Base of skull pain and inflammation causing migraines
Does anyone else experience the base of their skull getting so inflamed causing a ton of pain? It’s like you have two golf balls at the base of your skull. This gives me debilitating pain and migraines that last for weeks. If you do experience this, what has helped you relieve the pain? I have tried it all. Medications, Botox injections, ice, heat, massage, weed gummies, and more. I am assuming it is from my AS, but nothing relieves the pain. Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.
Hi
I do get this often and I agree it is very painful. I haven't found much that can help when this happens. I use heating pad and trying to take a shower and massaging slowly that area helps a bit. But I am curious to see others what helps them cause it is painful.
Hugs,
Nicky (Team Member), I go through the exact same thing. My neurologist gives me botox shots every three months and I take a prophylactic migraine medicine called (Qulipta) and while it’s supposed to be taken day, I sometimes forget, but it still seems to be effective. When I do get a migraine I take Nurtek, and lie on a bag of ice. I never knew ice could be so effective, or I would have been using it in my 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, etc.!
I’ve had three cervical spine fusions, which aren’t fun, and although they were supposedly going to help my situation, I think in the long run, they have left me with a lifetime of chronic inflammation, pain and discomfort.
So, while I can’t really give you any advice you haven’t already heard, I can
tell you, you are not alone. Sometimes I think no one else on earth knows what this is like, but now I know there are those out there that do!
Let me ask you this… does your cervical spine area ever feel like it’s congested, and like a balloon needs to be popped to relieve the Pressure? I start to feel like something is pressing on my spine, and can’t get rid of it unless I really stretch my neck both ways. This usually results in a popping feeling, and then the pressure is released.
I hope you find some relief soon. I went to a pain clinic for two months, but told my neurologist I wouldn’t go back, as the pain clinic Dr. was nothing more than a pill pusher, and never even had my information correct. So, she handles everything now.
Good luck to both you and Rebecca!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and words of support.
I'm glad to hear you have found a few things that have made a difference for you.
Be well, Doreen (Team Member)
- I am sorry to hear you are having such bad pain and migraines. I am in the same predicament. I have seen a pain specialist recently for my migraines - referred by my neurologist who treats my migraines. I have trialed a radiofrequency ablation on nerves in my neck but failed, as it didn't help my pain nearly enough. I have currently been referred for trigger point injections in my neck muscles to help release them enough to ease the pain. I am hopeful. Have you seen a pain management physician at all? Sending you support Rebecca (community moderator)
