MY UPDATE: HEADACHES BEEN GETTING WORSE

By SimplyJessica Monday, June 02, 2008

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I'm 18 yrs old. I have been dealing with Chronic Daily Headache for going on 3 years now. The headaches began within a week of hurting myself weight lifting (squatting). The doctors have yet to find a cause; all the tests I have taken have come back completely normal (5 MRIs, CAT scan, MRA, MRV, blood work twice, and x-rays). I was on hospital homebound for 2 yrs but now I am starting college and I need to work again, but it is very difficult to function sometimes with my headaches, so I really need to find out what is causing this. I basically have a headache 24/7.. they are worse at times and better at times but they never completely go away. I have severe muscle spasms in the back of my neck and my back (mostly upper and middle) and they are VERY tense all day and achy. I am sensitive to light but not sound. I am dizzy about half of the day. A couple times a day, when I stand up I get a headrush and everything blurs and it's like a black curtain comes down almost all the way down except at the very bottom of my vision, this lasts about 3 seconds then I come back. I never completely pass out but it's really scary. I've been having trouble falling asleep, I get tired but I can't shut my brain off. Lately, I've also been losing my appetite, I get hungry but I don't really feel like eating. I've been getting anxious and sad the last 2 months or so, but I think it's because this has just been going on for so long, and the almost blacking out a couple times a day is really scaring me! I've been to a bunch of doctors (eye doctor, neurologists, chiropractors, had acupuncture a couple times, and I have been tried on a million medications) and still no answers. Any suggestions? I really need some help..

Comments (6) | Add comment

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

6/ 3/08 11:14am

It really is time to see a Migraine/headache specialist, sweetie. This pain has lasted too long and you are too young to be in chronic pain. Of course, us "old" folks shouldn't be in chronic pain either, but at 18 years old you have a lot of living to do.

Here's the thing. If a pipe in your house bursts, you get it fixed by a plumber. You wouldn't call a carpenter to fix the broken pipe. The carpenter can fix the trim in your house, and paint the trim and install a door, all kinds of things. The plumber only does one job because he is an expert in one area - plumbing.

Now a neurologist may be a fine doctor, but treats so many different conditions- like MS, Parkinsons, epilepsy and dementia it may be hard for them to be experts in any one area. Migraine/headache specialists devote their practice to treating patients with in one area - Migraine disease and headache disorders.

Since your pain started at the time of your injury there must be some connection. An expert would be the one to find that. You are lucky being in Florida because there are a few specialists. Click HERE to find them and let us know how you make out, ok?

Nebula

6/ 4/08 11:01pm

Hey, I'm 20 and I have a lot of your same symptoms. I have had migraines since I was 8 or 9 and not from an injury. But other than that - My neck spasms really bad, usually on the left side. I have really bad anxiety and I get anxious about the next time I will get a headache. I have extreme difficulty falling asleep, probably because of the anxiety.

I met a guy once who had a very similar story about the way his migraines started. He had something I had never heard of implanted into his head and he said it was working. Sorry I'm foggy on the details but I met him at a party. If you are at all interested I can ask him

matullos

6/21/08 9:00am

I completely feel for you. I myself just started having these migraines about 2 weeks ago and Im not toolerating it wll. Unfortunately your post didnt comfort me in that you said all your tests were normal. Im going for 3 MRI tests w and w/o contrast this next Mon. Part of me only hope somthing lights up so I'll be able to "fix" this. If not I'll back to square one which is taking medicines to try and make the pain go away. Its like all day everyday all day. My only relief is to take an Ambien Cr. Ironic, huh? Its prescribed for sleep but 30 minutes or less, my headache is all but gone and I can function again. Too weird. For almost a week now Ive doubled up. Taken 1 at about 7 and one at bedtime.

Ive tried 3 migraine medicines( Imitrex,Zebutal and Excedrin migraine) and an anti-seizure medicine.(depakote) Nothing. I just started an anti-depressant Zoloft amd hope that works for the anxiety the neurologist says my migraines might be due to. *sigh* Its starting to be very frustrating.

Teri Robert, Health Guide

6/21/08 2:35pm

Dear matullos,

Unfortunately, there are no diagnostic tests to confirm a diagnosis of Migraine disease. In most cases MRIs and other tests will be "normal." In some cases, when people have had Migraines for years, an MRI can show white matter lesions on the brain, but most times, they are clear.

Still, you really don't have to be back to "square one which is taking medicines to try and make the pain go away. Don't let the fact that Depakote didn't work to prevent your Migraines discourage you. There are over 100 medications that can be used for prevention. Take a look at Migraine preventive medications: too many options to give up!

Also, if the only things you've taken when you get a Migraine are Imitrex, Zebutal, and Excedrin Migraine, you have more options there too. There are seven medications in the family of Imitrex. Each of them are a bit different, co it's worth trying the others -- Maxalt, Zomig, Amerge, Relpax, Axert, and Frova. Your doctor should have samples of these medications.

How frequently are you taking Zebutal and Excedrin? If taken more that two or three days a week, these medications can make matters worse by causing medicaion overuse headaches, aka rebound. Since both of them contain acetaminophen, you shouldn't take each of them two or three days a week either, they need to be limited to a total of two or three days a week. See Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires. Also, if you're rebounding, preventives can't work.

Please talk to your doctor about your Ambien usage. Ambien CR is a time-release formula meant to help people sleep through the night, not two doses five hours apart.

One more thing-- Migraines are NOT due to anxiety. Maybe it's time for a new doctor?

Hope this helps,

Teri

Matullos

6/22/08 12:45pm

Im so glad Im srating to get some insight as to what I should do, Terri, you've helped imensly. As far as the Ambien Cr, it want something I started taking imediately for headaches. I just noticed that one night after I had been having a migraine for hours, it took the pain away for several hours and I was ableto sleep. Im hoping that a touch of Valium will help so I can take it during the day and the other for sleep.

Im really anxious to see what my MRI results are going to show tomorrow evening. Im almost praying that something is there so I can get an answer, But on the other hand I dont want God to give me something I'll have a hard timehandling.

Mike

8/17/08 5:56pm

I too was suffering with chronic daily headaches which were most likely caused by a horrible car accident. I had been on so many different drugs for the pain and nothing really helped. Inderal 120mg a day seemed to help me with my migraines which would hit me every weekend but the daily headaches would get worse and worse. I finally found a headache specialist who has been involved in the FDA approval of BOTOX for migraines and daily headaches. That was over five years ago and after about a year of adjusting to the BOTOX and revamping the amount they injected, I no longer get the headaches EVERYDAY! I wont say they are gone completeley but it has improved my quality of life. Instead of 6 days of headaches a week, i may get 1 or 2 and some tension headahes here and there. Look into BOTOX for headaches. I was lucky and my insurance actually covers it!!!

MY UPDATE: HEADACHES BEEN GETTING WORSE

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