1. < Brain & Nervous System

Occipital Neuralgia

Posted by jmb73 @jmb73, Sep 11, 2019

I have been having headaches on one side of my head and have recently been diagnosed with occipital neuralgia. They recommend a nerve bloc but I wonder anyone else has this and how they handle it.. I don’t want a nerve bloc. The headaches are usually mild but occasionally the pain wakes me up. They got worse after I had my Gamma surgery. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.

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SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Jul 23 11:11am

@foxylloyd @irr4et
Oh my gosh. I’m am so sorry to hear about your pain and frustration.
I too have Occipital Neuralgia, Fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy.
Until I realized what caused the ON I had awful symptoms including temporary loss of vision in one eye.
For me, the cause was a new bed pillow. It was too high and caused my neck and skull to be misaligned.
That was the only reason I was in pain.
I bought a cervical pillow on Amazon and started to feel better. I also went for physical therapy. They showed me how to stretch and loosen my neck muscles. Everything was quite easy to do and it made me feel better.
That was almost a year ago. I still have times when I have a bit of pain, but if I do some of the exercises and it helps.

The only medications I take for all of this is the Tylenol, and Zoloft. I can’t tolerate painkillers, Lyrica made me way off balance, and sleepy.

I take a host of other medications for other problems but that’s another story!

Blessings on you both as you continue your journey.

REPLY
2 replies
foxylloyd | @foxylloyd | Jul 24 7:17am
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@foxylloyd @irr4et Oh my gosh. I’m am so sorry to hear about your pain and frustration...." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

@foxylloyd @irr4et
Oh my gosh. I’m am so sorry to hear about your pain and frustration.
I too have Occipital Neuralgia, Fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy.
Until I realized what caused the ON I had awful symptoms including temporary loss of vision in one eye.
For me, the cause was a new bed pillow. It was too high and caused my neck and skull to be misaligned.
That was the only reason I was in pain.
I bought a cervical pillow on Amazon and started to feel better. I also went for physical therapy. They showed me how to stretch and loosen my neck muscles. Everything was quite easy to do and it made me feel better.
That was almost a year ago. I still have times when I have a bit of pain, but if I do some of the exercises and it helps.

The only medications I take for all of this is the Tylenol, and Zoloft. I can’t tolerate painkillers, Lyrica made me way off balance, and sleepy.

I take a host of other medications for other problems but that’s another story!

Blessings on you both as you continue your journey.

Jump to this post

I have had many accidents and surgeries since I was young so it’s hard to say exactly what caused my neuropathy but it started coming on about 30 years ago and it started painfully in my feet. It slowly went up my spine and started affecting my legs. I started having trouble walking and started using a wheelchair off and on and the pain pills started getting stronger and stronger until they weren’t helping much anymore. I had more than one accidental overdose. I’m now 67 years old and am opioid intolerant so they don’t help me anymore. I’m now in a nursing home and bedridden in excruciating pain with no one beside me but my sister who has helped me through everything. Thank you for answering me and I hope everything goes well for you.

REPLY
foxylloyd | @foxylloyd | Jul 24 9:58am
In reply to @irr4et "And avoid foods high and moderate in Histamine. Unfortunately there are many. You can Google about..." + (show)
@irr4et

And avoid foods high and moderate in Histamine. Unfortunately there are many. You can Google about these foods.

Jump to this post

No I haven’t tried anything like that.

REPLY
irr4et | @irr4et | Jul 24 9:59am
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@foxylloyd @irr4et Oh my gosh. I’m am so sorry to hear about your pain and frustration...." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

@foxylloyd @irr4et
Oh my gosh. I’m am so sorry to hear about your pain and frustration.
I too have Occipital Neuralgia, Fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy.
Until I realized what caused the ON I had awful symptoms including temporary loss of vision in one eye.
For me, the cause was a new bed pillow. It was too high and caused my neck and skull to be misaligned.
That was the only reason I was in pain.
I bought a cervical pillow on Amazon and started to feel better. I also went for physical therapy. They showed me how to stretch and loosen my neck muscles. Everything was quite easy to do and it made me feel better.
That was almost a year ago. I still have times when I have a bit of pain, but if I do some of the exercises and it helps.

The only medications I take for all of this is the Tylenol, and Zoloft. I can’t tolerate painkillers, Lyrica made me way off balance, and sleepy.

I take a host of other medications for other problems but that’s another story!

Blessings on you both as you continue your journey.

Jump to this post

Do u mind if I ask you exactly which Cervical pillow u purchased? I looked on Amazon and there were many to choose from. Thank you!

REPLY
foxylloyd | @foxylloyd | Jul 24 10:03am
In reply to @irr4et "How awful for you! My heart hurts for you! I too have Baclophen on hand prn...." + (show)
@irr4et

How awful for you! My heart hurts for you! I too have Baclophen on hand prn. My dr offered me Cymbalta but I have not tried it yet. I take Lyrica three times a day.
Would you recommend Cymbalta? How are u doing on it?
Has your dr discussed Mast Cell releases with you? Mast Cells release Histamine when we eat a food our body is intolerant of. Histamine makes me then red all over for an hr, then the painful itching starts. As soon as I feel a Mast Cell release getting started I take an Allegra 24 hr caplet. That prevents Mast Cell releases. So we need to stay on 24 Hr Non-drowsy Allegra all the time.

Jump to this post

I have been taking Cymbalta for a long time and it doesn’t seem to make me feel any different.

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baluto | @baluto | 3 days ago

Nerve block is an easy procedure, does not hurt , takes only a few minutes. I get instant relief of my pain, a godsend. However mine only lasts for a few weeks then its back full force. I get them about 4 -5 months. My neurologist won't do sooner as says can make them not even last that long or at all. So I enjoy being pain free even if only a few weeks at a time. But having said that, everyone reacts differently with them. Good luck
,

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