For as long as I remember I have had a sore head, at the back of my skull. I have been thinking that the pain has been coming from the tension I have in my neck & shoulders.
However, this last week I have been experiencing a different head pain. It's still at the back on my head by further up from 'normal' day to day head pain. The new pain is so intense, almost feels 'inside' of my skull and is a burning sensation. The pain seems to flare up daily to the point I can't move my head. It doesn't feel like any headache Ive had before & isn't a migraine.
Any ideas? Suggestions? How can I relieve the pain?
Written by
charlie_red
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
hi charlie, (this tablet I'm on is deleting things) sorry to hear that. it's always best to discuss new or worrying symptoms with your gp, as so many things can cause similar symptoms. we can only advise as no-one is medically trained.
I hope it doesn't stop you from having a good sleep tonight. let us know how you get on.
I am so sorry to read that you are suffering in this way at the present time, and I genuinely hope that you can find some resolution and relief to this issue. I was wondering if you have ever had x-rays or an scan of the area (especially the neck?) As what you describe comes across as being a little like arthritis whereby the bones are rubbing and creating tension headaches further up, and into the skull?
Obviously I am not a doctor but I have similar symptoms to this and I can always tell the difference between this and when I suffer a Migraine. I see that you are going to discuss the issue with your GP, so I would ask if there is any chance that this is happening to you? It would be more clear cut if you were experiencing any dizzy spells as this would indicate blood vessels being ground by the neck bones!
I want to wish you all the best of luck and I genuinely hope that you can find the answers that you desire and deserve.
Hello Ken, thanks for your reply. I've not had recent X-rays of my neck/head area, but I did a few years ago & it showed some wear and tear.
I'm still experiencing severe pain and seeing little white floating dots! I've been to the doctor and she had prescribed diazepam. I've been taking this for the last few days and it's helping 'slightly' but not much.
I was told exactly the same as that about 25 years ago, and it has developed from there. Diazepam should be a good relaxant for this sort of area so I hope that it works well for you.
Can't believe I'm not the only one.had this for awhile too.horrible feeling in back of head from the top down the two sides to neck down to middle of shoulders down my arms and in to my fingers causing numbness and pain in the arms and fingers.Also souls of my feet are killing me.so your not on your own.
Hi - I have a lot of pain in the back of my head and it is often transferred pain from the muscles in my neck and upper back, from trigger points. Over 70% of people with fibro also have myofascial pain syndrome which means that the muscles have a point in the middle that goes into a knot and the rest of the muscle shortens. The fascia in the muscle then distort and this causes pain, and it can affect any area in the body. I use the workbook by Clare Davies and find my trigger points for my pain by following the easy instructions, then I put pressure on the trigger points using a tennis ball or theracane and release the muscle. Sometimes I can do it at once, and other times it takes a bit of working on. It really is worth it, and you don't have to take any more medication for it. They don't do this in pain clinics in UK and I don't know why. You can have trigger point injections from a doctor who specialises in this, either a local anaesthetic or dry needling into the trigger point that also works, or you can visit a masseur who is used to deep massage or myofascial release if you can afford it. From my own experience, it really works. Love and hope this helps.
Hello, thanks for your reply! I suffer from muscle knots every day, and they just get worse & worse, nothing seems to release them. ive been going for weekly massages for three years now which seems to help a little. I'm glad it's the same massage lady as she know where my knots & tender areas are. I've also had the steroid and neasthetic injections, but unfortunately they never worked for me.
I think I will try and have. Go at using a tennis ball on my trigger points, however I have reduced mobility in my shoulders, so worried I won't be able to reach my problem area, which is my back.
If you put a tennis ball into an old stocking or leg of a pair of tights, you can then hold the end of the stocking and put the ball over your shoulder and it means that you can reach lots of parts that you otherwise can't reach I do trigger point massage on my lower back by lying on the tennis ball and rolling around until I find the spot, when it hurts rather exquisitely and you can feel the pain radiating, then I lie on the spot for about 30 seconds or until the pain starts to ease a bit. Hope this helps. Better than a therapist because you can do it every day, or 2-3 times a day.
Hi Charlie , from what you have written this sounds like the pain I have experienced for the last 10 years. It was worse while working but I still get the pain just less frequently. It used to be so painful I couldn't move my head or touch the base of my skull at either side. It sometimes would develop into migraine and no painkillers did the trick. Recently I have tried Voltarol and it sometimes eases the pain slightly.
As everyone has suggested talk to your Doctor. Try not to become too anxious as I have heard many people with Fibro describing the same symptoms.
PS. I often found my neck pain would go when travelling home after a hard days work. So my pain was stress related.
Hello, thanks for your comment. That's exactly what I've been experiencing, it's horrible & so painful.
My head is constantly sore, I've not recognised any triggers yet, except lying down where my head is flat, that makes it worse.
I went to the doctors he other day and I'm now taking diazepam, along with cocodomol 30/500mg, 100mg of tramadol, pregablin, melatonin & severdol .. Hoping it helps a little at least!
Hi Charlie - Red, I just asked that question and had some recommendation from all of our groups here 3 days ago, I might have the same experience such as yours, its worse than migraine though, as i face I can feel your pain..I am still under treatment, my gps giving up, so does my reumatoligists, I am under my neurologists now, I am on gabapentin, tramadol, morphine, topiramate, as well as citalopram, estradiol, betahistine, and still in pain, they have done, Ct scan, MRI, I have done Physio, Accupunture, TENS, Massage, I am doing extra meditation am, pm (20 mnts each time) and I am going to join my local FM group.. I am still suffering.., I have to give up my job..as my condition getting worse..I can stand with the whole body pain and ache...bad this tremendous head pain..I just can stand it anymore, I just don't know what to do.., i wish some one can help me with this..but I just wish,, my health care professionals can come up with something.., sometime, I cry at night with so much pain..even opiod don't help at all...
Hello, sorry to hear your in so much pain too. It's horrible, especially the head pain. Mines never seems to go away or get better, only worse if possible.
I went to the doctors the other day and I'm now taking diazepam, along with cocodomol 30/500mg, 100mg of tramadol, pregablin, melatonin & severdol .. Hoping it helps a little at least!
Sorry to hear you have no relief. I've not experienced any relief but willing to give this combination a try!
Hi, I had head, neck, and shoulder pain and took about everything in the house as it was just horrible. I still ended up having to go in to a rapid care clinic and get a shot of something before it went away. Mine hurt so bad that for 6 months I couldn't lay my head down on a pillow. It the tension in our muscles and so very painful. I feel for you sweetheart. I had to end up going to a pain clinic and now it's not unbearable. I would ask to be referred there. I sure hope this helps. xxxx Mitzi
Hello Mitzi, thanks so much for your reply. Ouch, that sounded painful, what did the pain clinic do for you? I attend the pain clinic, but appointments are never close together & need to wait months. I went to the doctors the other day who did a good check. She suggested that the muscles and tendons in my neck are causing the pain in my head. This is because they are so tight and painful already.
I went to the doctors the other day and I'm now taking diazepam, along with cocodomol 30/500mg, 100mg of tramadol, pregablin, melatonin & severdol .. Hoping it helps a little at least!
I'm still trying to manage it & find out what triggers the pain, however the only thing I know is lying down in my back, which I suppose is creating more pressure.
They put me on Opana ER 10mg twice a day. It was like I could suddenly breath again. Maybe you should ask about trying it. Hope this helps sweetheart!!! xxx Mitzi
I get this too and so sorry to hear you are experiencing it. I think it is all part of the general syndrome but I know at times sometimes I have felt I am going mad and no-one will believe me about the sorts of pains I get and the intensity of it; so in a strange kind of way it has been reassuring for me to read your post and others on here as everything I experience I now know other people have experienced.
I don't know what can help with it; it just seems to be a continual thing with me but I guess "going with it" rather than being scared to death as I feel sometimes can be a good thing as being scared can turn into a desperate vicious circle in my case.
Let us know how you get on at the docs. You are definately not alone in this anyway which may help you to some extent to know.
Hey Gemma, thanks for your supportive and encouraging message. I was unaware that others experienced head pain too, seems I'm not alone.
It has really been affecting me last week or so, especially driving and then driving at work, it causes so much more pain. I'm really bad at pacing, and I tend to put others before me daily. Like today, I had my Aunty visiting and she had asked of we could go to the shops as she has a few bits to get. Feeling the way I was today I should have said no and she could have went with my mum, but I didn't. Now I'm suffering even more!
I've been to the doctors the other day! She was good and did a check all over and reassured me that it was not something that required emergency medical assistance - thank goodness! She thinking the head pain is coming from the muscles and tendons in my neck since they are extremely sore and like rocks!
I'm now taking diazepam, along with cocodomol 30/500mg, 100mg of tramadol, pregablin, melatonin & severdol .. Hoping it helps a little at least!
I suffered this pain over 20 years ago and still do not so intense now but at first it was unbearable debilitating me for days. It became so unbearable I had to give up work and doctors weren't really doing much saying it was migraine (not) and psychosomatic, eventually although very hard up and desperate I went private for a consultation £25 ( at the time). The consultant queried that I had no health insurance for private and could see I could not really afford it so booked me into his NHS outpatient clinic as he suspected worst case scenario of disc impingement on spinal cord or fluid. Eventually he booked me for an MRI which showed what he suspected oesteophyte impingement into spinal fluid and two floating broken bits of bone. They decided not to operate due to the position and I have suffered since but at least I knew the pain was 'real' I have been on dihyrocodeine ever since. Like I say the pain is less intense now as I have learnt what aggravates it. Pain relief gel or spray, application of heat to the area, neck collar and rest help when necessary. Find a comfortable position to lie and try to keep still to let the inflammation (?) settle down when extremely intense, this will all help as will hot baths or showers. It might not be as severe as this I don't know as I'm not a doctor but it sounds like a trapped nerve when it goes down and numbs the fingers. the trapped nerve should settle down of its own accord after a few weeks with this self help I know it can be unbearable but I would insist on an x ray possibly an MRI the doctors might be more helpful in your case. This was my case and we are all different I notice many suffers of fibro have neck pain at the base of the skull and mine was a worst case scenario but for reassurance I would get it checked out and in the meantime try the self help measures. I wish you all the best and a quick recovery and hope you get the help and treatment if necessary you deserve ..
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Chronic Pain in head
When pain suddenly rears its ugly head!
Pain in neck and head
