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Suggest Treatment For Headache, Upper Chest Muscle Pain, Stomach Ulcer And Stiff Neck

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Posted on Tue, 15 Dec 2015
Question: muscle pain/stiffness back of neck, unable to bend head downward due to muscle pain in neck, headache, pain under clavicles both sides of neck. hx pacemaker, A-fib, hypertension, stomach ulcer, (i take carafate for that), no fever, ache in muscles in upper chest, epigastric area. 63 yrs old, osteoarthritis right knee grade 4. don't do exercises so aches in muscles not from exercise. nausea. This has been going on since 11pm last night. i didnt eat turkey dinner...just some soup. hx bilateral pulmonary embolism with green filter placement. I am miserable, Tylenol didn't help. allergic to benadryl, reglan . on social security disability and have medicare so really don't want to go to ER...can't afford it.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
tricky

Detailed Answer:
I see a previous question on neck pain. Carotids are not very likely to have pain. And, the vertebral disks, the nerves and muscles in the neck are. Triggering the pain often gives a clue to the cause of it. The carotids would not be at all likely to limit movement of the neck, would not be on both sides of the neck and are in the front not the back. Problems with the vertebral disks, the nerves and muscles in the neck cause pain with movement and are felt mostly in the back but extend widely along shoulders.

These structures can be affected by a wide range of problems but mostly it is age-related degeneration. These can still be an emergency even if the cause is occurring over decades if the nerves are failing (lack of feeling, coordination and / or strength imply nerve damage; sometimes this can lead to even paralysis).

x-rays, muscle relaxants, evaluation of the neurological state all require doctor intervention and all are best handled by a NON-ER one.
Hot shower, aspirin like drug (depending on what other meds one is on; it is a bad mix with blood thinnners), soft cervical collar, are some of the few options one has at home.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (4 hours later)
neck pain back of neck, not across shoulders. muscle pain back of neck, pain in front of neck in the area of carotids...not the carotids...but in that area both sides of neck with pain going under clavicles. probably muscle there. not on blood thinners for last year. headache feels like its going to explode. when attempting to bend head forward, pain searing back of neck and head and I can't bend head forward. Tylenol didn't help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (15 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
ah, mostly already mentioned

Detailed Answer:
but the key point here is the back of the head.
The spine goes to the back of the head. It's the only headache that connects to a spinal nerve problem. Although positional headache can be sinuses, blood pressure (would have to be VERY high), or even brain tumor. Those aren't generally felt in the back of the head. Not surprsing, because the nerves that handle sensation in the back of the head run out from the spine not from the head.
As previously, with spinal nerve/disk issues, they can lead to serious problems, but mostly are not emergencies.

x-rays, muscle relaxants, evaluation of the neurological state all require doctor intervention and all are best handled by a NON-ER one.
Hot shower, aspirin like drug soft cervical collar, are some of the few options one has at home.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (21 hours later)
no question. I am in the hospital and on IV antibiotics. I have meningitis
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (8 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Glad that was found out

Detailed Answer:
Nearly always 1) it is acute with symptoms having a crescendo over hours not days and 2) there are signs of infection both in the head and overall (fever, chills, shakes, etc.).

Then, there are a LOT of types of meningitis. A lumbar puncture would have to be done to make the diagnosis and that would be able to evaluate for most of the types (bacteria). Meningitis due to tumor, viruses, or autoimmunity or tuberculosis are hard to sort out and take time to diagnose.

Best of luck, and hope you get well soon.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Headache, Upper Chest Muscle Pain, Stomach Ulcer And Stiff Neck

Brief Answer: tricky Detailed Answer: I see a previous question on neck pain. Carotids are not very likely to have pain. And, the vertebral disks, the nerves and muscles in the neck are. Triggering the pain often gives a clue to the cause of it. The carotids would not be at all likely to limit movement of the neck, would not be on both sides of the neck and are in the front not the back. Problems with the vertebral disks, the nerves and muscles in the neck cause pain with movement and are felt mostly in the back but extend widely along shoulders. These structures can be affected by a wide range of problems but mostly it is age-related degeneration. These can still be an emergency even if the cause is occurring over decades if the nerves are failing (lack of feeling, coordination and / or strength imply nerve damage; sometimes this can lead to even paralysis). x-rays, muscle relaxants, evaluation of the neurological state all require doctor intervention and all are best handled by a NON-ER one. Hot shower, aspirin like drug (depending on what other meds one is on; it is a bad mix with blood thinnners), soft cervical collar, are some of the few options one has at home.