Skull pain

[goddessmoon]

I woke up Tuesday with a pain in the back of my head, not a headache but what feels like skull pain. I don't have a headache in the traditional sense. It's throbbing and aching and I have had no relief with Ibuprofen or Aleve. Husband took me to the ER Tuesday night. Had a CT Brain which was normal and ER doc found no neurological symptoms. He thinks it may be an early sign of shingles; however I have no rash. ER doctor prescribed Tylenol with codeine which also has not helped (just makes me drowsy and now constipated). I have appointment to see my primary care physician on Monday. Anyone else have this kind of pain??? I have had shingles before on my left arm about 25 years ago. I am hoping that this is not shingles.

[Fed Up]

goddessmoon, I had the shingles and it didn't affect my skull.

Only on this forum do 'I hear' doc thinks the pain is shingles..but, I don't have an outbreak. IDK why?

They should have done an MRI when the CT was negative, imho. Your primary will probably know better. fed

[mercadies25]

Several years before my dx I went to the er several times and tried to explain that I don't have a headache I have head pain. They say a migraine, I said no!! I know what's wrong now I guess but the docs had no clue. Sent me away with pain meds and get some rest.

I didn't have any clue but, I know my own body and wasn't going to let "them" tell me what's wrong when I knew there was something else.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!!

[Debby]

I have severe pain in the back of my skull. Sometimes it is a dull, throbbing pain. Other times it feels like a sharp, stabbing pain, with pain to the touch afterwards. Everyone seems to think it's either nerve pain or muscular. I've had it for years, and never received a definitive dx or treatment. Good luck, and know you're not alone.

[Fed Up]

I've had migraines and all sorts of head pain for over 20 years. And the shingles, the pain was no different.

The spinal pain I did feel that was different, for me--it felt more like someone lit up a torch along my spine and the areas those nerves went to.

IDK if it would feel the same in the head, but I suspect it would be. It is totally untolerable, that sort of shingles pain. I was miserable until recently, with shingles.

IDK but I have a feeling it would raise a fever of sorts, it did with me. fed

[mjan]

YESS I have had this kind of pain where the skull and fleshy part of the neck meet. In fact it used to also make me dizzy and hurt to hold up my head. It was NOT a headache.

I had a CT of vascular system to make sure nothing vascular was going on.. and it was negative. I think it is just nerve pain like I get in other parts of my body. It can happen every day for awhile, then completely go away, only to return. It has me laying down at times too.

I use a neck pillow and try to relax taking Baclofen for the spastic muscles. No one seems to know what to do either.

So I believe its part of spasticity and nerve pain. Feels like a nerve just explodes in one little area. I get those little nerve explosions in other areas and it really hurts.

Let us know what you learn and hope you feel better

Warmly, Jan

[goddessmoon]

skull pain

Thank you everyone for your responses. Day4 of the constant head/skull pain....no relief from any of the over the counter pain relievers and none from Tyelenol with codeine. Still no rash so I truly feel it's not shingles. Hoping the doc has some sort of an answer on Monday.

[Debby]

I truly hope you get answers. Hugs.....

[mjan]

Thank you everyone for your responses. Day4 of the constant head/skull pain....no relief from any of the over the counter pain relievers and none from Tyelenol with codeine. Still no rash so I truly feel it's not shingles. Hoping the doc has some sort of an answer on Monday.

Don't forget not everything is MS. If this were me, I would take your MRI of brain/neck to a gentle Chiropractor OR Orthopedic doc and get their opinion. Turns out I have both disc disease/stenosis in my neck (cervical) and lumbar area of spine AND I have spasticity. Gets confusing I know. But make sure you get a thorough opinion/eval first.

Feel better soon~
Jan

[Temagami]

I´m wondering if an acupuncture session would help. I´m guessing there´s a strong possibility of YES. Thinking of you- read your post while holding my head

[Temagami]

I´m wondering if an acupuncture session would help. I´m guessing there´s a strong possibility of YES. Thinking of you- read your post while holding my head

[msastros]

TN?

I was in a support meeting and mentioned I have trimenginal neroligal when someone she also has it.

Mine affects the left side of my face. i have sharp stabbing with electric pain. I've learned this can be triggered if I have an infection. Once I get antibiotics I feel better.

See your primary and neuro.

I hope you feel better soon!

[bree2013]

Goddessmoon -

I had my first flair last year that included skull pain. As you have described, not headache, but skull pain. Mine was the back of my head and I could NOT lay down without severe pain. My head was sooo sensitive to the touch.

Advil PM didn't relieve the pain but it helped be doze off and on -- otherwise it was nearly impossible to get any sleep. I remember dreading going to bed because I knew what was in store.

I hope your pain subsides soon.
Take care,
Bree

[goddessmoon]

skull pain

I saw my primary care physician today. He reviewed the CT head I had done in the ER last Tuesday. It was noted that my right sinus showed complete opacification. This is nothing new; every scan I've had for over 15 plus years has shown this. None of my other physicians have felt this to be an issue. The doctor today wants to treat me for a sinus infection with antibiotics and nasal sprays. We discussed the possibility that this may be shingles, even though there are still no blisters or rash. So I will try the treatment for a sinus infection even though I have no symptoms for one. Feeling a bit frustrated. And I still have the constant head pain with nothing working to relieve it. He wants me to see an ENT specialist if the antibiotics don't help.

[mjan]

What?? With MRSA and such, why take antibiotics when there is NO KNOWN infection? Sorry, but that just sounds so useless. You'd have pressure in your sinuses if you did, right?

Hope you get answers soon and relief.

Again, I would see an orthopedic doc too.

Hugs, Jan