Occipital neuralgia (pain, sore, migraines, doctor)

[Luckyd609]

Anyone suffer from this? I am going a bit nuts. I have had a headache for about 2 weeks now presenting like a classic muscle tension/migraine headache, something I have always suffered from. But my neck started to get very sore a few days in and the pain went down to the back lower left hand side of my head and neck. My doctor diagnosed it as migraines and gave me some Imitrex which she knows does not work for me but insist that I try it again. And I took it and it did nothing. She flat out will not prescribe opioids no matter what, even though I have told her they work for the most part. She pretty much dismissed me.
I am now going to see a new doctor who will hopefully do a more thorough check and give me more options. I would rather not take opioids if I can help it, but this pain is nagging at its best and like an ice pick at its worst.

[Mikala43]

My husband gets migraines and there are all types of migraine medicine out there that she should have tried (non painkiller). She should at least given you a couple until a medicine can be found that works.

[RamenAddict]

Yes, I get this kind quite frequently (or rather this is about the only kid). I cannot use imitrex because it makes me feel like I am having a stroke. I usually just try to do some physical activity and have a heat wrap I put around my neck and the back of my skull, and then at bedtime I just put some of the muscle cream on the affected area or a patch if it is that bad. I'm also on topamax now but I have tried other maintenance medications with limited success. Before that I was on amitriptyline which actually seemed to make it worse. My doctor also has me on butterbur but I have to be careful to pick the right brand of that.

[Bungalove]

Yup; I've had it since 1995 when I fell on black ice and smashed the back of my head on our front sidewalk. Shortly afterwards I started having headaches so bad that I would vomit from the pain (sorry, TMI). Anyway, the most my neurologists then and now have ever prescribed for pain have been Fioricet and Maxalt. I also take Topamax, which helps lessen the frequency of needing the Maxalt. I went to pain management doctors, biofeedback doctors, etc., all in vain. Basically I alternate hot/cold compresses and sleep with an ice pack on my neck. Sleeping is the worst time for neck pain for me.