compression of occipital nerve

July 30, 2008

I have been taking methotrexate for 18 months now and have found this

to be of a little help though still suffering much pain and ongoing

disability due to RA.

I have also been suffering from dreadful headaches down the left side

of my head and face and saw my Rheumatologist last week. After a

full examination etc. he said he thought I had compression of main

occipital nerve. He prescribed a drug call amytrypilene which is

supposed to numb the nerves. However, after 2 days on this drug I

had to abandon it because I was completely knocked out by it and

simply could not function in this state. In addition to my RA I also

suffer from osteo arthritis and severe spondylosis of neck, so this

may be the reason for this trapped nerve.

I am also suffering from very bad tinnitus in my right ear and after

examination my Consultant said that there is a condition called auto

immune disease of the inner ear and is highly likely that this may be

the case with me, and I am now waiting for a head and neck scan in

order to look at the ear. If this is the case then it seems that it

is very hard to treat and deafness almost always happens, and usually

the other ear follows suit.

I live in UK and it's very hard to get anti TNF drugs. My Consultant

has put me forward for one of these drugs and I shall find out in 2

weeks whether I have been funded to go on it.

In the meanwhile I am feeling very down with all of these problems.

People just never imagine that an auto immune illness like RA can

cause so many problems, we sufferers know all about it but others

think, oh! just a bit of knee ache etc. if only they knew.

Has anyone suffered from this ear complaint or compression of

occipital nerve, I would be grateful for any feedback.

Best wishes

from Lynda

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