Aa
Can't live with these headaches anymore.
I have headaches everyday. Ive had headaches for as long as I can remember but really started noticing them more frequent in the last couple years. I can't quite figure out whats causing them or how to get rid of them. I tried keeping a headache log and figure out triggers but almost everyday I wake up with the headache so it's hard to find a trigger. And everything I try wont get rid of them. I have tried almost every over the counter drug they have, as well as some prescriptions I recieved,to home remedies I have found online to hot showers and heating pads and nothing helps any. I did go to a doctor about it and he said he believed it was the muscles in my neck causing strain on my nerves. But no matter how hard I try to loosen those muscles that doesnt help either. The pain usually starts at the back of my head and moves forward as the day progresses. I dont know what to do but I cant live like this anymore, any suggestions or anything would be greatly appreciated.
Heidi,
I'm delighted to hear that the nerve block injections helped you!! And PT will also help you.
Most doctors don't know how to give nerve block injections other than in the back of the head. If that's the only place where you received it and the pain does not stay better, then find a doctor that knows how to do them and trigger point injections across the forehead, the sides of the face, the neck and shoulders.
Also I have been getting nerve block and trigger point injections every 4 weeks for the last 3 years and have NEVER had soreness in the injection places. Maybe you got a doctor who is not as proficient giving them. You may not need them every 4 weeks. I have an exceptionally severe migraine case due to it being from a stroke.
So happy for you.
Sara
I'm delighted to hear that the nerve block injections helped you!! And PT will also help you.
Most doctors don't know how to give nerve block injections other than in the back of the head. If that's the only place where you received it and the pain does not stay better, then find a doctor that knows how to do them and trigger point injections across the forehead, the sides of the face, the neck and shoulders.
Also I have been getting nerve block and trigger point injections every 4 weeks for the last 3 years and have NEVER had soreness in the injection places. Maybe you got a doctor who is not as proficient giving them. You may not need them every 4 weeks. I have an exceptionally severe migraine case due to it being from a stroke.
So happy for you.
Sara
Well I figured I would jump on here and give you an update. I did finally go see my doctor yesterday. Just a family doctor not a neurologist. But he told me I have occipital neuritis. Basically meaning my occipital nerves are inflammed and because they pathway they go through can't expand that its causing more pressure. So I did get the nerve block yesterday and already I notice a difference. I actually did not wake up with a headache this morning, however the back of my head and neck are very sore, I'm assuming due to the injections.
I also have been referred to physical therapy. He belives I may have a buldged or hernieated disk in my neck, which could also be causing pressure on the nerves.
Thank you so much for recommending the nerve block, It feels so good not to start the day off with a headache :)
I also have been referred to physical therapy. He belives I may have a buldged or hernieated disk in my neck, which could also be causing pressure on the nerves.
Thank you so much for recommending the nerve block, It feels so good not to start the day off with a headache :)
Your Botox doctor has a very different viewpoint from mine. Where is your doctor practicing? In private practice or at a major facility or University?
The first time I got the injections with 100 units, nothing happened. Nine weeks later, he gave me a higher dose of 200 units which gave me a terrific result. I've been getting 225 units for the last 2 years at a gap of 10 weeks apart. Plus I get 25 total injections. Now I have severe migraines caused by a stroke, so usually people can go a lot longer before the injections wear off.
Just for you to know. If you want better results a lot faster than waiting 9 months, you might try to find a different doctor. My doctor is a neuro-opthalmologist at well respected major University.
Good luck.
The first time I got the injections with 100 units, nothing happened. Nine weeks later, he gave me a higher dose of 200 units which gave me a terrific result. I've been getting 225 units for the last 2 years at a gap of 10 weeks apart. Plus I get 25 total injections. Now I have severe migraines caused by a stroke, so usually people can go a lot longer before the injections wear off.
Just for you to know. If you want better results a lot faster than waiting 9 months, you might try to find a different doctor. My doctor is a neuro-opthalmologist at well respected major University.
Good luck.
Oh one last trigger that I forgot to mention: The menstrual cycle. When I am starting my period, Migraines are much worse. So hormones play a part in many Migraines. (This is when I usually end up giving myself a shot).
I have been dealing with Migraines for 12 years. A couple of triggers for Migraines that people don't know about are additives such as Nitrites (found in processed meats), sulfites (found in wine), aspartame (sweetener found in many drinks and gums), Monosodium Glutamate (an artifical salt commonly found in rubs and Oriental cooking). Also, I have triggers from stress, being too hot, lack of sleep and bright lights.
There are very good abortive drugs such as Maxalt, Imitrex or Migranal. (But Migranal made my migraines worse).
Preventative drugs are important such as Topamax, Gabapentin and anti-depressant, heart medications.
Also, narotics are often used for break-through pain, but are not best for everyday use. An NSAID such as Torodol injections with something for nausea and benadryl is commonly used in the ER (called a Migraine Cocktail). Torodol can be prescribed for home use.
As for the Botox treatments, My Neurologist says that it takes a few treatments (3 months apart) for you to notice a difference. I had my first one a few days ago. It was 12 total injections around my temple, forehead and back of neck. A few of them hurt, but most just barely stung. I felt a little bit sore and tired overnight.He said that it will help reduce the frequency and duration of Migraines.
Hope this helps. God Bless!
There are very good abortive drugs such as Maxalt, Imitrex or Migranal. (But Migranal made my migraines worse).
Preventative drugs are important such as Topamax, Gabapentin and anti-depressant, heart medications.
Also, narotics are often used for break-through pain, but are not best for everyday use. An NSAID such as Torodol injections with something for nausea and benadryl is commonly used in the ER (called a Migraine Cocktail). Torodol can be prescribed for home use.
As for the Botox treatments, My Neurologist says that it takes a few treatments (3 months apart) for you to notice a difference. I had my first one a few days ago. It was 12 total injections around my temple, forehead and back of neck. A few of them hurt, but most just barely stung. I felt a little bit sore and tired overnight.He said that it will help reduce the frequency and duration of Migraines.
Hope this helps. God Bless!
Heidi,
I really do hope that you will get that referral. You definately need to get out of such intolerable pain. Be very clear to all your doctors that you are bedridden with the pain. I really hope that you can get the nerve block injections because the side effects that you read about are comparable to any medication. I was not able to tolerate ANY preventative migraine medications, plus a whole bunch of other medications, but I have never had any side effects from the nerve block injections.
I will pray for you, or if that's not your thing, I will definately be sending you all good energy. Don't give up. I'm routing for you.
Sara
I really do hope that you will get that referral. You definately need to get out of such intolerable pain. Be very clear to all your doctors that you are bedridden with the pain. I really hope that you can get the nerve block injections because the side effects that you read about are comparable to any medication. I was not able to tolerate ANY preventative migraine medications, plus a whole bunch of other medications, but I have never had any side effects from the nerve block injections.
I will pray for you, or if that's not your thing, I will definately be sending you all good energy. Don't give up. I'm routing for you.
Sara
Again thank you so much for everything you have told me it really does help a lot. Im going to make an appointment sometime next week just to see the family doctor, get a different option maybe then my first doctor told me. And if he thinks, which I think he will, will end up refering me to a neurologist. I think the person I talked to was more refering to the nerve block injections. I don't see why trigger point injections would be so harmful but even the nerve block after you mentioned it, I did some research on it.
I spend almost everyday just laying around because the pain is too intorerable to do anything else. So I am definitely going to try and find something that will work. I also had taken tramadol and for a while that helped a lot. It was the only thing that would work, then after a short period of time, that didn't help either.
I will look into some of the other things that you did mention and I'm sure there has got to be at least one that will work.
Thank you so much for everything. You have been more informative then anything I have read.
Heidi
I spend almost everyday just laying around because the pain is too intorerable to do anything else. So I am definitely going to try and find something that will work. I also had taken tramadol and for a while that helped a lot. It was the only thing that would work, then after a short period of time, that didn't help either.
I will look into some of the other things that you did mention and I'm sure there has got to be at least one that will work.
Thank you so much for everything. You have been more informative then anything I have read.
Heidi
One more thing I forgot is a Butran patch which gives a very low dose of opiates 24/7. It has kept me out of the ER.
Sara,
Thank you so much on your input. I did know about the rebound headaches before I even to a doctor, Ive done lots and lots of research. Most the time I just don't take anything because I know nothing works anyway. The doctor put me on this predizone burst, so I had to take it for 7 days, and that was awful, the perscription made me just feel awful and then he gave me a preventative migrane prescription which has also been a waste.
I just read about those injections yesterday but I don't much about them. I have been told not to do the injections and been told to do them. So I'm still a little unsure about that.
If you happen to stumble upon anything else that might be helpful its always appreciated :)
Heidi
Thank you so much on your input. I did know about the rebound headaches before I even to a doctor, Ive done lots and lots of research. Most the time I just don't take anything because I know nothing works anyway. The doctor put me on this predizone burst, so I had to take it for 7 days, and that was awful, the perscription made me just feel awful and then he gave me a preventative migrane prescription which has also been a waste.
I just read about those injections yesterday but I don't much about them. I have been told not to do the injections and been told to do them. So I'm still a little unsure about that.
If you happen to stumble upon anything else that might be helpful its always appreciated :)
Heidi
Heidi,
What could especially help you with the neck tightness is nerve block and trigger point injections which have both helped me a lot. It's surprising that your doctor never mentioned that to you. Probably not a neurologist or a very poor neurologist. Or find a headache specialist. My neck and shoulders are also stiff which exacerbates the migraines. Another thing that you should try would be physical therapy exercises, but that alone is probably not enough.
You say that you have tried other prescriptions. Were they a daily preventative medication to prevent migraines? Your doctors should have told you that taking any pain medication, even over the counter durgs at least 3 times a week or more, just causes rebound headaches which perpetuate the headaches forever.
If those remedies don't help you, there are a lot of other treatments available.
Hope these suggestions will help you. Please let me know.
Sara
What could especially help you with the neck tightness is nerve block and trigger point injections which have both helped me a lot. It's surprising that your doctor never mentioned that to you. Probably not a neurologist or a very poor neurologist. Or find a headache specialist. My neck and shoulders are also stiff which exacerbates the migraines. Another thing that you should try would be physical therapy exercises, but that alone is probably not enough.
You say that you have tried other prescriptions. Were they a daily preventative medication to prevent migraines? Your doctors should have told you that taking any pain medication, even over the counter durgs at least 3 times a week or more, just causes rebound headaches which perpetuate the headaches forever.
If those remedies don't help you, there are a lot of other treatments available.
Hope these suggestions will help you. Please let me know.
Sara
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If you don't want any medications, that limits options a lot. Except that an herbal daily preventative medication called Petadolex did help me.
I don't know who told you not to get them. The injections take away the tightness. The first time I got them I was on Lortab, an opiate and Tramadol 24/7 for 8 months for severe migraines. After getting them, that day, my migraine went away and I went off both medications for the first 5 days afterwards!!! My migraines were far more controlled after that. Amazing difference. It would be worth you trying them. I know that a lot of people are afraid of injections, but the pain from them is nothing compared to the pain of the migraines.
And if you want to know about something else, there are the physical therapy exercises that specifically treat the neck and shoulder tightness as I mentioned above, but if your headaches are stronger, I wouldn't think that the PT alone will help you.
If you still want to know about something else, there are Botox injections, a nasal liquid that stings, but takes away headaches before they get severe. There is accupuncture which didn't help me at all and going over hundreds of postings on three separate medical websites, I have never read of anyone being helped by that. But it could help you. There is also biofeedback which my neurologist told me that my migraines were too severe for it to help me. I have never read about anyone being helped by that either.
It all depends on whether you truly want to get your headaches controlled or want to live with a lower quality of life for the next rest of your life. So my top recommendation is the nerve block and trigger point injections for your particular kind of headache. Next would be Botox injections which hurt more, but are tolerable. It's your decision.
Sara