57 and counting

I have to tell you I'm a little bit over this headache. I started noticing it shortly after the accident and my doctor said it was from whiplash and just gave me a stronger muscle relaxer. The muscle relaxer just knocked me out for days so of course my head didn't hurt but it didn't really help with being able to work and function like a normal person. So I went back to the doctor for a different kind of muscle relaxer that helped some but didn't totally wipe me out. She also prescribed physical therapy - which I have been going to for 5 weeks now. However, the headaches are just getting worse... A few weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night wondering how my head hadn't exploded. I've had migraines before but it's a different kind of headache and pain. It starts at the base of my skull and goes up around my ears and behind my eyes and then just spreads everywhere. 2 weeks ago on Friday I went back to my doctor because I was pretty sure that my headaches were going to be the death of me if someone didn't make them stop. So she suggested that I go and see a headache specialist (did you know there were such things?) to get some trigger point injections. Part of the problem (I'm told) is because the muscles in my neck just will not relax - which is apparently common after a whiplash injury. Miraculously the headache guy was able to see me on Monday and he feels that the headaches are being caused not by the muscles, but by a nerve. I had to ask him why everyone keeps talking about my muscles being too tight if it's nerve related. Well apparently it's all one vicious cycle. Something is up with the nerve - it's inflamed or pinched or something and so the muscles all around the nerve stay tight in order to protect the nerve. The problem is the worst on the left side so he showed me all kinds of pictures of the nerves and muscles and what they're doing - it was a bit over my head, I'm not going to lie. Anyway. So the headache doctor sent me on to a "pain specialist" who will do 2 injections into my nerves. Awesome! Now the only thing standing between me and being pain free is the insurance company. Don't even get me started on them. Because I was working when I got hit everything has to go through my workman's comp insurance carrier and they have been less than stellar. The pain doctor won't schedule anything until I can get some questions answered by the insurance people - can't really do that when they don't answer their phone or return phone calls. I am ready to drive to Schaumburg, IL to start smacking some people around until they have a headache. FIFTY SEVEN DAYS with a headache is enough! I can't concentrate on anything. I will choose sleep over ANYTHING else you might offer me. I forget the most mundane things - including my phone number, my doctor's name, etc... The headache guy said that is normal so I will try to stop thinking I have Alzheimer's.