head pain

[BWALKER@xxxxxxx]

>From:    Barbara Blake-Krebs <BarbKKFI@xxxxxxx>
>Subject: Head Pain

>I also in the past 2-1/2 years have experienced head pain which started when
>my meds were being reg. in a "rehab" setting (more @ that at a later time).
> I think it is at its worst when PD meds have seemingly stretched it, and
>sometimes Xanax relaxes the tautness. For many more years than  that I have
>been plagued by
>throat/mouth/jaw/neck  pain that seems  to hit me harder on occasion
> recently.
>
>Barbara Blake Krebs
>BarbKKFI@xxxxxxx

I found Barbara's note on head pain interesting so thought I would
share my own recent experience with head/neck pain. From what I've
read I get the impression that neck pain is fairly common among
Parkies.

I had been bothered by neck pains for the last couple  of years and
until about Oct or Nov of last year had gotten some relief from  Chiropractic

treatment. Sometime during the winter the neck pains got much worse and
I realized that the Chriropractic treatment was aggravating the problem
rather than helping it. The pain would radiate up the back of my head and
result in a migraine like headache and also radiate through my neck into my
throat, jaw and and the back of my mouth. My head got so sensitive that
I couldn't lay it down on a pillow so I slept several nights sitting up.
My Neurologist said it wasn't caused by my Parkinson's. My GP had x-rays
taken which were negative. He perscribed Tylenol 3 w/codeine then
Percocet meither of which helped. He then referred me to the Pain Clinic at
the local hospital where they twice administered a nerve block. (Novacaine
and a steroid injected into the back of ny neck & head). This provided
some relief, the first time for 9 days the second for 21 days. Also tried
some Physical Therapy (traction and massage. I think the massage helped
but doubtful about the traction). Recently I acquired some material on
Dystonia and showed it to one of the GP's that I sometimes see and she
agreed that might be my problem. She refered me to a Neurologist who
specializes in Dystonia. His diagnosis was Cervical Dystonia, probaby
agravated by Dyskinesia (I have quite a lot of involuntary head movement)
and maybe a touch of arthritis. He gave me an injection of Botox in my
neck.(Botulinum Toxin Type A)

Currently I have some stiffness in my neck  but it is pretty much pain
free. BTW, I am also taking Naproxen, 500mg once or twice a day. I
believe this is a Rx dose of the same stuff thats in Aleve.
In summary, I feel a whole lot better than I have for months and I
wish the best of luck to all you neck pain sufferers.

bwalker@xxxxxxx     Ben McKeen age 62, PD diag 1988, meds Sinemet, Permax,
                                                   & Eldepryl.