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What Causes Headache And Stiffness In The Neck?
Question: Late July 2016 had left sided bells palsy that was very mild. Had ct or brain (negative) and MRI (negative) with dx due to viral infection. About same time had right eye flashes. Been to several eye and retinal doctors. They attribute to ocular migraines.
Early September 2016 had right sided Bell's palsy. It appeared to have resulted and it too was very mild. No known cause. Did have strong right tmj pain.
Mid October 2016 awoke to pulsating in ear and still have it. ENT said will order Mri if not resolved by mid December. No hearing loss per testing. 2 small left side posterior cervical nodes are palpable and me right side posterior cervical. ENT said nothing to worry about, so did PCP.
late November 2016 had CBC with 11,200 on abc count but all other items were in middle of ranges. No diff was ordered. PCP felt no issues.
no fevers or chills since mid July except one random couple hour one in mid September.
no weight loss
some headaches recently but attribute that to poor sleep from sick kids
blood pressure is around 125/75 with 90 for pulse throughout these months
atiff neck at times. Chiropractor says muscles are tight.
Should I get referral to neurologist?
could this be brain issue?
most tell me it is just stress and anxiety, which might be true but this debilitating of physical symptoms?
should I be concerned about canceR?
Early September 2016 had right sided Bell's palsy. It appeared to have resulted and it too was very mild. No known cause. Did have strong right tmj pain.
Mid October 2016 awoke to pulsating in ear and still have it. ENT said will order Mri if not resolved by mid December. No hearing loss per testing. 2 small left side posterior cervical nodes are palpable and me right side posterior cervical. ENT said nothing to worry about, so did PCP.
late November 2016 had CBC with 11,200 on abc count but all other items were in middle of ranges. No diff was ordered. PCP felt no issues.
no fevers or chills since mid July except one random couple hour one in mid September.
no weight loss
some headaches recently but attribute that to poor sleep from sick kids
blood pressure is around 125/75 with 90 for pulse throughout these months
atiff neck at times. Chiropractor says muscles are tight.
Should I get referral to neurologist?
could this be brain issue?
most tell me it is just stress and anxiety, which might be true but this debilitating of physical symptoms?
should I be concerned about canceR?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for coming again to HealthcareMagic.
Looking at the description you provide I do not think that cancer is a likely cause. As you describe it your symptoms are scattered, affecting hearing, facial nerves on different sides, visual symptoms. The brain areas responsible are in different locations so it would be hard for a tumor to explain all those symptoms.
Almost all the symptoms you describe are not specific, meaning could be found in plenty of situations, in anxiety as well, and that would be a possibility. However there is one feature which worries me a little. It is the fact that you describe to have had bilateral facial palsy, first the left and then the right. I hope they were confirmed by a doctor as well. If that is the case that requires some more attention. Bilateral facial palsy is not common and usually there is an underlying cause. By such cause I refer to chronic infections involving the meninges, sarcoidosis and while I said that a tumor is unlikely there is the rare possibility of infiltration of the meninges by blood tumors which has to be considered.
So for that reason I feel another MRI is necessary, especially if the first one was without contrast. MRI with contrast may evidence infiltration of the meninges, the layers of the brain, by processes like infection, inflammation or blood tumors which might be missed by a simple MRI. I do not see it as likely, especially the tumor possibility, as there should have been more symptoms over these months, but it should be done.
Feel free to ask further questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for coming again to HealthcareMagic.
Looking at the description you provide I do not think that cancer is a likely cause. As you describe it your symptoms are scattered, affecting hearing, facial nerves on different sides, visual symptoms. The brain areas responsible are in different locations so it would be hard for a tumor to explain all those symptoms.
Almost all the symptoms you describe are not specific, meaning could be found in plenty of situations, in anxiety as well, and that would be a possibility. However there is one feature which worries me a little. It is the fact that you describe to have had bilateral facial palsy, first the left and then the right. I hope they were confirmed by a doctor as well. If that is the case that requires some more attention. Bilateral facial palsy is not common and usually there is an underlying cause. By such cause I refer to chronic infections involving the meninges, sarcoidosis and while I said that a tumor is unlikely there is the rare possibility of infiltration of the meninges by blood tumors which has to be considered.
So for that reason I feel another MRI is necessary, especially if the first one was without contrast. MRI with contrast may evidence infiltration of the meninges, the layers of the brain, by processes like infection, inflammation or blood tumors which might be missed by a simple MRI. I do not see it as likely, especially the tumor possibility, as there should have been more symptoms over these months, but it should be done.
Feel free to ask further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The first MRI done in late July was with contrast.
Could it have been missed when it was only the left sided palsy?
Two docs confirmed left sided but right sided was indirectly confirmed because I lagged going since it was mild.
Does that still leave open the issues you have concern over?
Would my ent appointment in mid December be ok or should I push for an MRI sooner?
Finally, wouldn't blood cancers result in some other blood work items being out if one as I was told 11200 wbc was not too high and I was good n the other areas
Sorry.. If the earlier contrast MRI should have shown the worst case issues then what else could it be?
Could it have been missed when it was only the left sided palsy?
Two docs confirmed left sided but right sided was indirectly confirmed because I lagged going since it was mild.
Does that still leave open the issues you have concern over?
Would my ent appointment in mid December be ok or should I push for an MRI sooner?
Finally, wouldn't blood cancers result in some other blood work items being out if one as I was told 11200 wbc was not too high and I was good n the other areas
Sorry.. If the earlier contrast MRI should have shown the worst case issues then what else could it be?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
The fact that the second facial palsy is not confirmed puts all the rest into discussion as that was the only point which had me worried. If your impression of a mild palsy is not correct then as I said the rest of the symptoms may simply be due to anxiety.
The fact that the first MRI was done with contrast also provides some reassurance as the chance of something being missed is very small and I think it can be waited till mid December.
Yes a blood cancer like leukemia usually would have changes in blood count. Lymphomas on the other hand can have only minimal changes especially at early stages. However the fact that it has been months as I said in my first answer makes it less likely, they should have evolved more quickly. For that reason a tumor wouldn't be my primary concern.
So while you not being sure about the facial palsy lowers the level of alertness, I would still schedule a MRI with contrast to search for infections like tuberculosis, borreliosis or inflammation like sarcoidosis.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
The fact that the second facial palsy is not confirmed puts all the rest into discussion as that was the only point which had me worried. If your impression of a mild palsy is not correct then as I said the rest of the symptoms may simply be due to anxiety.
The fact that the first MRI was done with contrast also provides some reassurance as the chance of something being missed is very small and I think it can be waited till mid December.
Yes a blood cancer like leukemia usually would have changes in blood count. Lymphomas on the other hand can have only minimal changes especially at early stages. However the fact that it has been months as I said in my first answer makes it less likely, they should have evolved more quickly. For that reason a tumor wouldn't be my primary concern.
So while you not being sure about the facial palsy lowers the level of alertness, I would still schedule a MRI with contrast to search for infections like tuberculosis, borreliosis or inflammation like sarcoidosis.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Well I will push for the MRI as I do not see the pulsating quitting by then.
As far as the 2nd Bell's ugh not confirmed it had the same mild symptomsi had months prior on the other side. Stiff facial muscles, blink was no synced and smile was not symmetrical. Neither time had facial drooping though.
And to be clear on the flashes and shimmering it is not all the time, it is only in right eye and tends to occur with bright lights like a bathroom vanity or outside sunshine. Darkness or cloudy conditions do not cause issues.
As far as the 2nd Bell's ugh not confirmed it had the same mild symptomsi had months prior on the other side. Stiff facial muscles, blink was no synced and smile was not symmetrical. Neither time had facial drooping though.
And to be clear on the flashes and shimmering it is not all the time, it is only in right eye and tends to occur with bright lights like a bathroom vanity or outside sunshine. Darkness or cloudy conditions do not cause issues.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
The description of the visual symptoms does fit with ocular migraines. You have been seen by eye doctors for issues of the eye itself and a MRI would detect optic nerve issues. So no reason to suspect something else.
As for the rest my opinion remains the same. A bilateral facial palsy calls for extra attention. Hopefully since there is some uncertainty about the facial palsy the MRI will again turn out normal.
Wishing you good health.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
The description of the visual symptoms does fit with ocular migraines. You have been seen by eye doctors for issues of the eye itself and a MRI would detect optic nerve issues. So no reason to suspect something else.
As for the rest my opinion remains the same. A bilateral facial palsy calls for extra attention. Hopefully since there is some uncertainty about the facial palsy the MRI will again turn out normal.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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