules about this in this foru. If this question isn't allowed, I retract it! I really need to go to someone I know is really good, I need that confidence and trust to move forward. Does anyone have a doctor they have had these types of injections with in Oregon that was exceptional and if so, can you give me their name and tell me why you think so highly of them?
I have chronic migraine and probable cluster headache that is doing very poorly in the last year or so but especially the last several weeks. I also have lots of degenerative changes in my C-spine, facet arthritis and degenerative disk disease. I am very very VERY cautious with procedures, but I think I finally need to consider the spine injections they are recomending as I feel like the pain in my head and in my neck are in a feedback loop. Has anyone else had either MBB (medial branch blocks) or facet steroid injections? What level and how did it go as far as decreasing headaches? (I a not so worried about the neck pain, I am worried about how it triggers the migraine). Has anyone had a (RFA) radio frequency ablation? Again, what level and did it help headaches? Did anyone have the RFA flare up their migraine and for how long?
Last question, and I don't know if there are any rules about this in this foru. If this question isn't allowed, I retract it! I really need to go to someone I know is really good, I need that confidence and trust to move forward. Does anyone have a doctor they have had these types of injections with in Oregon that was exceptional and if so, can you give me their name and tell me why you think so highly of them?
@sanderson23 I'm sorry about your migraines, but you may want to consider what part your cervical disc disease may be playing in generating pain. Typicality, cervical spine issues cause muscles spasms that pull the spine out of normal alihgnmemnet. With lots of muscles attached to the vertebrae and connecting to the skull, that can generate pain when the muscles are stressed by a spasm that adds tension to them. You may want to see if physical therapy can help. If your spine degeneration is advanced, you may want to consider seeking a spine surgeon's opinion.
Injections don't fix problems, and just possibly mask dome symptoms. I don't have experience with ablations, but that may be a temporary solution or it may not give relief. You would need other opinions on that. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and spine surgery calmed down the muscle spasms a lot. I can still have some spasms. but they are correctable with stretching. My surgery was a C5/C6 fusion which made my life better.
@sanderson23 I'm sorry about your migraines, but you may want to consider what part your cervical disc disease may be playing in generating pain. Typicality, cervical spine issues cause muscles spasms that pull the spine out of normal alihgnmemnet. With lots of muscles attached to the vertebrae and connecting to the skull, that can generate pain when the muscles are stressed by a spasm that adds tension to them. You may want to see if physical therapy can help. If your spine degeneration is advanced, you may want to consider seeking a spine surgeon's opinion.
Injections don't fix problems, and just possibly mask dome symptoms. I don't have experience with ablations, but that may be a temporary solution or it may not give relief. You would need other opinions on that. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and spine surgery calmed down the muscle spasms a lot. I can still have some spasms. but they are correctable with stretching. My surgery was a C5/C6 fusion which made my life better.
I have done PT 9 times for my neck! By nine times, I mean with 9 different PTs over 9 different times, full courses over 12 years or so. I do find the exercises help, but only somewhat and I have to be very careful or they can make things worse.
What was wrong at your C5-6 level that you had a fusion for, if I may ask? My neuro has cautioned me against surgery.....
I have done PT 9 times for my neck! By nine times, I mean with 9 different PTs over 9 different times, full courses over 12 years or so. I do find the exercises help, but only somewhat and I have to be very careful or they can make things worse.
What was wrong at your C5-6 level that you had a fusion for, if I may ask? My neuro has cautioned me against surgery.....
@sanderson23 I had a ruptured disc at C5/C6 which initially wasn't so bad. I know when it ruptured because I was turning my head when it happened and heard the pop and my head suddenly turned farther. When that jelly like nucleus inside a disc spills out, it causes inflammation which causes bone spurs to grow as the spine tries to stabilize itself. The bone spurs and disc contents were pressing 5 mm into the spinal canal causing a little bit of spinal cord compression and a lot of pain symptoms everywhere in my body. I lost the coordination in my arms and lost muscle in my shoulder as well as had an uneven gait.
That was progressing and I saw the amount of bone spurs double in 9 months time on MRIs. The disc lost half it's height and I lost a quarter inch in height. I also had 2 mm of retrolisthesis which is slipping backwards at that level. I had a choice of fusion or artificial disc, but the artificial disc was not a great choice because of the 2mm of movement. I also opted for the fusion because I could do it with no hardware and only a bone disc spacer. With only one level fused, my neck movement is about the same as before except that I can't touch my chin to my chest anymore. This surgery was a good thing, and it gave me my life back, stopped all the pain, and prevented disability from happening. I have also done a lot of myofascial release to loosen scar tissue and keep my neck mobile. That helps a lot after surgery and on an ongoing basis to prevent spasms.
I had a consult with a physiatrist and am going to do a facet injection with lidocaine and a steroid. If it helps but not for long enough then I could consider PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) which is a little more experimental but there is evidence for it in the neck. Has anyone had PRP? Has it helped their neck or head?!
I've just come across this page today I, I started having headaches in 2007 just after matric an dit would be after two year but now I'm only getting like months of pain free like just 2 months and they start again. Somedays I used to want to die and think I'm gonna die, how do you carry living with this condition please help give me some advise what help.. What pain killer to take I'm 38 and really suffering I want to just die... I've prayed used muti since from my sangoma but nothing works... I'm at a loss I glade I'm note alone... Please help if you can
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Hi I came across your post after googling my own symptoms. How are you doing?
I also have a t3-t4 disc herniation, head pressure/pain and neck pain. It seems like my pain moves around often from day to day. Some days it also becomes more “white hot” and other days pressure. My neuro thinks it is a form of migraine but it doesn’t respond well to anything. Sometimes I also get “spacey” during the episodes and yawn a lot. It’s the worst honestly…
Hi, @slefman. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. If I understand correctly, you have similar symptoms to the original poster in this discussion, @chrisc8450, and you want to know how they are doing. Hoping chrisc8450 will return and talk about how they are doing now.
Glad you found Connect in your internet searching.
You mentioned your neurologist thought you might have a form of migraine with the pain and pressure you are experiencing. Did they say what kind of migraine they suspected? You said your symptoms do not respond well to anything. Did your neurologist prescribe you medication for the potential migraine?
@seanmartin45699
Are you still micro dosing as a way to control your migraines? I hope that it is continuing to help you.
I have chronic migraine and probable cluster headache that is doing very poorly in the last year or so but especially the last several weeks. I also have lots of degenerative changes in my C-spine, facet arthritis and degenerative disk disease. I am very very VERY cautious with procedures, but I think I finally need to consider the spine injections they are recomending as I feel like the pain in my head and in my neck are in a feedback loop. Has anyone else had either MBB (medial branch blocks) or facet steroid injections? What level and how did it go as far as decreasing headaches? (I a not so worried about the neck pain, I am worried about how it triggers the migraine). Has anyone had a (RFA) radio frequency ablation? Again, what level and did it help headaches? Did anyone have the RFA flare up their migraine and for how long?
Last question, and I don't know if there are any rules about this in this foru. If this question isn't allowed, I retract it! I really need to go to someone I know is really good, I need that confidence and trust to move forward. Does anyone have a doctor they have had these types of injections with in Oregon that was exceptional and if so, can you give me their name and tell me why you think so highly of them?
Thanks so much for your help!!
@sanderson23 I'm sorry about your migraines, but you may want to consider what part your cervical disc disease may be playing in generating pain. Typicality, cervical spine issues cause muscles spasms that pull the spine out of normal alihgnmemnet. With lots of muscles attached to the vertebrae and connecting to the skull, that can generate pain when the muscles are stressed by a spasm that adds tension to them. You may want to see if physical therapy can help. If your spine degeneration is advanced, you may want to consider seeking a spine surgeon's opinion.
Injections don't fix problems, and just possibly mask dome symptoms. I don't have experience with ablations, but that may be a temporary solution or it may not give relief. You would need other opinions on that. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and spine surgery calmed down the muscle spasms a lot. I can still have some spasms. but they are correctable with stretching. My surgery was a C5/C6 fusion which made my life better.
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3 ReactionsThank you, this is helpful!
I have done PT 9 times for my neck! By nine times, I mean with 9 different PTs over 9 different times, full courses over 12 years or so. I do find the exercises help, but only somewhat and I have to be very careful or they can make things worse.
What was wrong at your C5-6 level that you had a fusion for, if I may ask? My neuro has cautioned me against surgery.....
@sanderson23 I had a ruptured disc at C5/C6 which initially wasn't so bad. I know when it ruptured because I was turning my head when it happened and heard the pop and my head suddenly turned farther. When that jelly like nucleus inside a disc spills out, it causes inflammation which causes bone spurs to grow as the spine tries to stabilize itself. The bone spurs and disc contents were pressing 5 mm into the spinal canal causing a little bit of spinal cord compression and a lot of pain symptoms everywhere in my body. I lost the coordination in my arms and lost muscle in my shoulder as well as had an uneven gait.
That was progressing and I saw the amount of bone spurs double in 9 months time on MRIs. The disc lost half it's height and I lost a quarter inch in height. I also had 2 mm of retrolisthesis which is slipping backwards at that level. I had a choice of fusion or artificial disc, but the artificial disc was not a great choice because of the 2mm of movement. I also opted for the fusion because I could do it with no hardware and only a bone disc spacer. With only one level fused, my neck movement is about the same as before except that I can't touch my chin to my chest anymore. This surgery was a good thing, and it gave me my life back, stopped all the pain, and prevented disability from happening. I have also done a lot of myofascial release to loosen scar tissue and keep my neck mobile. That helps a lot after surgery and on an ongoing basis to prevent spasms.
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1 ReactionThanks for sharing your story. I’m glad that the surgery helped you!
I had a consult with a physiatrist and am going to do a facet injection with lidocaine and a steroid. If it helps but not for long enough then I could consider PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) which is a little more experimental but there is evidence for it in the neck. Has anyone had PRP? Has it helped their neck or head?!
I've just come across this page today I, I started having headaches in 2007 just after matric an dit would be after two year but now I'm only getting like months of pain free like just 2 months and they start again. Somedays I used to want to die and think I'm gonna die, how do you carry living with this condition please help give me some advise what help.. What pain killer to take I'm 38 and really suffering I want to just die... I've prayed used muti since from my sangoma but nothing works... I'm at a loss I glade I'm note alone... Please help if you can