The Multiple Sclerosis/Migraine Connection

I have always suffered from migraines since teen years two to three times a month. I would take Imitrex and it would go away after a few hrs. Two and a half years ago I started having extreme migraines every day for the next two 1/2 years. I was seeing a neurologist during this time who never prescribed an MRI. She prescribed 100mg of Imitrex or if really bad the Imitrex injectibles 6mg. She also prescribed Topamax 100mg daily, vicodin 5-500mg when completely overwhelmed with pain. Early last fall 2008 I started having vision problems, very bad cognitive problems, was so tired all of the time and could not get out of bed. Very bad problems with walking....so I changed my neurologist and he got me into an MRi which he said that I have MS. I did tell him of my migraine history and still got the MS diagnosis. I am on Rebif and still have the really bad migraines, not as often but still just as severe. I have horrible cognitive issues that have not resolved and I am still very tired. What can I do?

I am a 41 year old female...a over a year ago I started with some "typical" ms symptoms....visual problems, major brain fog, speech problems (using wrong words and stuttering), SO much pain in my low back, legs and the bottom of feet (I have been a long distance runner for 20 years and could not run 1.5 miles last summer because of the pain), tingling in legs, arms and up back of head, right eye pain and involuntary muscle jerks.  My neurologist ordered a brain mri, low spine mri (to rule out disk problems because of low back and leg pain), visual evoked response, eeg (??) and full metabolic panel...everything was normal other than the brain mri showed numerous small lesions that he said are more suspect to a migrane history along with one larger lesion.  I told him I have never had a migraine.   He said I didn't have ms and there was nothing more he could do (along with being a complete jerk).  So I went to another neuorologist who took me more seriously...she used the "wait and see" method.  My symptoms lasted for about 5 months and then early Nov. everything disappeared EXCEPT for the eye pain and muscle jerks (which have gotten MUCH worse).  Now, in the last month the symptoms are coming back again in full force.  My doc scheduled another mri that came back "stable".  The doctor is thinking that I have a history of migraines that I never knew about???....She is trying to explain the eye pain and the jerking is a reusult of that stress???  Can I have lesions on my spinethat we don't know about?  Can ms flair start without new lesions?  How do you explain the other symptoms too??  I am at my wits end and want answers...any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! 

The migraines have been much more difficult to live with than any of the problems I have had with MS thus far.  I was diagnosed with MS in 1994 and initially suffered from various relapsing-remitting type problems.  I am blessed to be doing extraordinarily well today and hope to continue that way.

Unfortunately, I get many many migraines throughout the course of a month and there is rarely enough migraine medicine (since insurance limits me to 6 doses per month) to get me through.  Consequently, I suffer with many migraines without help. 

Anyway, when I was diagnosed, the possibility of these migraines was never mentioned.

Fortunately, today, with the internet and other rapid forms of communication, we can share our ailments with one-another and "not feel alone".  We can also share suggestions.

I write here merely to let others know "you are not alone".!

DAC

About a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with chronic sinusitus.  Along with this brings chronic inflammation of the sinuses and I am at risk for infection at all times.  It started with a headache that just got worse and worse until I would get so dizzy I'd almost fall over.  I ended up having endoscopic sinus surgery because I kept getting migraines and they did a cat scan and I had a huge mass of mucus stuck in my sinuses...that explained the migraines...until they came back  a year later.  Finally I went into the ER and they did another cat scan.  It was abnormal so they did an MRI and found multiple little white legions along with a "scar" the size of a quarter.  After a spinal tap, they said the results gave evidence of MS.  So, I still have been having migranes for a month strait and finally the pain dulled after taking Lyrica and Indomethicin.  The pain was so severre I could not leave my house for several days at a time.  Dr. thinks they are not connected but it doesn't make sense that I have 3 seperate issue...chronic sinusitus, chronic migraines and MS.  These are all Head related issues.  I also have had constant pain in the back of my eyes for the whole of that year and a half, so I could have had MS all along.  The pain in my eyes is so painful and it will not go away no matter what I do.  In a couple days I go discuss treatment options with my doctor.  I keep feeling numb tingling spots on my thigh or back or calves, I'm so weak and dizzy all the time.  I can't think correctly and reading is often difficult.  I am 24 and I just enrolled into college to major in english..finally deciding to do somthing with my life, and then BAM! you have MS...try studying now.  I can't focus with the migraines or the eye pain.  If something doesn't dull the pain soon, I'll have to quit school.  I want to go to school sooo bad, it's the only thing I want to do.  If I can't have that...I don't want to live.  Writing is who I am.  Any advice for me?  Do they symptoms decrease when the attack is over?  How long can an attack last?  Is it possible that the eye pain will go away?  I don't know what else to do.