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morning without a headache , I will have one within a few hours because all of my neck muscles get sore from holding my head upright . Even resting my head back on the softest pillow in a reclining position does no good . The muscles on either side of my neck and the tops of my shoulders are tender to the touch all the time . Sitting upright aggravates them and radiates pain upward into my neck and head .
No one listens to me . They only seem to want to mask the pain instead of trying to find and treat the real problem . I am a Medicaid recipient , and the only rheumatologist in my area will not see me . She has refused the referral . Traveling makes me ill , so going to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor , where there is another rheumatologist , is physically and economically impossible .
I suffer from so much chronic pain that I cannot do much of anything during the day . I am light sensitive and heat sensitive . I have all of the shades drawn in my home and cannot go outside . I also cannot stand loud noises . Other than quickly checking e-mails , I do not use my computer much anymore . Even fixing a bowl of cold cereal has become difficult for me . It pains me greatly to type this message . Do you have anything you can suggest that will help me ? — Ellen R . It is certainly challenging to have two significant disorders that are often completely incapacitating . Unfortunately , the complexities of your condition require careful professional evaluation , including a review of previous treatments , diagnostic tests and cooperative work in a multidisciplinary environment to try to find an answer . Going to a university medical center , such as the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor , might be one of the best ways to find
solutions for your unique situation . I wish you success in finding answers that will afford you an improved quality of life .
— Dr . Frederick Freitag , MD , Baylor Health Care System , Dallas
DAY AFTER DAY
What can you tell me about new daily persistent headache ? I was diagnosed with the condition and have had a daily , non-stop headache since Sept . 22 , 2006 . It started after I had a seizure at the age of 30 . Some days I manage with my “ normal ” headache , and other days I have a terrible headache that nothing seems to help . — Becky S . New daily persistent headache begins suddenly and remains largely unchanged . Although it resolves on its
New daily persistent headache begins suddenly and remains largely unchanged . Although it resolves on its own for some , for others it may continue indefinitely . www
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12 HEAD WISE | Volume 1 , Issue 2 • 2011