Chronic and servere head pain

[Holly Anderson]

Hi
I have had severe pain, burning and pressure on the left side of my head and in my eye. I also have a spot about half way down the left side in my back that is very painful also. This has been going on since may 1999. It started right after I had two laser surgeries done on my eye. I have been to several doctors they say I have ms they found what appeared to be lesions in my head. I am taking several medications paxil, inderal,promethazine,lorazepam,oxycontin and copaxone none of which are doing anything. The pain is unbearable and I can't take much more of it. Do you have any suggestions?

[Taira069]

A related discussion, has anyone have a diagnosis for head pain? was started.

[tee2918]

A related discussion, head pain was started.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Mary:

I imagine that you have been on every type of migraine medication.  I would think that you ought to see a migraine specialist who can sit down, go over all the medications you have been on, and make a decision of how to best treat your headache.  It sounds like you have a transformed migraine type of headache.  If you on the east coast then I would see Dr. Silberstein at Thomas Jefferson, in the midwest I would see someone at the Diamond Clinic or here at the Cleveland Clinic.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Mary Castleberry]

I have been experiencing a chronic daily headache since December 4th 1998.  I have been through all kinds of procedures from MRI/MRA to Spinal Tap to Gamma Knife.  You name it, it seems I've done it.  Over the course of this headache I have been diagnosed with Migraines, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Horners Syndrome, Cluster Headaches, etc.  My pain is located behind my right eye (and my eye slumps) and in my right temple.  The pain is there every minute of every day but the intensity is much worse at times.  I am currently taking anti-depressants (Celexa - 60 mg/day), Vicodin (750 mg/twice a day), and Amerge (this is a new medication for me that my dr. says was recently introduced for chronic headaches as well as migraines).  I make it through the days but I am getting no solution to the problem so becoming very depressed and wondering if I will have to live with the HA for the rest of my life.  My dr. has now planned for me to have nerve blocks in my temple and above my right eye.  Do you have any information about this?  I had the gamma knife done in June of 1999 and all I was left with is tingling on the right side of my face that they tell me probably will not go away in addition to the every day headace.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Mary

[CCF Neuro [P] MD, RPS]

thanks for your comments.

[L]

Your condition sounds just like mine. I have had chronic migraines for the past year. Severe pain on left side of head, left eye left side of back - you can almost pin point the spot on your back. We always approached as migraine because for 20 years had about 6 a month. Suddenly at 39 increased in amount and length of time. I am on oxycontin 3 times a day. This has been the most effective pain relief yet.I have tried every other migraine med on the market with no luck. My left side of my face and around eye become very swollen during the most pain. My migraines also include- vomiting, aura, vision problems, hearing distortion, diziness, and passing out. I have alot of numbness on the left side as well. This has caused me to stop working and have a complete chaange of life style. Meds have caused weight gain, and sleep loss. If you would care for any other info feel free. Good luck and keep on pursuing a diagnosis. If you do not work well wwith a doctor move on. I have hhad several for different reasons. You have to have a good repor. My doctor is my only conection to any pain free days. Good luck.
                         Lea

[Mirella Sobolewski]

Hi!
My father had a work related head injury in March 1999 where he was knocked unconscious and came to after having been moved.  He'd had a serious laceration on the back of his head and since then he's been suffering from the same severe pain, burning and pressure on the left side of his head often followed by dizziness and loss of gait.  He's been to numerous doctors who seem to think that his pain is a result of an anxiety disorder.  His company GP recently told me after my complaints about dad's treatment, that perhaps he should have taken more notice of the headaches etc.  A radiologist's report stated that "there are a few small areas of increased signal in the deep white matter mainly on the left side consistent with some deep white matter ischemia." Currently, his treatment is efexor-xr and aropax which I thought were antidepressants/tranquilisers.  Would appreciate any advice you could give.  
Thanks and regards, Mirella

[Holly Anderson]

Thank you for your reply. I have been to 3 nero doctors and 3 general prac. I have had 3 MRI's and 1 MRA, a spinal tap and lots of blood work. They say I have MS. I'm not disputing that, but I don't believe my constant and severe head pain are the symptoms of it. I believe there is some other problem. I know it is nerve related because of the burning sensation. I don't know what would cause the pressure feeling I am experienceing. I think there is a nerve that is damaged somewhere. All I know is the pain started in may 99 and hasn't stopped for one day since. I can't believe they can't find the source and relieve my pain. Is it possible that there could be a nerve in my back that is damaged and could that cause pain, pressure and burning in my head? Please reply.

ps
I totally agree I am on too much meds especially since they are useless.
thanks Holly.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Holly:

Sorry to hear about your head, eye and back pain.  Capaxone is a medication for MS.  It is given to decrease the exacerbations of demyelination occuring in MS but it is not a pain medication.  It must of have been MRI scans that showed the demyelinating lesions (?).  MS lesions can give you parasthesias but they should not be constant over such a long period of time.  I am also assuming that the MRI ruled out a possible facial nerve problem.  

What I would do is visit someone who is versed in migraine variants.  I would approach it from that angle.  Maybe your already seeing a headache specialist, then try and speak with him or her about your pain.  Hemicranial cephalgia might give one symptoms as you describe.  Anyway, it sounds to me that your on too many medication and need to get out the source of the pain.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD