Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group
Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, in the absence of a tumor or other diseases affecting the brain or its lining. Diagnosis requires brain scans and lumbar puncture. Characteristic symptoms are headache, transient visual obscurations or transient visual loss in one or both eyes usually lasting...
Anyone else ever had their occipital nerve swell at the back of their head?!
I had about 2 weeks of insane pain originating from the base of my skull on the left (not a new pain, just new intensity, persistence and constancy) that then travels up my skull towards my forehead and along the back of my ear.
Well, week before last I touched my head one night and realized there was a raised lump there at the base of my skull on the left (1.5x15 inches approx) hard but fluid-filled feeling like a goose-egg. So painful to touch that it would make me feel like I might vomit. Saw my Neuro Friday, and he said it's my Occipital Nerve, said he is sending me to someone who will inject it for me to freeze it.
Anyone have any thoughts on why it might swell up into a lump for a few days (I was aware of the lump for 4 days before the swelling started to go down)?
I had about 2 weeks of insane pain originating from the base of my skull on the left (not a new pain, just new intensity, persistence and constancy) that then travels up my skull towards my forehead and along the back of my ear.
Well, week before last I touched my head one night and realized there was a raised lump there at the base of my skull on the left (1.5x15 inches approx) hard but fluid-filled feeling like a goose-egg. So painful to touch that it would make me feel like I might vomit. Saw my Neuro Friday, and he said it's my Occipital Nerve, said he is sending me to someone who will inject it for me to freeze it.
Anyone have any thoughts on why it might swell up into a lump for a few days (I was aware of the lump for 4 days before the swelling started to go down)?
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
I will read up a little and get back to you tomorrow.
I did several rounds of Greater Occipital, Lower Occipital & Greater Auricular nerve blocks, but none offered any relief. Cannot figure out what's triggering the inflammation, and why it remits at times. Pain Management told me that occipital nerves are dastardly at referring pain from skull base, over the crown, and then to forehead, but it's rare to have such intensity. I tried ice packs near the goose egg, but that didn't help either. Didn't get any explanation about the on-again, off-again pattern, but one doc mentioned nerve impingement in cervical area.
AM SO SORRY YOU'RE GOING THRU THIS! Looking forward to Mellow's info. Sending big goose-egg go away thoughts to you!
i really feel for you and wanted to send big hugs and lots of support. i dearly hope it settles down soon and you can get some relief!!
I couldn't find anything (on-line) connecting Occipital Neuralgia and the swelling into a goose-egg (sort of lump) though there is lots about inflammation it never talks about it raising into a mass on the back of the head (just that it becomes painful and refers). Please let me know if you find something, Mellow!
I thought that it might be pressure related (as my headaches have been terrible lately) and like our eyes we get swelling at the head of the nerve, maybe the swelling shows up along the occipital nerve because of pressure on it as it exits the skull-- not even sure if that makes sense though.
Thanks for the hugs, Karen!
PC - blocks didn't work for you, eh? I read the other day that if the pain is suspected to be migrainous then a block is not likely to be effective--made me think if the pain is IIH related perhaps a block won't work either. But the neuro he is sending me to is a neuro I know (from work; our Drs refer clients to him) and will be a good 2nd opinion on my case so I'm not complaining.
The last 3 days have been better...sigh...hope it doesn't flare up like that again...thanks for the good thoughts!
Any updates, how are you feeling? I did some reading and found a lot of information about occipital neuralgia and inflammation, but nothing quite like you described as a "goose egg". I can't imagine how painful it must be!
Thanks for looking into it and reading up on it. I was trying to look for something about the occipital nerve swelling up like that too... nothing. Thanks for asking! The swelling and pain have subsided a lot... Last night was bad, today a little better... just trying to take one day at a time.
I just keep hoping that one day I'll wake up in remission...