Please can anyone help???

[SpiritualT]

I’ve scared myself silly. I’m 34 and been to an osteopath yesterday for back and neck pain. He cracked my neck and today I’ve woke up with a severe migraine and neck pain. I googled it (stupidly) and it states that in very rare cases it can tear an artery in your neck and cause a stroke!! Because I have health anxiety I have freaked myself out that I am going to have a stroke!

I phoned the osteopath and he said I would have more of a chance being run over by a car. I’m very frightened it’s been about 31 hours since I have been at the osteopath.

[Cakelady74]

Oh poor you... Probably a correct response from the osteopath, although a unhelpful one if you have health anxiety!!! I too have it, its horrid, irrational etc etc.... But you still go through it. When I have been to the osteopath, I always seem to get a headache etc afterwards. Mine more helpfully said that it often happens due to things being freed up and is a result of the pressure that was there and the relaxing of nerves etc etc xxx

[SpiritualT in reply to Cakelady74]

Thanks for your response I am actually crying my eyes out here thinking I’m about to have an impending stroke anytime! I cannot cope

[Cakelady74 in reply to SpiritualT]

Oh no.... Please don't worry. I understand that's easy to say and not easy to take on board. Google should be banned for looking stuff up on!!!! I always find worse case scenarios.... You have too!!!!

[SpiritualT in reply to Cakelady74]

Thank you. Do you think I’m going to be okay? If anything was going to happen I thought it would have by now wouldn’t it?

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to SpiritualT]

You’ll be okay

[SpiritualT in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Are you sure? I’m worrying myself sick

[Cakelady74 in reply to SpiritualT]

You'll be fine.... Breathe, relax, this week also help with the migraine and tension. You can do this.... X

[Jvicks]

Dr Google is the worst! I diagnose myself with death every time. I get how you would be worried. I think every body pain is caused by cancer. I always ask myself, what evidence do you have to believe this? I try to trust medical professional as much as possible. Hope you feel better!

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Jvicks]

Stub your toe it gives you eyeball cancer😊

[Jeff1943]

As you say SpiritualT, over 31 hours have passed and if something was going to happen it would have happened by now.

You did the right thing in phoning up the osteopath and asking what he thought for your reassurance. Now you have to decide what advice is the most valid. That of a professional osteopath who does this thing 7 hours a day for years? Or Doctor Google where you usually end up with worst case scenarios? I think the answer is pretty obvious.

You know you have health anxiety so you know all the health symptoms you experience derive from your over sensitive nerves not from physical illness. As I often say: you can't recover from an illness you don't have no matter how hard you try.

[weegmack]

Oh bless you, you are just like me. I also have health anxiety and it is so awful. I live in terror. I can totally understand why you’re crying and so frightened. I agree with others, that you would know long before 31 hours if you were having a stroke. But it’s easy for me to say that! I do think you will be ok and you did the right thing calling the osteopath. I hope you begin to feel a bit calmer and stay off Google! I’m the worst for googling symptoms and terrifying myself. Sending a big hug ♥️

[SpiritualT in reply to weegmack]

Thank you. I’m literally crying at your response. I’ve got such a bad headache and I can’t rationalise. I only went for back pain but I won’t go again! So you think I will be okay then?

[weegmack in reply to SpiritualT]

I do. Honestly. If it’s any reassurance to you, I suffer with a daily headache and once had the most dreadful headache after getting my hair washed at the hairdresser. I felt dizzy and was convinced I was having a stroke (from my neck leaning on the basin edge). And that was a couple of years ago and I’m still here.

If you were having a stroke, you wouldn’t be able to type coherently. You’d be typing any old letters that would make no sense. You would also have a change to your face - you wouldn’t be able to smile for instance, on one side. You would have weakness and confusion. So I’m very much reassured that you’re able to type coherently and interact with us on here.

Occipital nerves come from our cervical spine (top few vertebrae) and basically cover our head and face. There is such a thing as occipital neuralgia, which is very painful. The occipital nerves are easily aggravated by treatment like you’ve had or by tension or whiplash, for instance. I get occipital neuralgia because I have this daily tension headache. It’s horrible and most likely the root of your pain. As Neuronerd says, try painkillers and something cold on your neck, like a cool pack wrapped in a tea towel.

I really do believe you will be ok. Message me if you need to talk. I know how awful this is. I’m convinced I’m dying at least three times a week! Xxxxx

Oh, I meant to ask - are you in the UK? X

[SpiritualT in reply to weegmack]

I will PM you now.

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to weegmack]

Weegmack has a perfect answer.

[NeuronerdDoaty]

I can’t let them touch my neck. Unless you have bruising your veins and arteries are fine. The lessor or greater occipital nerves most likely were pinched. You want to use ice and anti inflammatory medication plus call the doctor.

[SpiritualT in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

So I won’t have a stroke then? What do you mean?

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to SpiritualT]

No so you won’t be in pain. It calms down the nerves. As someone already mentioned the nerves come off your cervical spine. I refuse to let anyone touch my neck. I get a migraine every time.

I must say in 30 years of neurology and neuroscience I’ve never seen what you spoke of happening. I worked at teaching hospitals as well. If it’s going to happen that’s where it will happen.

[SpiritualT in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Really? Thank you that makes me feel better, ive seen a dr and she said i have no neurological abnormalities. I should have never read anything on the internet, maybe ive been suffering with a migraine then. I wont be going to an osteopath again.

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to SpiritualT]

Migraine and particularly occipital migraine are neurological. I think you should tell the doctor your nerves got tweaked to the point of a migraine. Please try to keep your jaw slightly open, you can use ice behind your ears and on the very base of your skull. That tends to calm down the two sets of occipital nerves. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I don’t have health anxiety and that would freak me out. I’d say you’re handling it quite well. Best thing to do is not clench your jaw in anxiety.

I’m doing it while typing. I really hate this for you.

[SpiritualT in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Thank you i really appreciate your help and expertise. I am sat at the moment with a bag of ice at the base of my skull. I work in healthcare too and I just could not rationalize before at all. My emotional brain took over.

[NeuronerdDoaty in reply to SpiritualT]

Gotcha! You’re doing great. I promise.

[SpiritualT in reply to NeuronerdDoaty]

Thank you and to all of you for your loving support.