Migraine Aura and head injury

[SueA333]

I've had migraines for 26 years and never had an aura with them. 2 weeks ago I hit my head pretty hard. Since then I've started having Migraine Auras with and without the Migraine Is it possible that hitting my head could have caused me to start having the auras? If the answer to that is yes, then is it possible that they will go away? I have been on Topamax for migraines and have just reduced the dosage from 400mg a day to 200mg a day.

[SueA333]

Thanks for replying. I've been decreasing the topamax dose under the supervision of my doctor. The higher dose of topamax destroys my appetite and I lost a considerable amount of weight because I would forget to eat and food just wasn't apealing to me. I was down to 105 lbs at 5'6". Even at the current dose I don't have much of an appetite. If the auras continue, I think that I need to increase the topamax back up so that I don't have any of them while driving in heavy traffic so hopefully they will go away since increasing it back up isn't a good thing for me.
Sue

[SueA333]

Hi,
The only other symptom that I had when I hit my head what that it was bleeding, but not enough to need stitches. I have an appointment with my neurologist but it takes a couple of months to get into see him.
Sue

[SueA333]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. The way that I hit my head is that I was up on a ladder and I lost my balance falling off backwards. The back of my head hit a door jamb and that is what broke my fall. So yes, I was moving at the time. I'm not sure what you mean when you say to check if the headache / aura is associated with changing positions of my neck. I don't know the instant that they occur and they can last for awhile. The aura I had today probably lasted at least 1/2 an hour.

Sue

[noops01]

Hi,
Did you reduce the dose of topamaax by yourself or on advice of your treating doctor? Pease do not increase or decrease the dose on your own. Yes migraine auras can be precipitated by head injury and yes there is a possibility that they may go away on their own but nothing can be said for sure.

[Suri123]

Hi, chances of the head injury triggering migraine with or without an aura is possible, is there any other associated symptoms like vision disturbance, vomitting ,giddiness. since you mentioned injury was pretty hard have you met the doctor for any neurological signs. continue medicines and consult your neurophysician.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

There are incidences where migraine with aura has started after a head injury. Especially if the injury has affected a particular nerve called "Greater Occipital Nerve" in the head. This nerve gets injured if there is a sudden movement of neck. Did you hit your head in a car ? Or were you moving at the time of injury ? And just check if the headache / aura is associated with changing positions of your neck.

Please consult your Neurologist to rule out the nerve injury as a cause of your aura. A physiotherapy course might be of help.

You may discuss the option Bio-feedback as an additional treatment option.

I hope my response helps. Please feel free to ask any further queries.

Regards

DrAbhijeetMD