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Headache on left side of head for 5+ years, burning pain, brain fog

Posted by ozi23 @ozi23, Jun 13 2:29pm

Hi,

I’ve been dealing with pain and other symptoms on the left side of my head and neck for over five years now, and I’m really hoping to get some advice or ideas about what it might be.

The pain is mostly a burning, constant feeling that covers my whole left side of the head. So the side, back of head on the left side, around my eyes (on the bone) and back of the eye. My own doctor and a specialist at a private hospital concluded that i didnt have migraine. The headache also causes brain fog and makes it hard to concentrate. I HAVE NEVER HAD THESE PAINS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY HEAD. ONLY LEFT.

I’ve had an MRI of head and neck that didn’t show anything unusual. I’ve also tried physiotherapy for several months but it didn’t help. A greater occipital nerve block was done recently, but it had no effect. I’ve tried muscle relaxants like chlorzoxazone, NSAIDS and even morphine, but none of these treatments worked.

Two months ago i found out that when I turn my head all the way to the right (cervical axial rotation) and hold it there, I get a sharp, deep pain at the back of my head on the left side. It feels like it’s coming from the bones in the back of the head or a joint in that area. I dont feel the same pain on the right side of the back of my head when I turn my head to the left.

Interestingly, when I do this full right head rotation and keep it for a few seconds, I also notice my left ear seems to lose about 3–4% of its hearing, but it quickly comes back to normal after I move my head back.

The onset of the sudden headache on the left side of my head is random. Sometimes it comes when i lay down, sometimes when i sit, sometimes when i go for a walk and so on.

It ruins my life. Especially when Im at work in a pharmacy (im a pharmacist). I can be fine one minute and suddently the pain will slowly start and increase on my whole left side of head to the point where its like my brain just "shuts down" and stop working, while my eyes do all the work. I completely fall out of focus because of the brain fog and pain. When these symptoms hit i dont have a problem with light, sound, i dont have nausea or feel like vomiting. The symptoms are only up in the head.

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bettty45 | @bettty45 | Oct 15 2:01pm

Yes. At the time the chemo kicked me into menopause so all those issues were magnified. After chemo and radiation I also took tamoxifen as my cancer was estrogen positive. When it returned 23 years later it was a different kind of cancer but in the same breast. I have never gotten over hot flashes and lots of other menopause issues but just learned to deal with them. One of those being the headaches. They have lessened as to frequency but when they hit they are still debilitating

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Oct 17 8:11am
In reply to @leannestork "I would love to know if anyone else has the biggest pressure in the base of..." + (show)
Profile picture for leannestork @leannestork

I would love to know if anyone else has the biggest pressure in the base of their skull like your head is about to explode. Other area's of the body i can deal with but when it cause's such a huge reaction to my eyes and head ... it is very hard to cope with for sure.... I have had nerve blockers that do help but lifting my grandchild wrecked it immediatly. I find car travel is terrible as well. Sometimes i get a tennis ball and put my head back on the floor or couch to massage at the base of my skull.... sometimes helps but it never really goes away. When it is really bad i wear a neck brace so it takes the pressure off my neck and seems to rest my head as well incase it helps someone

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@leannestork - what does your neurologist advise for the long-term plan for this pressure at the base of your skull?

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pierwell | @pierwell | Oct 17 9:23am
In reply to @leannestork "Hi there... my pain Specialist whom does my nerve blockers wont do a nerve stimulator saying..." + (show)
Profile picture for leannestork @leannestork

Hi there... my pain Specialist whom does my nerve blockers wont do a nerve stimulator saying it won't work ... given you are on Clebrex and Tylenol ... do you still have that feeling at the base of your skull like your head will explode sometimes with the stimulator.... cheers

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@leannestork I can tell you that I know the minute my stimulator battery runs down! I estimate it gives 50% relief. But yes, several times a day the pain starts in my neck and behind my ear. If I can get an ice pack on it quickly, it may stop before spreading to my face.

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visi | @visi | Oct 21 2:45pm
In reply to @ozi23 "Hi, unfortunately they didn’t. Our latest “step” was to try the GON-Block which unfortunately didn’t work...." + (show)
Profile picture for ozi23 @ozi23

Hi, unfortunately they didn’t. Our latest “step” was to try the GON-Block which unfortunately didn’t work. They will be calling me in a couple of days to ask about it. The doctor is a “special doctor in neurology, PhD” in a private hospital

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@ozi23 i have something similar only left side and back of head sometimes about 2-3 years with 1 year free of headaches between the years no prescription medication taken just over counter,the neurologist thinks is occipital neuralgiae im do do GON block next week , it has helped me a lot the gym to manage the symptoms,

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