Neck/headache problems

[TheArtist]

Occasionally I get the ol neck ache, probably from painting and drawing on ceilings for over 15 years. But this last year I have not been doing that so much, yet my neck has been really starting to hurt more often.

Yesterday it started out as a slight "crick" in my neck, then progressively got worse as the day wore on. Wouldn't be so bad if it was just a sore neck, but its at the back and top of my head and starts to feel like a massive headache. I had to go home early and just ended up sleeping for the rest of the day. Sometimes it hurts so bad I literally start feeling sick to my stomach and it feels like what you would imagine a migraine being like. I try taking aspirin or Tylenol, but to no avail.

I am hurting again today, felt ok in the morning, but just got worse as the day went on. Took 3 Tylenol a couple hours ago, thought taking an extra one might help, might as well have been nothing. Left work again early, just felt awful. (Course today to, as per usual it seems, those new houses always have someone either staining and clearcoating new wood floors, the trim, cabinets, new chemically carpet etc. and the smell makes you sick. But hey, you have to work and eat.) It feels like my muscles get a bit tight or that "crick" in them, then they just cramp and tense up which just makes it worse. So no matter how slight it may be at first, the muscles then tense up and keep tensing until your in agony. Right now I just wish I were dead to stop feeling so horrible.


Should I go to a general practitioner or a chiropractor? I dont have medical insurance so will just be paying out of pocket.

[Gaspar]

Go to an MD.  You need an X-ray just to make sure, but I would bet you have a bulging disk at C1 or C2.  A chiropractor may be able to massage you into a little endorphin release and therefore elevate the pain for a short period of time, but a nice short duration prescription for Celebrex will actually shrink the swelling and help the tissues to heal.

If you choose not to go to an MD, try Naproxin Sodium (Naperson or Aleve) It works far better for musculo-skeletal problems than Tylenol.  TAKE ONLY THE DOSAGE THE BOTTLE PERSCRIBES.  More is not better.  Dosage is based on the amount necessary to build up the necessary serum level in your blood.  When you over take any pain medication you only put undue stress on your liver and kidneys.

If you are without insurance hit Community Health Connection.  They will treat you for a very reasonable price or nothing at all based on your ability to pay.

I hope you feel better. You do wonderful work!

[Conan71]

Agree on Naproxin, disagree on first call to the MD.

The chiro is going to do an Xray first anynhow  and all an MD can do is prescribe narcotics and anti-inflammitories.  I never put much stock in chiros until I had a bad racing accident about 17 years ago.  I still have residual problems with my neck which crop up once a year, go back and see my chiro for two to three weeks and I'm fine for another year.

Many MD's refer to chiros these days as manipulation is sometimes the very best course of treatment.  My chiro added a deep tissue specialist this year and he's working with me on dealing with scar tissue I've got in my neck.  It's kept me from needing serious meds and not having to go under the knife for many years.  

I'm not going to spam for my chiro, if anyone needs a referral, please PM me.  FAIC, he's got the most integrity of any of them and will tell someone he can't help them if he can't do it.

[RecycleMichael]

I think you are having an allergic reaction to oil based paints.

I suggest you switch to washable markers.

[Breadburner]

Go to Doctor Joe Wolf....He is an exclent old school D.O...I have been seeing him for about 16 years and sent countless people to him for back and neck problems...Thats one of the benefits of a D.O. they are educated in spine issues and can do adjustments if need be....748-8111 he's located at about 47th and Harvard.....I also think you should try Ibuprofen take 3 or 4 200mg.....I'm in the same boat as you are the last 6 months or so and even had a CAT scan that came back negative...I need to get back in so we can figure this out....

[brunoflipper]

quote:Originally posted by Breadburner

Go to Doctor Joe Wolf....He is an exclent old school D.O...I have been seeing him for about 16 years and sent countless people to him for back and neck problems...Thats one of the benefits of a D.O. they are educated in spine issues and can do adjustments if need be....748-8111 he's located at about 47th and Harvard.....I also think you should try Ibuprofen take 3 or 4 200mg.....I'm in the same boat as you are the last 6 months or so and even had a CAT scan that came back negative...I need to get back in so we can figure this out....

CT scan of the neck? for what? were you a trauma patient? an MRI would have made a hell of a lot more sense....

you got a significant radiation dose for a very low-yield (some might say, worthless) study... assuming it was done locally, your 5 minute ride in the scanner (if all they did was your neck) got you anywhere from 3-10 millisievert (mSv) of radiation... hiroshima and nagasaki survivors got around 50-200 mSv... not something you want to be put through unless the risk/benefit ratio makes sense...

"old school" may want to brush up a bit...

[Breadburner]

quote:Originally posted by brunoflipper

quote:Originally posted by Breadburner

Go to Doctor Joe Wolf....He is an exclent old school D.O...I have been seeing him for about 16 years and sent countless people to him for back and neck problems...Thats one of the benefits of a D.O. they are educated in spine issues and can do adjustments if need be....748-8111 he's located at about 47th and Harvard.....I also think you should try Ibuprofen take 3 or 4 200mg.....I'm in the same boat as you are the last 6 months or so and even had a CAT scan that came back negative...I need to get back in so we can figure this out....

CT scan of the neck? for what? were you a trauma patient? an MRI would have made a hell of a lot more sense....

you got a significant radiation dose for a very low-yield (some might say, worthless) study... assuming it was done locally, your 5 minute ride in the scanner (if all they did was your neck) got you anywhere from 3-10 millisievert (mSv) of radiation... hiroshima and nagasaki survivors got around 50-200 mSv... not something you want to be put through unless the risk/benefit ratio makes sense...

"old school" may want to brush up a bit...

CT for the headaches..Dumbass.....

[brunoflipper]

dumbass? Seems uncalled for... Especially comin from a guy who gets his neck 'adjusted' for headaches...

[brunoflipper]

yeah, congrats your CT ruled out a mass- maybe but not a small one... But youd have thought he could have used some other clues to rule it out... At least thats what i saw tv last night...

[TheArtist]

I am going to try and go in on Monday and see the Chiro RecycleMichael referred me to in a PM. Not that the others dont sound just as well, he was just first on the referral lol. Thanks for all the referrals and tips, its much appreciated. My neck has been a little sore today, but not bad. I was supposed to work on painting some artwork on a ceiling, up on some scaffolding monday. But I think I am going to call the client and explain that I may be late or may not make it in Monday. Will just have to see. Then doing the PlaniTulsa thing tuesday. Hopefully the homeowner and the builder wont be in too bad a hurry to get the scaffolding out of the hallway lol.

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

I am going to try and go in on Monday and see the Chiro RecycleMichael referred me to in a PM.

I could operate if you need it. I have a sharp pocket knife and have been reading some blogs about surgery.

I can't prescribe pain medicine but I have a bottle of expensive tequila and a small rubber mallet. I feel pretty sure one of them will knock you out.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

I am going to try and go in on Monday and see the Chiro RecycleMichael referred me to in a PM.

I could operate if you need it. I have a sharp pocket knife and have been reading some blogs about surgery.

I can't prescribe pain medicine but I have a bottle of expensive tequila and a small rubber mallet. I feel pretty sure one of them will knock you out.

I hope this is not an indication of how your Chiro works lol. Although, when I am in the full throws of head and neck pain, I would probably say bring it on lol.    

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

I am going to try and go in on Monday and see the Chiro RecycleMichael referred me to in a PM.

I could operate if you need it. I have a sharp pocket knife and have been reading some blogs about surgery.

I can't prescribe pain medicine but I have a bottle of expensive tequila and a small rubber mallet. I feel pretty sure one of them will knock you out.

I hope this is not an indication of how your Chiro works lol. Although, when I am in the full throws of head and neck pain, I would probably say bring it on lol.    

This may sound stupid (I know coming from me what usually isn't) but have you checked the maxillofacial lymph nodes for swelling?  The reason I ask this is because when I was younger I had the same symptoms you're describing and it took a day or more for me to realize that the lymph nodes just under the ears in the area where the jaw and neck converge were swollen to the size of large eggs.  This created quite a pain in my neck that mimicked stiffness early in the AM and got somewhat worse as the day progressed.  I was about 19 when all this happened.

Turned out after going to my DO on day three of this (happened around the weekend so I had little choice really) and two diagnoses later, I had mononucleosis.  I was down for three weeks and lost about 25 pounds from it.

[Red Arrow]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

I am going to try and go in on Monday and see the Chiro RecycleMichael referred me to in a PM.

I could operate if you need it. I have a sharp pocket knife and have been reading some blogs about surgery.

I can't prescribe pain medicine but I have a bottle of expensive tequila and a small rubber mallet. I feel pretty sure one of them will knock you out.

You really need to stay in a Holiday Inn Express for at least one night before operating.

[Red Arrow]

I agree with getting checked out by the medical people.

Beyond that, learn to eat (more) hot peppers. I have read that the capsaicin (the hot in hot peppers) can increase one's tolerance to pain. It may also open a new world of flavors to you.  Jalapenos are a good starter pepper. Work up to cayenne or serranos. Much hotter than that requires dilution to all but the craziest of chili heads. I like diced cayenne or serrano in my lettuce salads.  The flavor of Habanero pepper is nice but a little bit goes a looooooong way.  The "hot" is in the fleshy veins inside the pepper, not the seeds. Remove the seeds to get rid of some of the bitterness.