Daily Headaches, Daily and Weekly Migraines, Meds, Meds, Meds..... and 2 Neck Surgeries

By Missy Tuesday, March 04, 2008

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I have had 2 neck surgeries on c6-c7 since 2001. Both fusions. One failed, the other "successfull" until I was rearended, 4 weeks post opp. Long story short, I suffer with daily headaches and have migraines from medium to high intensity a couple times a month with no pattern. I have been to numerous doctors and tried numerous meds, physical therapy, etc... Today I am on 100 mgs of topamax and percocet as a prn. Initially I thought the topamax was working but the headaches are back daily on about a 6 on a 1 through 10 severity scale and I find my self taking the percocet daily. I have some side effects from the topamax as well. Migraine abort meds don't work on me. I don't know where to turn as far as alternative so I figured I would attempt to educate myself and join this forum and read a bit. Any advice?? Embarassed

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Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

3/ 4/08 8:55pm

Hello, and welcome to MyMigraineConnection.com!

Our site provides current, accurate information and a wonderful support network. We are so glad you found us.

Taking percocet every day may cause another problem called Medication Overuse Headache. This occurs when we take certain OTC and prescription medications 2-3 times during the week. We can stop MOH by discontinuing the offending medication cold turkey. Here's the thing, if we are suffering from MOH, any Migraine preventive medication we are on will not work, period. This article has all the details: Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires.

Working with a Migraine specialist is always a good idea. We have a patient recommended Migraine specialist list you can see by clicking HERE.

Thank you for creating a SharePost. SharePosts are a form of blogging, and there are many things you can do with them. You can share an experience, suggest something that's helped you, use SharePosts as a Migraine and headache journal, and many other things.

We also have a discussion forum that you may want to check out. Especially if you have questions or are looking for information, you may find the interaction on the forum to be quite helpful. To get to the forum, just look for the orange box marked "Manage" and click on the Migraine Forums link. Because our forums are maintained by a third party, you'll need to register for the forum. You can use the same information you used to create your community log-in if you like. If you want to go directly to the forum, you can click HERE.

Along with your personal "My Home" page and the discussion forum, you'll find links to a great deal of helpful information on the main page of our site, http://www.MyMigraineConnection.com. You can also sign up for our free newsletter about Migraine disease and headache disorders on the home page in the upper left hand corner.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them to the forum or send me a message through my profile.

Welcome again,

Nancy Bonk
MyMigraineConnection.com Expert

PS: If you receive this message from more than one of us, please excuse the overlap. Thanks!

ERFLTRN

3/ 5/08 9:54am

Please don't give up. This is a great resource. I also can not take any of the normal abortive meds like imitrex or DHE as I had a migriane related stroke. There are other options. I am also on topomax 100mg twice a day and have a severe migraine about twice a month which usually lasts a week at a time. I can't take a lot of narcotic pain meds because of my job. I am a flight nurse and they also give me a horrible rebound headache. Search this site for the recommended meds and take a list of them to your doctor so you can talk with them about options. Stay in touch with people here they really are great.Stay well.

Kathy

Missy

3/ 5/08 6:06pm

Wow, how did you get a migraine related stroke? I have the same, a headache that lasts about 6 to 8 days that ranges from about a 6-8 on a migraine scale that is lately 1 to 2 times a month. How do I get a list of alternative meds? I have to be honest with you...if I get a bad bad migraine, lately the only thing that works is 2 percocet and bed. I can't function. I think I'm getting a tolerance to the percocet so it doesn't always break up the headache.

ERFLTRN

3/ 5/08 7:22pm

The stroke was due to the head injury that caused the migraines to start with and a combination of the migraine I had had for 22 days and migranal nasal spray which is DHE is nasal spray form. That is at least what my neurologists came up with. I can't take percocet because they create a huge rebound headache for me that is sometimes worse than the original. My husband has made our bedroom like a cave so when I do have a migraine I have a quiet dark place to go. I am not sure what all you have tried but there is toradol,midrin,fiorcet,even some pscyhe drugs can work. Seroquel in small doses worked for me for almost two years. On this site is a heading migraine treatment...they have a lot of suggestions and the people on this site are a wonderful support system. I had an occiptal and perioccitpal nerve block done yesterday to help this one (which thankfully it did). I get botox every 12 weeks for prevention which has worked well for 3 years but now I have apparently developed antibodies making it less effective. Just remember you are not alone and you have alot of options and support.
Kathy

nutcracker1

3/ 5/08 7:53pm

Hi, Missy. First, the link to the list of preventive meds:

Migraine Preventive Medications--Too Many Options to Give Up

Next, if your migraines are lasting as long as you say, please take a look at this article:

Status Migrainous--the Basics

Status Migrainous is one of those situations that increases the risk of migrainous stroke. If your migraines last over 72 hours, it is important to get immediate medical attention.

I hope this helps!

jasmine

3/11/08 6:46pm

read my post, jasmine

Daily Headaches, Daily and Weekly Migraines, Meds, Meds, Meds..... and 2 Neck Surgeries

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