New Here, Just got Diagnosed with ON

[Happy Tom]

Hi, I'm new here. :)
I've been having problems with numbness on my left head and pressure of the left side of my head ans the top, ion the back of the 'crown point'.
Prior to this, I had a non-contrasting dye CT Scan of my head, at a local hospital with no "abnormalities".
The neurologists that I went to last week said that I have O.N., and gave me two cortisone shots in the back of my neck.. that is where some nerve is supposed to be. Now, since Monday, I've been experiencing other things that I haven't before, such as a cross between nervousness and anxiety and a slight "off" feeling.. almost like my equilibrium is off per se..
Has anyone had a similar experience?

This Neroligist wants me to start taking Cymbalta, which is a anti-depersant.. it suppose to help with the sensational.. I'm hesident that it will have other side effects. Does anyone have any opinion on drugs to use? Like muscle relaxers?

The other two things that I keep thinking about, is that my left collarbone is messed up at the joint.. so I think that might be a contributing factor of my O.N., even though the doctor says it is not.
I also have pain in the zygomatic process region of my left face and also my ears "click" when I open my jaw or move my jaw.. TMD / TMJ Also maybe? I think so. MY doctor doesn't think its a contributing factor.

I am seeing another neurologists in March, so I guess I can go over all of that with him.

Thanks for any help or opinions.
Happy Tom :)

[Kathi49]

Hi Tom,

First. Have you had an MRI of your cervical spine? If not, then ask for one. Second. The steroid injections can cause nervousness and anxiety. It is either the numbing agent they use or the steroid itself. I go through this for a few days too after receiving injections. It will pass. If you have any Xanax or any anti-anxiety med, you can take one and it will help with that. Oh, and if the doc got near the nerve, it is not unusual to feel slightly off balance. Evidently, the nerve is very irritated. Also, the nerves tend to "crosstalk" to the auditory nerves so that could be another reason for vertigo, dizziness or feeling off balance.

I also wanted to ask if when the Neurologist gave you the injection(s), was he or she using a fluoroscopy machine? Or I should ask were the injections trigger point injections or an actual injection into the spine? Do you remember what the doctor termed it? Trigger point injections are fine without the use of fluoroscopy (xray machine basically). But if they went blindly into your neck and deep...bad move!!! Not to scare you but you DO NOT want them going blindly in. Do you know what level they are speaking of or about what area they went into? If the injections were muscular in nature and near the occipital nerves, I have had those too and not a big deal. But I repeat it again, DO NOT let them give you any other form of SPINAL injection without the use of the machine! Based on your description I believe they gave you trigger point injections and probably palpated your neck and head to find the occipital nerve(s).

You can try Cymbalta. I know a few people who have had good luck with it. I am just hypersensitive to most meds and can't take anti-convulsants or anti-depressants.

I can't address the TMJ but that could be a part of it.

Anyway, for my story LOL! And this is in short form. C3/C4 was the first culprit causing cervicogenic headaches. It took 3 years to get it figured out. I had a fusion and gone were the headaches, vertigo, etc. I just recently had the C5/C6 fused.

[Happy Tom]

Thanks Kathi49.. for all that info..
How long can the side effects last from the cortisone steroid?
The injections trigger point injections in the back left side of the neck, near the
area of the nerve itself... they were not but into my spine.. so I guess those would be trigger point injections as you put in your reply.

As for the anxiety.. I was thinking it might be that the shots.. I seem a bit better today.. I hope it the shots.. I don't need to have anxiety problems on top of this O.N. :rolleyes: I seem a bit better today, in that department..
We'll have to keep an eye on it.

Even though thi one Neroligist says it has nothing to do with the O.N.,
I believe that my left collarbone, that is messed up at the joint, is causing my neck and top shoulder muscle to be too tight, and thats causing most of my O.N. problems.

It's really been hell for me.. I know you know what I mean. My Daughter was born when I was first dealing with my collarbone and this.. she now about 8 weeks old, and it's been really tough trying to take care of her in the day time, and dealing with this... :(

[Kathi49]

Happy Tom,

Good! And yes, those would be trigger point injections. :)

And, yes, the anxiety or nervousness should wear off but give it about a week or so. That's about the length of time it takes for the steroid to start working.

I think your Neurologist may be a bit off but I'm not sure. I just had a second fusion and went for massage therapy today. The tops of my shoulders and upper back were in spasms and knots. Anyway, she traced the muscle from the top of my shoulder clear up to the occipital area. And now I forget what muscle she called it.

Anyway, I better get off this computer before it all kicks back in again. So, take care and let us all know how it goes. :)

[Happy Tom]

Happy Tom,

Good! And yes, those would be trigger point injections. :)

And, yes, the anxiety or nervousness should wear off but give it about a week or so. That's about the length of time it takes for the steroid to start working.

I think your Neurologist may be a bit off but I'm not sure. I just had a second fusion and went for massage therapy today. The tops of my shoulders and upper back were in spasms and knots. Anyway, she traced the muscle from the top of my shoulder clear up to the occipital area. And now I forget what muscle she called it.

Anyway, I better get off this computer before it all kicks back in again. So, take care and let us all know how it goes. :)

Thanks again Kathi49, I have a appointment with different Neurologist. not saying that I don't like the original one .. but I'm just keeping a prior made appointment. Also, well see what this new one says about the MRI, because I thought that what I should have too. And I want to hit him up on the collarbone and shoulder too. I'm going in bout 2 weeks. I'll post back here..
Thanks again for your reply.

[Kathi49]

Happy Tom,

Good! I am glad you are going to get a second opinion and/or see another Neuro. I am forever telling people, PLEASE get an MRI! Actually, when all of my symptoms first began, the VERY FIRST thing they did was to order an MRI. Then came the CT Scans, hearing tests, UGH...you name it LOL! And, like I said, it was a 3 journey into pure double hockey sticks!!! :)

If you can't get any satisfaction from a Neurologist, I STRONGLY urge you to find a spine group or a very good pain management clinic at a medical center. If nothing else, the pain management clinic at a medical center can always refer you to a Neurosurgeon or an Orthopedic surgeon.

I am telling you, if I had not found out about the spine group I go to now, I would still be suffering! It is just that the docs at my particular med center could never find the pain generators and I believe to this day that it was because they were NOT LOOKING AT MY MRI. They were always looking at the Radiology Report. That doesn't mean they weren't good docs; but they were relying on the report alone. And...a radiologist, I have learned, is not always well trained enough to detect the subtleties that a spine doc can.

It was a hard, hard road and a lot of lessons learned...but get that MRI! If nothing else, it will rule in or out IF you have a problem in the cervical spine.

[Kathi49]

Oh, and read the post that Stacy wrote on "Last Lap". She really spelled it out. And see if some of your symptoms don't match up with hers. When I read what she wrote, I was practically in tears because I KNOW that she wasn't being dramatic...it is the truth!