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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 34
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 34 |
Thanks to all who have replied to my post. Sounds like there are many people with AS that also suffer from frequent headaches. I've always assumed that my headaches were sinus or tension related. However, it seems that everytime my head hurts real bad, my neck and shoulders seem to be in a flare. They are stiff and sometimes sore. The main part of my headache seems to center behind my right eye / temple region, but also a little in the back of my head. That's why I've assumed it was sinus related. However, my eyes seem to become drier (iritis) during this time, and the description that Davo gave in this thread really struck a nerve with me (pun intended)! I do have the tender spots on my neck / back of the head during these headaches. If I massage them a little it seems to give some relief - although temporary. The first "migrane" type headache I ever experienced in my life was about the same time that my AS first started - although it took another 13 years until I was officially diagnosed.
Has anyone been on the No-starch diet for any length of time, and has it helped decrease or get rid of the frequent headaches? I'd be interested to know - this is my 3rd day of no starch in my diet and my head hurts so bad today I think it may explode!
Thank you all so much for your feedback. I am excited to be able to "talk" to others that are experiencing the same misery as myself - I guess misery does love company!
Tommy
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 101
Journeyman_AS_Kicker
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Journeyman_AS_Kicker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 101 |
Thanks for the information. I'm on Celebrex and it doesn't seem to help with the headaches. I felt for tender spots, but the only places where it hurts is if i press on my temples 2 inches above my ears. After and during work i usually get headaches, and like i mentioned, when i wake up after bed or a nap. Any suggestions as to the cause?
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 94
Apprentice_AS_Kicker
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Apprentice_AS_Kicker
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 94 |
My migraines always start with vision problems, "aura", so I have 15-20 minutes warning before the pain starts,and the pain brings nausea. Horrid things, headaches, the actual headache part, the vice bit, sounds a lot like your tension headaches  cheers fishy
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 101
Journeyman_AS_Kicker
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Journeyman_AS_Kicker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 101 |
Okay, thanks for telling me, i heard about auras and migraines. Guess they are a different beast, and a nuisance just like tension headaches!
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,014
Iron_AS_Kicker
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Iron_AS_Kicker
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,014 |
Tommy,
I have never had headaches until I had neck problems from my AS. Now it seems I always have a headache and it is definitely neck related.
But on another note, you might want to look in to seeing an allergist and getting skin tested for pollens, molds, dust mites, animals etc. Allergies are a very common reason for headaches and especially how you describe...the sinus type. If you have insurance, and the time, it is certainly worth ruling out allergies since they are so common.
Good luck and I hope your pain lessens!
Cristina
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 101
Journeyman_AS_Kicker
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Journeyman_AS_Kicker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 101 |
I don't get pain at the back of my head at all, so I just wonder if it is neck/AS related for me. My pain is always on the sides and around the eyes, so seems to me its coming from maybe a jaw joint. Does anyone else get these types?
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 358
Fifth_Degree_AS_Kicker
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Fifth_Degree_AS_Kicker
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 358 |
When I tried the NSD, my headaches got REALLY bad and were part of the reason for going back off it for now. If you are like me, the NSD is a dramatic change from my "normal" diet. I think going cold turkey on the NSD isn't for everyone. A slow change might not cause headaches so bad.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 809
Ninja_AS_Kicker
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Ninja_AS_Kicker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 809 |
Quote:
hiya,
you can certainly get headaches from AS, the nerves from the upper neck go up the head and into the face if it gets really bad....the nerves get irritated from the inflamation in the soft tissue and joints (facets). Waking up in the morning with a headaches would get me suspicious about an AS problem....or when stationary esp in front of the computer.If you are on anti-inflammatory or immuno suppressants and your headaches go away my feeling would be that again AS or your immune system is behind them.
Another cause of headaches is the eye problems you commonly get with AS dry eye or other 'eye itis condition.
The nerves in the neck go something like this: A neuro showed me how to check for them,
C3-4 lessor occiptal nerve goes up the side/rear of the neck, about an inck off the centre line of the back of the spine right on the junction of the base of the skull top of the spine. Nerves go up behind the ear and then over towards the face....often get a very tendor spot on the base of the head/neck about an inch from dead centre of the back of the neck at the join line of the nack and head. Occipult?
Greater occiptal nerve is level up the spine C2-C3, crosses the spine/head junction much closer to the rear centre of the spine. The nerves go vertically up and then along the sides of the top of the head, as opposed to face side to above the temple and then inwards towards the inside of the eye top socket nose area......You often get a tender spot on the junction of the head/spine a bit just to the sides of the spine.
If these condition gets chronic you can get the irritation going into the facial nerves and a all over nerve storm....a very unpleasent condition and one that is difficulit manage.....so best to keep on top of it early. Alot of Dr.s explain this stuff as tight muscles tension headaches stress etc....
There are other causes of headaches which can be releated such as compression of the spinal cord or the nerves due to narrowing of the spine pathways,
I hope this helps
Davo
Davo,
you have just explained in great detail precisely what has been happening to me over the past 4 plus days. My head pain started whilst I was in the hydrotherapy pool on Thursday and has continued through to today. I have not been able to get much relief from the pain. Then to make matters worse, my car went out of control this morning and I hit my head on the side, near the window.
When I get this head pain, I find that it seems to be coming from the neck and from somewhere around the C2-C3 level. The pain sits around the temple, as well as around the sinuses, and I can feel it around my jaw and teeth. It honestly feels like I have a tooth problem, but when I had my tooth repaired recently, the dentist said everything was fine.
This pain is not the same as a headache, and definitely not the same as a tension headache. There is definitely some kind of nerve element. I am not on the Lyrica at the present time, but it normally settles down the nerves when they are active in this way. I have had headaches since the age of 4 when I suffered concussion in a near fatal car accident (my older sister nearly died). This pain also goes into the lower jaw, and yes I do think that it is associated with my AS. I definitely have arthritis in the neck.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 809
Ninja_AS_Kicker
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Ninja_AS_Kicker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 809 |
Quote:
I don't get pain at the back of my head at all, so I just wonder if it is neck/AS related for me. My pain is always on the sides and around the eyes, so seems to me its coming from maybe a jaw joint. Does anyone else get these types?
You might want to get your dentist to check for TMJ. It is possible to have arthritis of the jaw that contributes to TMJ. If this is the cause of your pain, then a soft diet, including no bread rolls will help to bring relief to your jaw joint.
I was sent to a maxilio-facial surgeon because of the constant nagging jaw pain and he diagnosed that I had TMJ due to arthritis in the jaw. My jaw joint is hypermobile, and I was not even allowed to yawn for 6 weeks.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 101
Journeyman_AS_Kicker
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Journeyman_AS_Kicker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 101 |
THanks, I'll try and get xrays of my jaw joints. I wear a night guard at night but it doesn't help at all for headches, i just wear it to protect my teeth from breaking. Would AS cause TMJ??
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