Headache From Hell
For the last few weeks I have had a headache that has gotten progressively worse over time instead of better. I have also been experienced severe pain in my neck and shoulders. I thought it was related to my work out because of the rowing machine. I was experiencing pain before that but I figured I could push through the pain and hopefully it would help me feel better. Instead I felt like a truck had run me over. The pain starts in the back of my head, right above the neck and both shoulders.
I have been experiencing the shoulder pain for a while. I would get pain in my right shoulder for a while and I used one of those heat wraps they sell in the dollar store and it seemed to help a little. Just when it got bad enough to contact my doctor it would get better. Then a few weeks later I would get the exact same pain in my left shoulder.
I did go see my doctor and she ordered an x ray and some blood work. Here is the results from the x ray.
STUDY: SPINE CERVICAL 2 VIEWS 03/20/12 11:36:00
HISTORY: Neck pain
COMPARISON: None.
FINDINGS:
The bones are intact with no acute fracture or focal cortical
destructive process. Mild C4-5 and C5-6 disk space narrowing is
present. Atlantoaxial distance and occipital cervical orientation
are normal. Prevertebral soft tissues are normal.
IMPRESSION:
Mild C4-5 and C5-6 degenerative disk disease
My doctor sent me to PT. I went today and went through the evaluation and he felt it was because of my posture and gave me some exercises to do at home. I'm not buying that because I have had the same posture all my life and I've never experienced this kind of pain.
My doctor wants to see me next week if it isn't better by then. I am sure she will order an MRI.
It is so bad now that I am considering going to the ER. My knees also hurt now. I do have arthritis so maybe that is it. I just took a Vicodan and it isn't even touching the pain. I have been taking Tylenol, Flexeril that my doctor prescribed and I even got desperate and took some Aleve, which I know I shouldn't but I thought the risk would be worth it if it helped.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted.
Also, I got my Vitamin A level rechecked and it's perfectly normal now but my liver enzymes are still elevated. I had a good ultrasound and a liver biopsy that didn't show anything significant so I am wondering if it's because of the pain meds.
I have been experiencing the shoulder pain for a while. I would get pain in my right shoulder for a while and I used one of those heat wraps they sell in the dollar store and it seemed to help a little. Just when it got bad enough to contact my doctor it would get better. Then a few weeks later I would get the exact same pain in my left shoulder.
I did go see my doctor and she ordered an x ray and some blood work. Here is the results from the x ray.
STUDY: SPINE CERVICAL 2 VIEWS 03/20/12 11:36:00
HISTORY: Neck pain
COMPARISON: None.
FINDINGS:
The bones are intact with no acute fracture or focal cortical
destructive process. Mild C4-5 and C5-6 disk space narrowing is
present. Atlantoaxial distance and occipital cervical orientation
are normal. Prevertebral soft tissues are normal.
IMPRESSION:
Mild C4-5 and C5-6 degenerative disk disease
My doctor sent me to PT. I went today and went through the evaluation and he felt it was because of my posture and gave me some exercises to do at home. I'm not buying that because I have had the same posture all my life and I've never experienced this kind of pain.
My doctor wants to see me next week if it isn't better by then. I am sure she will order an MRI.
It is so bad now that I am considering going to the ER. My knees also hurt now. I do have arthritis so maybe that is it. I just took a Vicodan and it isn't even touching the pain. I have been taking Tylenol, Flexeril that my doctor prescribed and I even got desperate and took some Aleve, which I know I shouldn't but I thought the risk would be worth it if it helped.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted.
Also, I got my Vitamin A level rechecked and it's perfectly normal now but my liver enzymes are still elevated. I had a good ultrasound and a liver biopsy that didn't show anything significant so I am wondering if it's because of the pain meds.
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
I have to tell you it definitely can be postural. About 4 or 5 months ago I was having the most agonizing pain in my neck and besides the pain, the entire area between both shoulder blades would go totally numb but at the same time the pain was excrutiating. I felt like I was being stabbed from shoulder blade to shoulder blade - it was almost unbearable. I would lose feeling down my arms and my arms became very weak. This started when I would be on my computer for longer periods of time and it would get every time I sat at my computer desk. then after awhile, it didn't matter what I did, I could be watching tv in bed and it would happen. I remember on day, I was watching TV and the phone rang, I got up too fast I guess and I felt shock waves go down my spinal cord - I thought I would die just from the movement of my neck. From that day foreward, any movement of my neck or arms and things got bad.
I went to my PCP and she sent me for a an X=ray first and it showed like yours degenerative changes, so she then sent me for an MRI and it also showed dengenerative changes, bulging discs and cervical spondylosis which is basically the same degenerative changes - all meaning arthritis.
Then the most amazing thing happened - I bought a laptop and was no longer sitting at my computer desk with my neck at that certain angle putting amazing pressure on my neck, all the pain went away, the numbness is gone - no more zapping and all symptoms are gone. I can now use my laptop lying in bed as long as I want. It is all due to ergonomics. Sounds weird but it is true.
YOu may have the same posture but you probably spend alot of time on the computer - you need to change your neck position
You say the liver biopsy wasn't anything significant - did it show anything? You say maybe it is the pain meds - your painmeds have tylenol, so it depends on how many you are taking. It is safe to take up to 2000mg per day, they used to say 4000mg per day but they are finding that the upper limits in patient have causes liver failure so they have lowered the limits and many people don't realize how many items have tylenol in them - over the counter pain meds, prescription pain meds, and many other OTC meds - you need to carefully read the labels. You also need to carefully watch meds that affect your liver - PPI's, statins, plus drinking alcohol. There are also many drugs that are liver toxic - you need to do more research into them. I know tegretol which is a seizure drug - I can remember what I used it for at this point it was along time ago but it seriously affected my liver - enzymes went nuts - I was hospitalized for a week or 2 due to high enzymes and high fever.
when you say your liver enzymes are still elevated - how high? What did the gastro doctor say he thinks is the cause? You mentioned having hepatitis many years ago, is it possible that is has reactivated? What type was it? I would think the biopsy should have given some information.
I went to my PCP and she sent me for a an X=ray first and it showed like yours degenerative changes, so she then sent me for an MRI and it also showed dengenerative changes, bulging discs and cervical spondylosis which is basically the same degenerative changes - all meaning arthritis.
Then the most amazing thing happened - I bought a laptop and was no longer sitting at my computer desk with my neck at that certain angle putting amazing pressure on my neck, all the pain went away, the numbness is gone - no more zapping and all symptoms are gone. I can now use my laptop lying in bed as long as I want. It is all due to ergonomics. Sounds weird but it is true.
YOu may have the same posture but you probably spend alot of time on the computer - you need to change your neck position
You say the liver biopsy wasn't anything significant - did it show anything? You say maybe it is the pain meds - your painmeds have tylenol, so it depends on how many you are taking. It is safe to take up to 2000mg per day, they used to say 4000mg per day but they are finding that the upper limits in patient have causes liver failure so they have lowered the limits and many people don't realize how many items have tylenol in them - over the counter pain meds, prescription pain meds, and many other OTC meds - you need to carefully read the labels. You also need to carefully watch meds that affect your liver - PPI's, statins, plus drinking alcohol. There are also many drugs that are liver toxic - you need to do more research into them. I know tegretol which is a seizure drug - I can remember what I used it for at this point it was along time ago but it seriously affected my liver - enzymes went nuts - I was hospitalized for a week or 2 due to high enzymes and high fever.
when you say your liver enzymes are still elevated - how high? What did the gastro doctor say he thinks is the cause? You mentioned having hepatitis many years ago, is it possible that is has reactivated? What type was it? I would think the biopsy should have given some information.
I have a laptop, too, and I almost always use my computer from my recliner.
I have an appointment with the liver specialist on April 2nd so I will see what he has to say. All the biopsy revealed was slight inflammation at the portal. Not sure what that means but my PCP wasn't concerned. I don't use any PPIs or statins and I don't drink. I was talking Lunesta to sleep and that can cause headaches but I haven't taken any since Monday.
I still have the headache. I am taking Vicodan now, along with the Flexeril and that is helping for now. If it isn't better by Tuesday I have an appointment with my PCP and I am sure she will order more tests. If it gets worse I may go to the ER.
I have an appointment with the liver specialist on April 2nd so I will see what he has to say. All the biopsy revealed was slight inflammation at the portal. Not sure what that means but my PCP wasn't concerned. I don't use any PPIs or statins and I don't drink. I was talking Lunesta to sleep and that can cause headaches but I haven't taken any since Monday.
I still have the headache. I am taking Vicodan now, along with the Flexeril and that is helping for now. If it isn't better by Tuesday I have an appointment with my PCP and I am sure she will order more tests. If it gets worse I may go to the ER.
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
I don't have any answers but am sending cyber hugs. 
Hope you are better by now.
Hope you are better by now. 
66 yrs young, 4'11" hw 220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance
Between 35-40 BMI? join us on the Lightweight board. the Lightweight Board
Thx Price. I wish I was better. I took a pain pill and a Flexeril this morning and I felt fine so I did some cleaning and some errands and not I feel like I was run over again. This can't be normal, can it? Maybe I should go to the ER.
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
(deactivated member)
on 3/24/12 11:30 pm, edited 3/24/12 11:30 pm
on 3/24/12 11:30 pm, edited 3/24/12 11:30 pm
Ladytazz huge hugs and please know I ALWAYS admire Ur spirit , bravery and honest, interesting sharing .
Posture is a BIG thing for us WLS post ops . Its probably the biggest factor that leads to us looking OLD rather than looking HOT when we are finally slim.
YES the many pounds heavy fat pouches pull our spines into a question mark, our shoulders forward and make our skinny necks look a lot like a turtles ( look at Star Jones as an example lol ) . These are things we SHOULD undo post op ( and YES its very painful because shortening / stretching of the tendons is involved )
You CAN help yourself .
You ARE so beautiful ( inside n out ) ! Please don't live with pain.. just gather Ur strength and work THRU it ..and BE the amazing gorgeous creature U were always meant to be
hugs
Posture is a BIG thing for us WLS post ops . Its probably the biggest factor that leads to us looking OLD rather than looking HOT when we are finally slim.
YES the many pounds heavy fat pouches pull our spines into a question mark, our shoulders forward and make our skinny necks look a lot like a turtles ( look at Star Jones as an example lol ) . These are things we SHOULD undo post op ( and YES its very painful because shortening / stretching of the tendons is involved )
You CAN help yourself .
You ARE so beautiful ( inside n out ) ! Please don't live with pain.. just gather Ur strength and work THRU it ..and BE the amazing gorgeous creature U were always meant to be
hugs
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