Migraine

I'm sure my title could have been worded better, sorry!

Hey everyone... just a question I had...

I just got home awhile ago w/ copies of my medical records (I'm seeing Dr. K. on Wednesday, yay!).

On the MRI results, on one page it says this:

"Observations: A small central and right herniation is seen at C5-6 level. Small central disk protrusions at C4-5 and C 6-7 is found."

The "C" area of your spine is the most upper part (your neck), correct? I'm not sure what that quote means.... anyone?

I've tried Googling, but haven't had much luck...

I was just wondering if this could be why I'm getting headaches so much?

I typically get headaches at least 2+ times/week.

Now, I was diagnosed w/ having Basilar Migraines, but I'm just wondering if maybe there's something wrong w/ my neck, and that's not helping things... ???

I left a vm on my primary doc's nurse's voicemail (they should have these results in my file, too), but I haven't gotten a call back yet... probably tomorrow.

Thanks guys,

Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth,

This is a question for the doctors, but cervical spine issues won't cause a Migriane attack, they may trigger one. Remember, Migraine is a genetic neurologic disease. For some people, they have lots of triggers, weather, food, lights, and neck problems.

I know in my case, my cervical spine problems have contributed to my chronic head pain and triggered some of my Migraine attacks.

I'm not trying to be vague, but Dr. K will certainly set you on the right path.

Thanks, Nancy...

Yeah, I was just thinking it may be triggering headaches, possibly... but, I'll for sure talk to Dr. K. about it, when I see him, tomorrow.

Thanks!

Elizabeth

Nancy is right. It isn't the cause but could definately be a trigger.

I am pretty sure (90%) your C vertebrae means cervical, which would be the top of the spine.

I have a similar problem. I get the occasional slipped disc and pinched nerve, which will always trigger an attack for me. You may benefit from chiropractic/physical therapy/ acupuncture. It might help decrease the frequency.

Yep, I looked it up online, and the "C" is the neck part of your vertabrae...

It'll be interesting to find out, tomorrow, if that's affecting any triggers in the migraines I get.

I'm sorry you have a slipped disc and pinched nerve - ouch!

I've heard good things about acupunture, so - we'll see what Dr. K. says...

Hi Elizabeth,

I'm 95% sure I'm remembering this correctly -- C5 should be the little hump like bump right where neck kinda turns into back. They count downwards from the top, so C6 and C7 will be below that. I can't find the sheet I used to have on this... but they've figured out roughly what areas of the body each vertebrae relates to most often... so problems with that disc can relate to problems in some other area of the body.

I don't know much about herniated disks, except that they can be extremely painful. I'm guessing it's a good thing that you've discovered this when its' "small" ? Good luck at the doctor's!

Hi, Candace.

Yeah, the weird thing is, though: my neck doesn't ever seem to hurt!

My lower back does hurt quite a bit (I think from my poor posture at my last job, where I sat 8 hours a day!), though. Weird, huh?

You'd think I'd slightly be hurting in my neck, but I'm not...

It's odd no doctor has mentioned this to me... I just happened to stumble across this, after I got my medical records! Either it's no big deal, or nobody noticed... ?

quote:

Originally posted by Elizabeth:
Hi, Candace.

Yeah, the weird thing is, though: my neck doesn't ever seem to hurt!

My lower back does hurt quite a bit (I think from my poor posture at my last job, where I sat 8 hours a day!), though. Weird, huh?

You'd think I'd slightly be hurting in my neck, but I'm not...

It's odd no doctor has mentioned this to me... I just happened to stumble across this, after I got my medical records! Either it's no big deal, or nobody noticed... ?

Hi Elizabeth,
I had a herniated disc at C6-C7 and it didn't cause neck pain, but it did cause L arm pain, numbness, tingling, and my hand would fall asleep. This had nothing to do with my migraines. If you aren't having any arm symptoms, I would take note of the finding in case anything does happen.

Nancy is right! Migraine is a disease like epilepsy and is unrelated to your neck problems.

Interesting... my arms DO seem to fall asleep relatively easy...

I mean, I know they're not causing my migraines, I was just wondering if it was possibly NOT helping the situation - acting as a trigger, you know?

Thanks,
Elizabeth

Well, I have plenty of issues with my neck and upper back and I've noticed that my headaches often start at my neck and spread like a fan up the back of my head (with nausea and the whole 9 yards) or they can be a "skunk stripe" up the middle of my head or can be on one side. Any variety. But I've only had xrays of my neck by a chiro recently, Back in the mid-90's my PCP did an xray of my back - just a plain film and then sent me to an orthopedic doc who sent me to a physical therapist.

But I've read plenty of stuff that says people can have all kinds of "damage"/arthritis/whatever (for lack of a better generic term) on x-rays of their spine/joints/etc and not have any pain and it is just a fact of life attributed to wear and tear. Then other folks can have terrible pain with relatively minor "damage" on xray. So it all depends on pain tolerance I guess and other attributing factors of what's going on in their lives.

That being said, the spine and neck are such tricky areas anyways. There are also nerves and muscles and lots of other things around them. When my back hurt so much back in the mid-90's it was way up in my upper back (always has been) and I couldn't lean back in a chair and could barely sleep. So the ortho said I had strained some muscle or ligament or something wrapped around my spinal column way up there between my shoulder blades. The PT had me doing exercises but it was Electrical Stim that finally calmed it down. Currently (for many years actually) my issues are mostly neck and shoulders but I get spasms down into my shoulder blade area. It's like one huge ache/chronic spasm. Maybe it can be blamed on using the computer but sleeping makes it worse, yet not sleeping makes life worse. Go figure. I use a computer at work so what can I do?

I see a massage therapist and an accupunturist. I'm on hold again with the chiropractor but I do think he helped me. I was just seeing too many folks to know who did the best. Maybe all 3? I pay cash for the MT and accu. Just had to pay a huge chunk of taxes due to darn W4 not done right for me working too. So they may have to be on hold til we get our life back in order. That's enough to give me a HA! LOL!

Good luck with Dr. K. Hopefully they can help you figure some stuff out. Let us know what he thinks about the whole neck/HA thing. I'm going to my doc in the next couple weeks when I can get my questions together. Mostly I just want a muscle relaxer but need good info on how to get it to prevent headaches. hmmmmm.

Diane

Diane -

Wow, I'm so, so sorry you've had all of those back issues!

Dr. K. said he could order another MRI (I believe that's what it was called), to see (in more detail than x-rays) if there's something going on in my neck that needs more attention, medically.

He said, from what the MRI results he saw, just the brief description, that it could have been caused by an old car wreck - possibly something like that...

I'm having so many issues w/ money, that I can't afford that, right now - but it's something I think I'll have done when I can afford it.

Our insurance is pretty awful...

I do take Soma, for pain in my lower back... like I said before - it's odd... my neck doesn't ever hurt - just my lower back!

Thanks - and I hope you feel better!

Elizabeth