I have several migraine type of headaches. I have one on the right side that is like getting a brain freeze, one over the left eye that burns and my eye some what closes and one that comes in the back of the head. At all times my head feels full and tight especially at the neck area. I have tried many things-but I only seem to get relief from imitrex. The relief last for about 2 hours and I am back needing another. My stomach get upset easily so I cannot take pain killers. I need some advice if there is any more I can do. My neurolgist just says keep taking the imitrex if it works. I have some type of headache and pressure daily. It is getting hard to work
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3/27/10 12:32pm
Rozzie,
-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•*Welcome to MyMigraineConnection!*•-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-
I'm going to cut right to the chase here. It's time for a new doctor. Daily head pain or pressure doesn't have to keep happening to you. And, yes, it's that simple. It doesn't have to happen. It can take time and patience, but there are many treatments to address the issue. Simply continuing to take Imitrex isn't the answer. In fact, Imitrex shouldn't be used more than two or three days a week. Doing so can actually make matters worse rather than better.
If we take Migraine abortive meds such as triptans or any kind of pain med more than two days a week, a big part of the problem may well be medication overuse headache (MOH), aka rebound. See Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires for more information on this.
I notice you said you have severas Migraine type of headaches. If you indeed have multiple types of Migraine, your doctor should have given you more than one diagnosis. It is entirely possible to have more than one, but you should know which ones.
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.
So, yes, there absolutely IS more you can do. I share your frustration, Rozzie, having been in a very similar situation myself. It was getting myself to a real Migraine specialist that turned things around for me. If not for taking charge, getting to a Migraine specialist, and working with him as treatment partners, I wouldn't be able to be here today trying to help others in similar situations. So please know that I'm not just speaking from theory here; I'm speaking from personal experience.
Please don't get discouraged. Help is out there, and we're here to support you and give you any information we can.
Will you please keep me posted on things -- how you're doing and if you find a new doctor?
Welcome again,
Teri
3/26/10 3:30pm
I take imitrex as well, and I love that it always works...BUT
You might be taking too much medication. It is very easy on Imitrex to get into a bad rebound cycle where your body actually produces headaches because it expects the drug. The only way to avoid this is to limit your consumption or even detox from it for a few weeks to months. I had to do this for a few months last year, and while it was very disruptive to my life - I found myself in the best health I have ever been in.
My neck also gets very tight during migraines and remains tense even when I'm not experiencing a headache.
3/30/10 9:23am
This is exactly what was happening to me about a year ago when they first started me on Imitrex. I hadn't been to a neurologist yet and I was taking it religiously as well, but I had rebound headaches. I then saw my first neurologist who thank goodness is amazing!! I reccomend trying Topamax, I felt a little insane in the beggining when we were upping the dossage on it and I am still tingly a year later lol, but less migrains and I don't take the Imitrex every day twice a day anymore. Not that it is a bad drug, but you need preventative migrain meds and a new doc just like Teri said. Preferably a neruologist :) Good Luck!!
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By Rozzie— Last Modified: 12/25/10, First Published: 03/25/10
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Thanks for the information. I viewed the area on Patient Recommended Specialists. Today I have an appointment with on of the Dr. from Houston. We will see how it goes.