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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> A new guy
        
(Message started by: peteycat on Aug 29^th, 2003, 3:20pm)

Title: A new guy
Post by peteycat on Aug 29^th, 2003, 3:20pm

Hello all,
Having perused this site, I find that my symptoms are not typical, yet the salient features are present. My pain isn't localized around the eye, as I discover is the predominant focus of sufferer's agony. My pain occurs just behind my right ear, like an ice-pick. From there it will radiate toward the right eye and down into the right shoulder, like a deep burning. It generally doesn't affect my sinuses, but feels more muscular in nature. I feel as though a metal brace is fused to my shoulder and neck muscles, and is slowly and inexorably being constricted. My jaw tightens, particularly on the right side. Often, the joint where my jaw connects will pop loudly when I move my jaw, and I can hear a crackling noise in my ear.
Then it will disappear.
Then BAM!!! :o It's back with a vengence. The ice-pick behind my ear. The pain litterally brings me to my knees and I've found myself banging my head against the wall or the floor, whimpering like a puppy being electrocuted.
My symptoms are episodic. In fact, the last two days are the first full attacks I've had in at least six months. Back then it was two or three a month, but my life was much more hectic and stressful back then. I'm also in better shape these days, working out semi-regularly. But obviously they're not gone. . . Just hibernating I suppose. :-/
So I guess if I'm asking a particular question, it's whether anyone else experiences their CHs in the way I do? Behind the ear like an ice-pick, and radiating through the shoulder and toward the eye, with tightness in the jaw? Might I be suffering from something else? ??? The pain is consistant in its explosive quality and that it's episodic- zero to head banging in .5 seconds. I dunno.
I'm 31 now. If memory serves, I'd say I've been suffering for four to five years now. Last year was probably the worst of it. I've never taken anything for them, other than Excedrin or Aleve or like medications. I've seen a chiropractor in the past, with varied results. Symptoms are worst in the mornings when I wake up (or more accurately- forced up), and at night, but really they can come at any time. At night, I've generally been successful at sleeping them away, not being woken in the middle of the night by them, which I read is common; though if I go to sleep with one, it's there to greet me in the morning.
Well, hope some of you might be able to lend some insight. I'm okay right now, but I feel it lurking, poised on my right shoulder, ice-pick ready to stab me behind the ear without warning. . .

Title: Re: A new guy
Post by TomM on Aug 29^th, 2003, 3:47pm

Sounds like TMJ to me. I have that too.
TomM

Title: Re: A new guy
Post by peteycat on Aug 29^th, 2003, 3:49pm

TMJ? Heard of it, but don't know anything about it. I'll have to look it up.
Thanks for the lead.

Title: Re: A new guy
Post by TomM on Aug 29^th, 2003, 4:09pm

Try this site: http://www.headachestop.com/tmj.htm

Title: Re: A new guy
Post by peteycat on Aug 29^th, 2003, 4:15pm

Hmmm. . . Could be. The popping in the jaw is consistant. Would it cause the ice-pick stabbing behind the ear? It didn't say anything specific to this. Is this something I might have in addition to CH? Or would TMJ be the sole culprit?
Thanks.

Title: Re: A new guy
Post by Cooked Brain on Aug 29^th, 2003, 5:27pm

If your eye and nostril are not running and you dont have the urge to walk through the wall head first it is probaly not CH......................... ;D

Title: Re: A new guy
Post by Charlie on Aug 29^th, 2003, 8:01pm

Sorry that you're getting hit by something. One test for clusters is: Can you sit still or lie down when this hits? CH will wake out of a sound sleep as well.

I sincerely hope CH isn't the diagnosis

Charlie

Title: Re: A new guy
Post by Donna on Aug 29^th, 2003, 8:28pm

The description you give of ice-pick pain encourages me to refer you to the archives on the left in the margin, and searching for "cph". It's a headache sometimes mistaken for clusters. Also, a good place for medical info re: clusters is in the left margin also, listed in "medical information".

I hope we can help you, peteycat, because it's not fun being out there alone.