Headaches and neck pain

[AdyW]

Hi first time posting and looking for some advice. I suffered a SAH (Subarachnoid haemorrhage) in June this year. After 11 days I was allowed to come home. Recovery has been slow and steady but I’m having horrible neck pain to the point where I think I need more pain meds and am using tiger balm for my neck. Has anybody any experienced this? Will it go away? I’m not sure where or who to talk too.

[Lottierose1]

Hi Ady sorry to hear about your problem.I suffered the same injury in October last year and similar to you I’ve made progress recovering but I suffer the same symptoms.I’ve been trying to manage it with painkillers over time thinking it would eventually disappear. It starts with a pain at the base of my skull and the pain spreads up into my head causing what I can only compare with a severe migraine. It’s becoming less frequent but it continues every 3 to four weeks. I eventually, like you got to the point where I need to hopefully solve this problem. I contacted my rehabilitation department and a Doctor called me yesterday. He informed me it’s a usual problem after such a serious injury and recommended a ct scan at a future date. He said it was a precautionary measure and if nothing is noticed on the scan he will inform my GP to arrange an appointment with the local neurologist here in Chelmsford. I hope this helps and keep us informed on your progress

Good luck

Paul

[AdyW in reply to Lottierose1]

Thank you for the reply and sharing your experience. Glad I’m not alone in the pain. Mine starts from the back of my neck then goes up the left hand side almost to my temple. I have my Check up MRI on the 23rd December. Will go from there. Neuro nurse is calling me back on Wednesday so the might shed some light from there Thanks again for replying to me.

[Pairofboots]

Hi Andy, I didn't have a SAH, but a different hiccup. I was discharged, and a few weeks later was readmitted due to extreme pain. Can't remember what they did, but the pain was resolved to a manageable level. Later I started to experience severe neck pain, a physio from the rehab team gave me some exercises that were a miracle. So it would be worth having a chat with the rehab team. 🍀

[AdyW]

Thank you so much for the reply. Glad to see I’m not alone. I have my check up MRI on the 23rd of December I am worried about it given the pain I’m in. Once the results of that come back I defiantly think i rehab team would help. Thanks again for replying.

[sputnik22]

I had a SAH, like you and struggled with neck pain. After months I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation. Hopefully this won't apply but something to may be consider. Good luck

[BooSocks10]

i had a SAH in December 2020 and am suffering the same thing! Starts back of the head and goes round towards the left hand side -a burning/stingy pain? I've sourced my own neuro physio who is treating me for cerviogenic headaches. GP prescribed 2 weeks Naproxen for inflammation which i don't think are making a button of difference! Very frustrating

[AdyW in reply to BooSocks10]

Thanks for the reply. I have a phone call with my doctors today will look into some pain relief. Also nurse from nuro on weds. Hopefully I can find a balance. Recovery was going well up to this week. Hope you find a solution soon. The head aches and burning neck pain are not pleasant.

[AlmaMatters]

Hi Andy

I had an SAH 11 years ago and suffer with the same pain. It hasn’t gone, and I take Amitryptaline for it which does help to ease that strong tension pain originating in the neck. Looking at the comments it seems it’s quite common in those of us who’ve had an SAH. I can’t offer any other advice apart from the painkiller I take for it. It’s actually an antidepressant but also works well in tension type head and neck pain. I only take them maybe once or twice a week if the pain is particularly bad. Not ideal to be reliant on them but if nothing else works for you (like me) it may be worth looking into.

[Jill777 in reply to AlmaMatters]

Hi Andy my story is similar to yours. im taking paracetamol and ue heated up cushions for my neck pain. i spread it out on my pillow then put my head in the middle and then hold the ends into the sides of my neck.. good luck

[AdyW in reply to Jill777]

Do you find you can only now lye on one side of your head?. I’m finding this. Also moved onto codine now.

[AdyW]

Thanks for the reply I take regular paracetamol and have some Dihydrocodeine but that doesn’t agree with me. There seems to be a few of us with SAH that are suffering.

[Alibongo60]

Hi adyW, I had a SAH back in 2017, and have suffered with neck and head pain since. I have been on amitryptiline, which were fairly good at reducing it but piled weight on, then put on tipimarate, which again has subdued it, these recommended by my neurologist, I dread having to bend down to pick anything up, or sneezing which feels as if my head is going to explode, I dread getting a cold let alone covid, I hope you get some comfort love Alice xx

[SAH-survivor]

Hi adyW. I had a SAH in August 2018 and had colliding. Over 3 years later, I am still suffering from chronic headaches and neck pain. I have seen various neurologists who keep

Telling me it’s a migraine…but I know it’s not. I had a MRV yesterday which is like an MRI of the veins in the head and there is narrowing which is causing a pounding headache and swooshing sounds. Still fighting the fight to try and get some answers. For now, I can advise regular massage, magnesium, omega 3, vitamin B and D and a brain diet. Good luck with your scan on 23rd!