occipital headahe/migraine relief

I have had a constant headache for three years now. I've had a C6-7 discectomy with fusion in October 2008. I had a C4-C6 discectomy with cages and fusion with the hardware removed from C6-C7. I've been to headache clinics in Chicago, sports medecine and rehab doctors, physical therapy, acupuncture, neurologists, rheumatologists, 2 spine centers, pain management, and biofeedback. I am scheduled for a repair C6-7 fusion (pseudoarthrosis) with a laminectomy of C7-T1 and bone spur removal next week. My official diagnosis is cervicogenic headaches ( occipital) with overlapping migraines. I also have fibromyalgia in addition to spine problems. I will be taken off of all anti inflammatories and steroids for a minimum of six months to promote healing and good fusion. If I take narcotic pain relievers, I find that it will trigger a migraine within a week. My current meds are Bystolic, Motrin ( will be discontinued), Zanaflex, Halcion, Benadryl, and Compazine. I also take supplements that include a multivitamin, Olive Leaf, Vitamin D3, Omega 3 Fish Oil. I have tried all of the Fibromyalgia meds with little to no success. Is there anyone out there who has the same headache type that has found a minimal amount of success in controlling the pain and the headaches?

[sara12345]

So sorry to hear about your pain.  I have not had any "discectomy" which I don't fully understand, but I have been diagnosed with occipital nerve migraines which have been severe 24/7 and are thought to be caused by my carotid artery dissection stroke 3 years ago.  I also suffer from fibromyalgia.  

The easist part of my answer is that 150 mg. of Trazadone has greatly helped my fibromyalgia.  It took several years before I could tolerate that high a dose, but the more I raised it, the better I was.

I cannot take any anti-inflammation meds due to my kidney failure that occurred from the CT scans taken during and after my stroke, so none of the meds below are anti-inflammation meds..  

I took supplements recommended by 2 neurologists which didn't help me at all:  COQ10, fish oil, magnesium.  I use most often a transdermal gel (info below) that acts as an anti-inflammatory without entering my blood stream that often keeps me off pain killers which can cause rebound headaches--even acetominophen or Tylenol.   Or you should take prophylactic meds which are taken daily to prevent the migraines.  Have you tried any of these?   If so and if none worked,  I have one that is herbal that finally helped me after trying a whole bunch of prophylactics--Petadolex at www.petadolex.com.  

What have helped me the most are nerve block injections every 4 weeks and Botox injections every 9 weeks.

I still have "crashes" of my migraines when I do a little bit too much.  Then I take Esgic which controls them the best.  It has Butalbital plus caffeine--a barbituate.  And since I can't take it more than one day a week, then I switch to Lorcet--an opiate which helps some.  Also use ice packs.  Also I take (only works when the severe headache just starts,)  a nasal liquid of Lidocaine 2% and Vis. Sol Hi.  When all of this fails and I'm just vomiting and very dehydrated, then I have to go to the ER and get Benedryl, Reglan and Morphine which helps bring the migraine down a couple points and I'm usually laid up for at least a week afterwards from the migraines continuing, but as bad as before the ER.

These solutions are from 4 different neurologists at the University of Michigan, so you're getting the benefit of some very great doctors.

Hope that it might help you.

Now my migraines are mostly mild IF I don't do too much.  Just walking too quickly across a large grocery store or being on my feet too long in Costco which is even larger, my migraines can get terrible. So I'm still fairly disabled, but not in such horrific pain.

Let me know if you tried any of the remedies that I have had work well.

P.S. the ingredients of the inflammation gel that requires a special pharmacy to mix up are:  Amitrityline-2%, Ketoprofen – 10%, Gabapentin – 3%, Lidocaine – 2% and Transdermal Gel – 60 g.  

[sara12345]

Need to correct one paragraph that I wrote above. Correction is in capital letters.

"I still have "crashes" of my migraines when I do a little bit too much.  Then I take Esgic which controls them the best.  It has Butalbital plus caffeine--a barbituate.  And since I can't take it more than one day a week, then I switch to Lorcet--an opiate which helps some.  Also use ice packs.  Also I take (only works when the severe headache just starts,)  a nasal liquid of Lidocaine 2% and Vis. Sol Hi.  When all of this fails and I'm just vomiting and very dehydrated, then I have to go to the ER and get Benedryl, Reglan and Morphine which helps bring the migraine down a couple points and I'm usually laid up for at least a week afterwards from the migraines continuing, but NOT as bad as before the ER."