Face feels like novacaine is wearing off and head sensations

Sadden

Hello everyone. I am one month from a 1-year anniversary since any treatment (surgery in Dec 2017, chemo, radiation and Herceptin in 2018). During treatment I had head sensations. My scalp was sensitive and stayed cold; I wore hats all day. I remember I had mild headaches that were more like weird head sensations than a normal headache. What I was feeling were isolated pain either on the top of my head, or left side by my ear, or right side by my ear, or back of my head. On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain was a 3 and lasted for 30 seconds. This pain is occurring on and off all day for about 2 weeks now. Six months ago, when I saw my oncologist, it wasn't occurring daily and although I shared it with her, she did not think they were a sign of a brain tumor. Last Friday, I saw my oncologists' Adv Nurse Practitioner, and told her these headaches occur daily. She also does not believe it is a brain tumor. She gave me an order for an MRI to assuage my fears, but I don't want to do that. Has anyone experienced this type of head pain? I also have a stiff neck, been sleeping on my non-cancer side for months and think this might be the cause. I will look into getting a deep massage or acupuncture. but in the meantime, would really like to know if anyone had this type of head pain: a dull pain for about a minute at different parts of your head? So anxious about this.

MinusTwo

Sadden - I hear your fear. But it sounds like you have only two choices. Schedule the head MRI and determine if there's a valid cause. Or keep worrying. Personally I'd want to know.

Moderators

Hi Sadden-

We certainly understand your hesitations, but as MinusTwo mentioned, the only way to know and alleviate some of your concerns is to go ahead with the MRI.

The Mods