migraines and frontal lobe brain lesions

[red2babe]

I am 40 years old and have had migraines for a long time but in 2005 I started with bad dizzy spells to the point of falling down alot, I was told at the ER it was vertigo and was given meclezine which made it worse, went back the next night and had a catscan done then rushed for a MRI, it showed brain lesions on my frontal lobe. I started seeing a Neurosurgeon and he tested(spinal tap) for MS and it was normal so nothing there. I was upset cos he couldn't answer anything so he sent me to a specialist 4 hours away and all he did was tell me I was depressed and wanted to put me on Prozac......NOT...
I have since then been seeing just a family doctor who is trying to treat the migraines with many things, lastly topamax, it helped some but never rid me of migraines. I have had a weakness on my left side for a long time now, from my toes to my neck and face, it feels weird as if fake, that in-between asleep and awake feeling, at night when I try to go asleep it really bugs me, I can never get comfortable so it is messing with my sleep too. Every MRI I have had done in the last 2 1/2 years shows that more brain lesions are there now each time. But still no answers except for migraines that I need to keep taking meds for and depression.
I may be depressed cos they can't answer this for me. I have 5 kids, 2 grown up and out, 2 grandsons and 1 more on the way very soon now. I was working over 40 hours a week as a supervisor for over 5 years til all of this started, then I had to walk away from that job due to my dr's restrictions with my job, he says not to drive, move fast, due hardly anything lol.......hard to do when you are a mom....I do know my limits and seem to be laying down alot more now than ever. My headaches have always been on my left side near my temple to moving around to the back of my head also. I have tried tieing a bandana around my head also, light is my worse enemy anywhere, I absolutely hate light, my family calls me a vampire, black material over windows, hardly ever use lights and wear the darkest sunglasses I can find. My memory has also been effected, I was always the one who could remember anything, no one else could, now it is awful, to the point I can't remember phone numbers or even get turned around when driving in my own town, like I'm lost.....and yes I still drive cos I have no choice, I just don't when I am having a really bad headache.
I am so about ready to give up cos I know I will never be like I was, and not working has hurt.....disablity said I was 'somewhat' disabled and denied me and even denied every time I re-tried. Just haven't went to a lawyer yet, I just figure everyone thinks its in my head......which is true it is cos thats where it hurts.......
Does anyone else have an answer or suggestion for me? You can e-mail me at ***@**** please.
Thank you for reading my mess....Katie

[tceng84]

I know this was written almost a year ago and I hope you are feeling better but I would like to tell you what happened to me. I started having Vertigo to the point I had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance. I really thought I was going to die. At the time I was in my late 30's with 3 kids. I also had migraines but was told that I must tolerate pain well from my doctor. Anyway, the vertigo was uncontrollable and worse than the migraines. I was checked inside and out they found brain lesions and my doctor said she thinks the migraines and vertigo are linked and causing the lesions because MS and various other tests came back ok. My ENT stated I have all of the symptoms of Meniere's Disease which I did know my memory was not so well anymore my hearing for low tones was worse and I had vertigo and bad fatigue. Well, bottom line is I was checked for allergies and though I still am considered with Meniere's I found out I have severe, moderate, and mild allergies to so many things it was unbelievable. I started getting 3 shots a week and after a year my vertigo and migraines are in control! Thank God and I feel like myself somewhat again, I also eliminated caffeine and salt out of my diet. Make sure I sleep well and try to limit my stress. Have you been checked for allergies? I lived for 38 years not knowing I had allergies and my body finally started acting out in other ways because it couldn't take it no more.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi.

Yes. White matter lesions in MRI findings of migraineurs are nonspecific. That is they may also be present in other disease states. At this point, their significance has not been defined or established.

You may need to be thoroughly evaluated for this including an MS work up. Metabolic factors like thyroid function, cholesterol levels and bleeding parameters (eg coagulation factors) need to be assessed.

Continue a close follow up with your physician. An open communication with your neurologists is necessary

[red2babe]

The headaches have gotten worse over the 3 year period. At first I could cover my eyes and go to a darkroom(which all of mine are) and take tylenol pm, sometimes I would wrap my head in a hankerchief too. They are always in the same place, no change there. No trauma to my head either.
My doctor has only said he didn't know if the migraines were causing the lesions or the lesions were causing the headaches. He is confused as to why more show up on every MRI also.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi.

I understand how hard this is for you. You have mentioned that these headaches have been present for the past 3 years. Would you say that the character and intensity of the pain has changed?

Was there any previous history of trauma or injury to the area prior to the headache?

With regards to the lesions noted on the frontal lobe, were your doctors able to define the lesions?

Migraine headaches may still be a differential in your case until proven otherwise. Migraine headaches have been associated with some  MRI findings: "Female migraine patients are at increased risk of deep white matter lesions, independent of the effects of cardiovascular risk factors. The influence of migraine severity (attack frequency) on the risk of both types of lesions suggests a causal relationship between migraine severity and lesion load."

Source:Kruit MC et al.MRI Findings in Migraine.Rev Neurol (Paris). 2005 Jul;161(6-7):661-5

You may discuss this with your physician.