I am ten months post op, I am only 20 so doctors tend to not believe anything I have to say about pain. I'm 20 so I can't possibly have any issues. I have been having horrible neck pain, and it is really interfering with work (and everything, really). The NS thinks it's occipital neuritis but otherwise thinks I should become an astronaut, my NL basically looked at me and said "you had brain surgery, what did you expect?", the physical therapist told me I have extremely weak muscles that are fatiguing quickly. But nobody agrees on the cause, and they certainly don't agree on how to treat it. Since I can't get answers... Was anyone else here in constant pain this far out? Is this "normal"? My neck is constantly popping and cracking. I'm getting really frustrated with it...there has to be something they can do.I know I had major surgery, I knew this would change my life for good or bad or both. I'm not unrealistic, I don't expect to be normal or pain free, but a little pain management or at least a plan would be awesome.
I have been diagnosed with occipital neuritis, I’m on gabapentin for it. I also have a tens unit I use very frequently. Sorry, I should have mentioned that. This last visit, my nl just flippantly told me to go off of the gabapentin because he didn’t think it was occipital neuritis, that it was just muscular. I’ve had three nerve blocks, first one lasted about 12 weeks, second lasted about a month, the third didn’t work at all on one side and lasted about two weeks on the other. My left side is much more painful, my physical therapist spent an hour working knots out of my shoulders and neck and the majority were on the left side. I also have pseudotumor, but I’m not sure if that could contribute at all to the neck pain.
Abby said:
Do you have any of these symptoms?
Occipital Neuritis Symptoms Occipital Neuritis is a condition which results due to trauma to the occipital nerve at the back of the neck. This article will tell you about the symptoms, causes and treatment for this condition.
The term 'Occipital Neuritis' sounds a little complicated to understand, doesn't it? Well, in simple terms, occipital neuritis is another word for the sharp pain that you experience at the back of your neck. It is also known as post traumatic neck syndrome. The pain usually results from the damage of the occipital nerve which is located on both the sides of the base of the skull or the tip of the neck. This muscle is one of the main muscles of this region and is responsible for the muscular strength and sensation present in the neck and scalp at the back. The occipital muscle arises from within the spinal column and may cause discomfort when traumatized due to physical or emotional stress. This can lead to severe pain in the back of the neck, head and may also radiate to the eyes and front of the head. This condition is known to affect almost everyone at some point or the other at any age.
Symptoms of Occipital Neuritis
Pain is the most commonly associated symptom with this condition. The severity of the pain may vary depending upon the cause. The pain is also accompanied by tenderness in the neck and the back of the scalp, spasms in the neck, dizziness and so on. Have a look at the most commonly observed symptoms of this condition. Pain (usually sharp and stabbing in nature) at one side of the head Spasms in the neck Dizziness Blurred vision Tenderness in the neck Pain between the shoulder blades Fatigue Headache Ear ache Pain in the shoulders Sore spot at the back of the head Pain or pressure in the eyes Causes of Occipital Neuritis
As mentioned earlier, the condition occurs because of the trauma or injury that takes place in the occipital nerve. This can take place due to a hit, injury or some form of whiplash in the neck. Mentioned below is a list of possible causes of this condition. Stress Infection Injury (could be in the cervical spine as well) Whiplash Syphilis is also known to be a factor triggering this condition Shingles Tightness of the neck muscles Driving/sitting for long periods of time Repetitive usage of phone can also be a cause Aging can also lead to this condition Treatment for Occipital Neuritis
The treatment options would actually depend upon the underlying cause of the condition. If it is due to muscle stiffness, then the treatment would be different to that of an occipital neuritis due to shingles. Therefore, if you can identify yourself with the aforementioned symptoms and signs, or even causes perhaps, then you must get yourself checked by a healthcare specialist and get the root cause checked. Mentioned below are the most commonly used treatment methods to cure the condition. Have a look! Injections to relieve the pain Heat-cold compressions Pain killers Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Rest to relax the muscles Massage therapy Surgery I hope this article helped you understand the condition in a much better way and also that talking too much on the phone, sitting and driving for long hours is not good for your body. Always try to keep a balance in whatever you do and do not strain yourself so much! After all, health is more important than everything else in the world, right? So the next time you experience pain in the back of the head and neck, make sure you don't avoid it but visit a trusted healthcare specialist as soon as possible.
No, for some reason I thought he was in Nashville? Ironically I saw someone at the same practice as him though, Dr. Einhaus.
Is this something I should be getting a second opinion on?