Retrosigmoid Approach and Post Operative Headaches

[Syl]

I HAVEN'T TRIED ICING MY NECK OR PUTTING HEAT ON IT. I DO USE NECK PILLOWS. SOMETIMES THAT'S WHERE THE HEADACHES ORIGANTE FROM. DO I ICE FIRST THEN THE HEAT.

I don't mix the ice with the heat. When I have a headache, I use heat.  I used to wake up early in the morning with a headache several times a week & used to sleep with my electric heating pad on my night stand. Son't need it so much any more . The ice is what I use every night--5 minutes on then 5 minutes off. I do this for an hour. I'm supposed to do this every morning and every night. Hard to do in the morning. I'm real good about doing this at night before bed, but it sure is hard to do when it's cold.

Syl

[Mei Mei]

I'm sure it's not comfortable using ice on a cold winter's morning, but better than having a headache at least.  You need the relief.

Good news, I didn't have a headache last night for the first time in a long time.   Maybe the massages are helping!!!!   I have another massage tomorrow at noon.

Will keep you informed about the success of Suboccipital and Neck Massages.

Mei Mei

[Captain Deb]

The usual rule is that ice is for nerve pain and heat is for muscle pain.  A lot of the time I have both--nerve pain in the back of the head and muscle pain in the neck and shoulder.  I ice the back of my head and put one of those wrap around microwave thingies around my neck.  Works for me!

Capt Deb

[Lizard]

Mei Mei, that's fantastic news! So happy for you 

[Mei Mei]

Thank you, Liz.   I feel something must be working.   The stiff neck and sub Occiptial area hurt like the devil but it is not a "head ache"   It is very stiff and numb from the recent surgery.   That will come with time I guess.   I am taking charge of my life and calling every day for appointments.   It's taking over my life like crazy.   I wanted to take time to read a novel or something like that but right now this is priority.   Tomorrow morning have to take my father to PT at 9:45 and bring him home, then it's time for my PT and boy am I looking forward to that.   With each appointment I feel I am one step closer to a headache free life.   At least there is HOPE.

Take care and here's to a headache free night!!!!
Mei Mei

[jennifer7]

Mei Mei
I'm so glad you had a good night.  I went 5 days without one! so now maybe its your turn.
I don't remember if I told you but I'm also having massages at the chiropractor's office, she is only doing my neck area so it may be similar to what you are having done.  The neurosurgeon's office is referring me to a headache specialist, it takes about 2 months to get seen so I'm hoping by the time I have an appt maybe they will be completely gone but I'm going to take Capt Deb's advice and start journaling my headaches.
Here's to a headache free night
Jennifer

[Mei Mei]

Thanks, Jennifer....I love this website...you are all great!!!   I am HOPING for a PEACEFUL night with out a headache.   Here's hopeing.
  Will keepin touch tomorrow morning.   What a life from day to day.  No?   We are all haging in there?   Take care and sweet dreams!!!!
Mei Mei

[mare4ever1]

THANKS SYL, FOR THE ADVICE OF ICING AND APPLYING HEAT. IT WORKED FOR ME. I HAVEN'T DONE IT LIKE YOU SAID 5MIN. ON AND 5MIN.OFF, SINCE I JUST READ THIS TODAY. I APPLIED THE ICE PACK AND THEN WHEN I WENT TO BED I HAD THE HEATING PAD ON. SO FAR SO GOOD. I'M AVOIDING HAVING TO GO TO A SPECIALIST FOR THIS. OUR INSURANCE IS AWFUL THIS TIME AROUND.

MEI MEI I'M HAPPY THAT SOMETHING IS WORKING FOR YOU AS WELL. LET'S ALL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT WE CAN ALL BEAT THESE HEADACHES.

TAKE CARE, MARE

[msmaggie]

I am late joining this thread, and I don't have loads of advice since my headaches are fierce but infrequent.  Mine seem to be mostly tied to low pressure weather systems.  Since Houston is gearing up for the next hurricane season, I am also gearing up to a headache season!  Mine come in the wee hours of the morning, and like the others, ice for the head and heat for the neck works pretty well.  I have also found that since caffeine works well for my headaches,  Excedrin works better than most OTC meds.
Glad to hear you have had some relief from your pain.  A good night's sleep goes a long way in helping you to cope. Last time I saw my surgeon, he admitted that if the usual meds he would prescribe didn't work, then his next step would be to refer me to a specialist.  His prescription didn't work, but I have had some success in treating the headaches on my own.
Priscilla

[ombrerose4]

Hi, haven't spent much time on the forum recently, just trying ti deal with these headaches. At my last doctor's visit my neurotologist decided to up my dose of Efexor from 50 2x's a day to 75 2 x's a day. I personally don't feel like this is going to help. He said that if there was no improvement in a few weeks, he would wean me off this med and start Topomax and more Botox injections. Well, I've been frustrated and down about these headaches not disappearing 8 months post op. So I decided to try a different approach. I just saw a dental specialist who specializes in oro-facial pain and disorders. He took xrays, checked my neck, face, cheek, and inner chhek muscles. He found all the spots where I get the facial and head and neck pain. They pretty much line uo all along the same one or two muscles in the area. He feels that my muscles have been overstimulated to react when my nerves were touched during surgery. He also said I am keeping my bottom and top teeth touching (clenching) and this is causing my muscles to pull into a fist. So these are the steps he recommends: 1- making me a biteplate to wear at night to keep my teeth apart. He said top and bottom teeth should never touch. 2- He gave me some M words to use that put your jaw in a natural position, such as "emma". I also have a small retainer to wear intermittently at home just to remind me to keep teeth apart. 3- He gave me about 5 injections (with a little lidocaine for numbing), they are trigger point injections. They were given in each of the tight knots of muscles in my neck, jaw, cheek and face. His goal is to retrain the muscles to stop reacting to the nerves. I will return next week for more trigger point injections, possibly some Botox injections and I am getting an appointment to see a certified myofacial physical therapist that specializes in this type of pain disorder. I had 3 painfree headache days after the injections, which was wonderful! For the past two days I have been getting lighter headaches/facial pain only 1-2 times a day instead of 3-4 times a day. I am hoping this new approach will work and give me a chance to get all these drugs out of my system. I am feeling hopeful!

[Jim Scott]

Hi, Lauren ~

I've followed the account of your struggle with headaches and I was pleased to learn from your last post (5/29) that you've been pro-active and are finding a different path to relief (via your dentist).  I was delighted to read that your headaches have diminished somewhat following the muscle retraining regimen you're currently engaged in.  I trust this will continue to be an efficacious approach and that you'll finally be able to attain the normalcy you've been trying so hard to find these past months. We're rooting for you! 

Jim    

[Captain Deb]

I am a believer in a non-systemic approach to treating headaches--the drugs are brutal on your system.  Nerve blocks and Botox, PT, massage, an anti-inflammatory diet and supplements, ice and heat along with occasional use of Imitrex and, during severe attacks, using opiate pain meds are what I am relying on these days and I have been at this for 7 years.

Capt Deb

[jennifer7]

Hi Deb
Can you elaborate on the anti-inflammatory diet or where I can find some more info.  Your advice is very appreciated.
Jennifer

[Nickittynic]

Priscilla,
It sounds like we have similar headache situations. I was really happy to have found Excedrin worked well, until recently when I started getting chest pain when I took it. Now I'm trying to wean myself off all caffine.

MeiMei,
Keep us updated how things work out for you and what you find out. I called to make an appointment with someone at U Maryland (my corneal specialist referred me) but he didn't have any appointments until September. They have another neurologist who specializes in headaches there who I might try to get in with. You are going to someone in DC, correct?

[Captain Deb]

Hi Deb
Can you elaborate on the anti-inflammatory diet or where I can find some more info.  Your advice is very appreciated.
Jennifer

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Capt Deb