old symptoms/new symptoms

[nhtom]

This may be somewhat lengthy but here goes: I have had spasmodic torticollis (cervical dystonia) since 1993, which causes pain, tremors, and pulling the head to the side. I have been receiving Botox for about 5 years and it is beginning to not work as well. In July I started to get numbness in my right pinkie. An EMG and MRI found nothing unusual. After 2 months of PT, the numbness lessened and for a time went away all together.

About 3 weeks ago, I started getting headaches that come on 2-3 times a day, always in the same spot-just above my left ear. My neuro prescribed Fioricet, thinking it may be tension headache. Around the same time, my primary told me I had a sinus infection, which I also get a handful of times a year-althhough headaches from that are usually frontal. coincedence or not-the numbness is starting to come back in the pinkie and the headaches persist, although pain killers (fioricet.Aleve) make them go away for about 5 hours, sometimes longer. I saw my primary, who diagnosed tension headache. I have been unable to get an appt with my neuro because they are moving the office this week. From what I have described, do you think all of this-from the headache to the numbness stems from the neck?? what else could make the headache show in the same area, never changing? I have none of the signs of emergent concern-such as vision issues, memory, etc. I have noticed problems of balance when rising too quickly from a seated position that just started. any thoughts??

[ainee]

G'day nhtom - I wonder if you have ever been in an accident - even years ago - long forgotten, or an injury as a child - or contact with any sort of toxin. I had head injuries at age 6, an x-ray over 30 years later showed fused vertabra in my neck. Then in 1995, I had an horrific jolt in a tractor, causing more injury, then another head injury in 1999.
In 1997, I suffered Opisthotonus - arching of the back. Not knowing anything about medical terminology, I thought this condition and the numbness, pins and needles, cramps, twitches, hot cramps up the side of my neck and to the top of my head, etc., which continued, were from hard work and getting older. It took me 4 years to find a medical name for the arched back. An Osteopath in 2001 said that my spinal muscles were "all knotted up". I guess the knotted up spinal muscles were caused from all the injuries I'd had.
In 2001, I noticed that my head tilted up. I also found it turns to the side. I believe this was caused by the arched back and lightening spasms in my spine pulling my body from side to side several times - the knotted up spinal muscles, causing damage to the nerves in my spinal area, which probably caused the neurological symptoms, which I became worried about in 2001. Many years ago, my pointer finger moved around so much, I asked the doctor if I was getting Parkinsons. No, and no test since I developed horrific neurological symptoms, balance problems, spasms in my body and spine, tremors, involuntary movements, facial grimaces and many more symptoms, have found a cause of my symptoms. I don't usually suffer with head aches - it's a wonder, as I've suffered 3 horrific bangs and jolts to my head. I did have dizzyness, faint like spells, mini seizures - where I couldn't hear the wireless, fan, rain on the roof etc., for several seconds.
I also had Cadmium detected in my body - a soil analyst said that Cadmium is more toxic than Arsenic. I don't know where I could have got Cadmium in high quantities to show up in a test - maybe it was from many x-rays I've had or just from the pollution in the atmosphere from all the toxins floating around.
I discovered a simple treatment for similar neurological symptoms in livestock with similar symptoms to what I was suffering, which suppressed and eventually after much experimentation, has reversed most of the symptoms I suffered. My information is on many threads - if you go to Success Stories and click on my name at the top left hand corner - then all posts by ainee - it will bring up all my information.
I'd be happy to answer any questions if I can.
ainee.

[uvamomb]

I realize this is an old post, but many of yoru problems sound like mine and ;many of my problems stemmed from my neck (spinal - cervical problems.) I had chronic migraines until the neck pain was FINALLY gotten under control (somewhat.) My head also tilted to the right - it was stuck - and I still get stuck - my jaw, my back to my ribs, my thorasic area. It's particulary fun when the jaw sticks shut and you can't get anything in your mouth to eat or meds to take!!! WE use a baby spoon!
I just wanted to suggest with the numbness (i have that in my right arm and fingers as well and it gets stuck and twisted as well) you might want to ask your neuro for an EMG and a myleogram. Don't let anybody scare you about these tests - there is nothing to them. Also, it sounds as though you might have chronic myofascial pain (google it - there's good treatment out there for it) and/or fibromyalgia as well as dystonia (the sticking.)
BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR VITAMINS CHECKED IN YOU BLOODWORK. i HAD NO VITAMIN D AND EXTREMLY LOW B12, SO I'LL BE ON BOTH OF THOSE FOR LIFE.)
SORRY THIS IS SO LONG, BUT YOU SOUNDED SO SIMILAR T ME I JUST HAD TO JUMP IN AND TRY TO HELP.
Hugs and best wishes in finding your answers,
Kathy

[uvamomb]

P.S. If it's been awhile since the EMG it probably needs repeating. ALSO, THE OTHER THING WE HAVEIN COMMON IS OUR BLOOD PRESSURE. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU HAVE ORTHASTATIC HYPOTENSION (LOW B.P., ESPECIALLY WHEN STANDING UP FROM SITTING POSTION, LAYING DOWN POSITION, STANDING IN ONE PLACE TOO LONG, , ETC.) A cardiologist can check this for you if you ask him. In the meantime, be very careful when getting up - go slowly. They told me if I started passing out, they'd have to take my drivers's license - ughh - like I can drive anyway on all these meds. There is medication for this as well, and it took awhile fro me to get it in my system, but once I did it was a Godsend.
Sorry for typos, sleeping meds finally starting to work.
Remember to get your vitamins and minerals checked in your bloodwork.
I'll leave you alone now,
Kathy:o

[pogey]

cervical dystonia itself causes headaches and numbness, the location of the symptoms is dependant on which muscles are affected. The medication fioricet is used in the treatment of migraines and tension headaches, the side effects of these meds are similiar to what you are experiencing such as dizziness which could affect your balance, if you are experiencing migraines, some migraine sufferers may experience auras prior to the headaches which cause a series of symptoms prior to experiencing the headache itself or in some cases it may be a painless migraine where only an aura is felt as numbness dizziness etc., etc., consulting with your neurologist would be in your greatest interest

[elke]

Headaches, memory, and neuro symptoms may end up being a newly recognized disorder, Hashimoto's Encephalopathy. You might consider asking your doctors to check your thyroid antibodies, even if your thyroid hormone levels are normal. It's highly treatable with steroids if that's what they find. Autoiimune thyroiditis is quite common, and although HE is a rare manifestation of it, it is thought to be highly underdiagnsoed.

Good Luck. I hope you get your second diagnosis.