← Return to Occipital Neuralgia Headache: Terrible pain lasting weeks, what helps?

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Profile picture for onpainsufferer @onpainsufferer

@pierwell I’ve found ablations hit and miss. The one I had 4 years ago worked great. It took about 8 weeks for all my symptoms to go away and then got 20 months of full relief. I thought ON was behind me. Then it came back quickly and my Pain Specialist had moved out of the area. Second doctor claimed to have done the same procedure, but seemed to make my pain worse! I went a multiple medication approach (Gabapentin & Duloxetine) plus a CGRP Inhibitor and slowly pain improved for a year. Then came back again, only this time it’s been 24x7 intense pain, dizziness, blurry vision, and occasional vertigo for 9 months. New doctors took over my case last summer and Pain Specialist was able to get all of my old medical records. Seems the second ablation doctor didn’t do the same nerves and lies about it! I’m scheduled for another ablation in early spring. My insurance company requiring two trial ablations (typically it’s with lidocaine) 3-4 weeks apart before the real ablation, So insurance is making me wait from December when my doctor went for prior authorization until end of March for the real procedure. Then if like the first ablation, symptom reduction was slow for 6-8 weeks more. I’m out on disability and will probably lose my job since they only had to hold my job for 90 days. At this point I’m also starting to explore both PRP and Stem Cell injections which insurance will not cover.

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Replies to "@pierwell I’ve found ablations hit and miss. The one I had 4 years ago worked great...."

@onpainsufferer Oh MG you have run the difficult race. I am so sorry to hear this, it can be such a challenge. I would like your answer on taking Duloxetinena? They started me on it but I am feeling mild nausea , shakey & I cannot sleep. My Dr. sent me to a wonderful treatment
Clincial Massage 45 min. on my head, shoulders, lower back. I had 6-7 headach (for weeks) when
I left I was pain free 5hrs. Headach did return maybe 3-4 and with 2 days of resting it is gone.
now I know it will be back but I will go straight to the Massage again. I also feel the pillows I have been sleeping on are part of my problems, so I bought a round rolled pillow, because I
sleep on my side. Today waiting to hear fr. Dr. on these pills I quite taking them .I also had one
ablation no change; perhaps I should try my new Pain Dr? have you ever done Botox? I am wishing you the best, I know how awful this pain is beyond description. The Best to you, thanks