@stuuke - I’m sorry for your current symptoms flare. Have you started the Pentoxifyline up again to see if those symptoms calm down again over a few days? If so, please let us know. It’s good to keep track of what works & what doesn’t for our members.
I haven’t picked up the refill but plan to tomorrow. I was going to text Dr Hepworth as well but don’t know if I’ll get a response.
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I’ve been on the prescription about a week now and still no relief. The tinnitus is bad enough that it can wake me up in the middle of the night and the pain/pressure is probably around a 7 or 8 level. I haven’t received any response from Dr. Hepworth but with the transition I’m sure it’s just really bad timing. Judging from some of the other threads he has a lot going on. Just not sure what else I can do and trying to get through this massive flare-up. Hopefully there will be some discovery from this pain. My upright MRI is scheduled for the 21st. I’m hoping to do some jugular readings at Health Images while I’m in town if I can get Dr. Hepworth to call in the order.
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I’m sorry the medication isn’t being helpful. I know you said you weren’t sure if it really helped previously, but your symptoms flared a bit when you stopped it. Maybe you need to take it 2-4 weeks for it to help? Some meds do require time to build up in the body before they resolve or reduce symptoms.
I figure the first 2-4 weeks of Dr. Hepworth’s new practice are going to be very chaotic especially since his parting w/ Veros wasn’t seamless. I hope his new staff can be quick on their feet & can get things going as they should ASAP!!
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So sorry that you’re having a bad pain flare-up, hope you can get in touch with Dr Hepworth soon, thinking of you 
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Still no luck getting in touch with Dr. Hep. I messaged Dr. Fargen to see if he had any thoughts or suggestions. Just not sure what my other options are but he’s usually good about getting back to me in 24-48 hours. I’ve been back on the medicine a few weeks now and no change.
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Such a different experience with Dr. Fargen’s office. I’ve heard from a staff member and his NP Jennifer. She said Dr. Fargen has changed his views on rotational stenosis and will discuss my case with him Tuesday when they meet.
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@stuuke - Good for you for “going in the back door” to get to Dr. Hepworth. I keep hearing things are almost worse now than before Dr. H left Veros because of the problems Veros has left him with. I feel really bad for Dr. H & hope that as the months pass his new practice will become more organized & smooth running.
I really hope Dr. Fargen’s intervention on your behalf gets the wheels rolling w/ Dr. Hepworth for you.
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Had my upright MRI Wednesday. I haven’t received the report yet. They told me 24-48 hours so I called them yesterday. Nothing yet but hoping to have something next week. They also said the images were sent over to Dr. Hepworth. I can’t really count on hearing back from Dr. Hepworth with his office issues. I did get an extra copy of the disc so I might just send that to Dr. Fargen and get his thoughts.
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Did you ever hear what the results were of Dr. Fargen’s consult w/ Dr. Hepworth on your behalf? I actually called Dr. Hepworth’s ofc this past week to see if my surgery & pre-op were still on their calendar. I was dumbfounded when the phone was answered by a human & not only that but someone who was able to answer my question. It was a gift! My surgery is still on their books!! I called just before lunch time on Monday so maybe it was a less busy then?
Have you tried to schedule a telehealth visit with him for follow-up @stuuke?
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I haven’t heard back from Dr. Fargen. Between the trip to Colorado and moving my oldest off to college this week was pretty crazy. I’m going to check in with him Monday and also try UprightMRI if they haven’t sent the report. I haven’t had any luck contacting Dr. Hepworth but I’ll keep trying that as well.
I don’t know if I should keep taking the Pentoxifylline or not. I haven’t noticed any change for the better since I started it back up and it has probably been about a month. Has anyone heard of Rosuvastatin causing flare-ups? My primary put me on that for cholesterol this summer. That’s the only other change in my medication that I’ve had.
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Now you have two doctors to keep after, @stuuke. I’m so sorry about that!!
I’m on 10 mg Rosuvastatin for cholesterol. Tried Atorvastatin first, & it made my joints ache so I couldn’t sleep at night. Rosuvastatin has been SO MUCH BETTER!! I was also initially able to take a lower dose than w/ the Atorvastatin. Neither one made my ES symptoms worse.
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The only thing I can think of is that maybe I got Covid and that’s causing a flareup. I don’t really have any symptoms but I guess it’s possible.
I left a message on Dr. Hepworth’s new office number and also emailed them and Dr. Hepworth. I received my report back from Upright MRI but it doesn’t look anything is really obvious.
Findings:
The ventricles and subarachnoid space are normal. There is a small normal variant venous angioma in the left corona radiata. The cerebral hemispheres are normal in appearance and symmetric. In the posterior fossa, the brainstem, visualized cranial nerves and cerebellar hemispheres are normal. There is no evidence of intracranial hemorrhage. There are no mass lesions or midline shift. There are no foci or areas of abnormal increased signal intensity. The sella and pituitary are normal. The calvarium is normal. There is mucosal thickening in the maxillary sinuses bilaterally. The visualized orbits, remaining paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells are clear. The visualized vascular structures are normal.
Impression:
Normal MRI of the brain without contrast. Small normal variant venous angioma in the left corona radiata. Bilateral maxillary sinus mucosal thickening.
Findings:
C1-C2 articulation is normal.
No evidence of Chiari malformation or tonsillar ectopia.
The tectorial and Atlanto-occipital membrane is intact.
The alar, transverse, accessory and apical ligaments show no edema or disruption.
The Myodural bridge is intact.
The posterior and anterior longitudinal ligaments are unremarkable.
The spinal cord is normal size and signal intensity.
There is no evidence of syrinx.
The oropharynx, nasopharynx and larynx are normal.
The epiglottis is normal.
The prevertebral soft tissues are normal.
The vallecula and piriform sinuses are normal.
Impression: Abnormal Grabb Oakes measurements in neutral and extended positions consistent with mild increased risk of brainstem impingement. No additional abnormalities identified.
I hate to ask this @stuuke, since you’ve already told us several times, but what are you current symptoms?
I’m glad your upright MRI came back clear, but I’d still rely on Dr. Hepworth’s interpretation of the scan in case he sees additional things the radiologist missed. He seems to be good at that.
This is a distinct possibility as COVID or any other virus even, if asymptomatic for you, could definitely flare ES symptoms.
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No problem. Main issues are intense pressure/pain in the head and left ear area. Also fatigue, brain fog, tmj symptoms, fullness in the ear and tinnitus. Tinnitus was pretty far down the list as far issues go but it’s much more severe in the past couple of months. I notice tightening of my SCM that radiates all the way down to my shoulder. I’ve had autoimmune issues that started within minutes of my concussion/whiplash. I have digestive issues, alopecia, rosacea and other autoimmune symptoms that appear for a while and then go away. I can’t sleep without taking sleeping aides and don’t seem to be able to calm my mind. If I could fix my issues in order I’d probably choose 1. pain/pressure 2. fatigue and 3. autoimmune disorders.
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Good that the MRI was clear, although did they explain the Abnormal Grabb Oakes measurements, would that be significant? Would that maybe cause pressure pain in the back of your head? Certainly would be interesting to get Dr Hepworth’s take on it all if you’re able as @Isaiah_40_31 says…
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I think I’ll try stopping the Rosuvastatin for a week and see if I notice any difference.
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I met w/ someone yesterday whose wife has ES & is also having troubles w/ hair loss. It happens when nerve pain in her scalp flares & seems to be related to her other ES symptoms. Apart from the two of you, @stuuke, I don’t recall hearing of this as a possible ES symptom, but on this forum, we’re learning there is no end to what nerve irritation by ES can cause.
Regardless of what your recent scan was reported as seeing, your symptoms are those associated with ES - which can come & go as you’ve noted - and vascular compression. Keep pursuing that second surgery with Dr. Hepworth unless he feels there is another avenue that would help you more.
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I had an immune response almost immediately after my whiplash/concussion. My nose filled with congestion and that week I started having rosacea and some other autoimmune symptoms.
Still no luck reaching Dr. Hepworth’s office. I get a mailbox full message when I call. No response to emails to either his email or the info address for his office. I’ve also tried texting him with no luck.