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Question: Headache and Neck Pain for Weeks
| akcoble
- Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:06 pm |
Greetings,
I am a 41 year old mother of 2. I have been having low grade Headaches (about a 5 severity) and severe Neck pain for about 10 weeks. Starting this week I have numbness in my left foot, left hand and sometimes my lips and tongue after a few hours after getting out of bed - I also have the need to urinate more often. . I am mildly dizzy and slightly sensitive to light. The Neck pain wakes me at night. I take Advil and can go back to sleep. The pain is worse in the afternoon/evening. The pain starts in the neck and base of the skull then radiates upwards. My neck cracks and creaks when I move it. And most of the time the pain seems really focused in the neck area.
I was in a "fender bender" car accident in early November and didn't start to experience any of this pain until mid February. I have been told that delay in pain is not unusual.
Of course I am freaked about brain tumor or cancerous problems with my neck or the back of my head. I have a second follow up next week my my PCP. I am able to function and take care of my daily responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom, but the psychological impact of chronic pain is taking its toll and I allow my imagination to wander in all sorts of scary directions. My family has had a devastating winter loss of a pregnanacy and the suicide of a parent. I know that my emotional state is compounding this (I am seeing a therapist too), but I am wondering what tests can be performed to rule out the scary stuff and how I can convince my PCP to order these tests.
I guess I need some reassurance and advice. Thanks for your time.
Amy
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| Dr. Tamer Fouad
- Sun May 01, 2005 6:09 am |
 Hello,
I would advise that you discuss with your PCP the possibility of a CT/MRI scan of the neck (cervical vertebrae). Your symptoms could be related to osteoarthrosis of vertebrae. I hope you are getting your breast check-ups (including mammos) given the high incidence of Breast cancer in your family.
Best regards,
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