I have numbness on my right side and pain in my joints. The headache did not develop until the second week of symptoms. My reflexes are heightened on the right however, I do not feel pin pricks on that side (face, arm, leg). I had an MRI and they said that the brain is "essentially the same" as my scan 5 years ago. I am taking 600mg Gabapentin three times a day and the symptoms have not decreased. What's next?
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Q: This is my fourth complex migraine that I've experienced. It has lasted almost two weeks.
Answers (1)
11/29/09 10:43pm
Hi hobbina,
One of the most important things is to get an accurate diagnosis. To simplify matters and make it easier for people to get information and treatment, doctors usually go by the gold standard for diagnosis, the International Headache Society's International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICHD-II). Under ICHD-II, there is no diagnosis of "complex Migraine." We do see it used but doctors use it differently, so it really doesn't tell anyone what type of Migraine you actually have. You can read more about this in Ocular, Optical, and Opthalmic Migraines and The Type of Migraine Does Matter.
If your doctor isn't able to help you, it may well be time to consult a Migraine and headache specialist. It's important to note that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine and headache specialists. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.
Good luck
Nancy
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By hobbina— Last Modified: 10/20/10, First Published: 11/28/09
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