New to this forum, but not HealthUnlocked, terrible neck pain/stiffness and headaches

[Peanut31]

Hello

I’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s (autoimmune disease) and an underactive Thyroid.

Before I got diagnosed I suffered with terrible neck stiffness and the Endocrinologist said it was due to Epstein Barr Virus. This never went despite having anti virus tablets. I tried physio, chiropractic, acupuncture with no success.

In fact it was the acupuncturist that suggested I have my thyroid tested.

Once I started thyroid medication my neck stiffness did disappear, but I wasn’t well at all on thyroid medication, and I’m still not

Now my neck stiffness and pain has come back worse than ever.

This also included a really intense sharp headache that made me stop what I was doing. It wasn’t consistent, but if I moved my neck, walked, it felt my neck was too heavy on my body. The only relief I get is laying down.

Only paracetamols would take the edge off the pain.

I have blocked ears and ringing in my ears as well. It got so bad a few weeks ago that I went to A&E as struggled to obtain a GP appointment. They looked in my ears and said I had an ear infection and to take antibiotics. My ears didn’t hurt or were leaking. I took them and my ears were still blocked and my headaches and pain become more intense.

I had managed to obtain a GP appointment, but my family were concerned I went back to A&E.

This time they took bloods, and gave me an brain MRI Scan.

My bloods came back normal, and my scan on my brain normal. They sent a consultation from ENT that said I didn’t have an ear infection, but couldn’t explain my ears being blocked and put it down to a virus infection, despite the first doctor telling me I had an ear infection and prescribing me antibiotics.

They were going to admit me and do a lumbar puncture, but after a further physical examination, decided to discharge me and arrange an outpatients MRI of my neck.

They gave me some medication to take naproxen and pregabalin.

The pregabalin has made no difference at all, In fact it made it worse, but the naproxen does help.

I had a massage today and I was told that all my muscles were tight, neck, shoulders, back. It gave me some relief but my pain is coming back. The headaches aren’t as bad, but my neck feels so tight and stiff, which then leads to tension headaches.

My neck stiffness is as soon as I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night. The headaches are at the front of my head and feels like a tight belt around it.

Can anyone offer me advice please. Am I being fobbed off, should I ask for an X-Ray. I just feel Ive gone from taking no medication to taking loads.

Best Wishes

Peanut31

[Mary-intussuception]

Hi

What Thyroid medication are you taking now and what dose? A starting dose might be 50mcg Levothyroxine so are you still on that or more?

Are you taking your Levothyroxine on it's own with water only & on an empty stomach and at least one hour before food & drink?

Do you know not to take any other medications at the same time?

It takes a while on the Thyroid meds before we feel better - but they are for life.

Have you had any nutrients levels blood tests especially :

Vitamin D, B12, Folate and Ferritin? Also Calcium & Phosphorus? You may have deficiencies that need prescribed supplements.

You could ask for xrays. I had horrendous head pain & heavy head . The xrays showed bad sinusitis in the Frontal sinuses. So nothing sinister but extremely painful & debilitating.

Had bad sinusitis in Maxillary sinuses also, but was under Oral max fax surgeon for that. (Long time ago now).

Edit:

I've just read your profile and see you are on T3 only.

I would keep going back to GP. Could ask for MRI scan of neck ?? Here that would probably take an Orthopaedic referal.

Whilst waiting ask for urgent Physio appoinment.

And/or Pain Clinic referal.

[morphalot]

Hi sorry to read about your symptoms - they sound nasty. I'm surprised about the antibiotics being given as this is not normally the case for a vital infection antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections.

There doesn't seem much point to asking for an x-ray Ray, as you are already waiting for an MRI, which will give the doctor more information than an x-ray.

I'm sorry I don't understand what you're saying about the infection in your ears. You seem to be saying two things - vital and bacterial infections?

The headaches sound like they could be tension or stress headaches. With seeing your doctor again I think.

[Peanut31 in reply to morphalot]

Hi sorry for the confusion.

I went to A&E twice, the first time I went they looked in my ears and said I had an ear infection and that was what causing my neck stiffness and pain and my intense headaches.

They prescribed me antibiotics. I took them for the full 7 days, they made no difference at all, my ears were still blocked and ringing in my ears.

My neck pain and stiffness got so intense as did my headaches that I went back to A&E.

This is when they got an ENT consultant to look in my ears and said there was no infection, but couldn’t explain my ears being blocked, and, put this down to a virus infection.

The MRI Scan was only of my head, not my neck so I’m waiting for an outpatient appointment for my neck.

Thanks for your reply

Best wishes

Peanut31