Migraine with throat and ear pain

I am a 53 year women who devoloped migraines 2 years ago. Two of the episodes involved severe pain in the back of my head and stabbing and burning pain in my right ear and throat which seemed to occur after turning my head to the right. The pain was so bad I could not move I just had to lie still. I'm on triptans and I had to take two of them and 1200mg of gabapentin which revieved the headache after several hours. I take the gabapentin for neuropathy. I thought it might help and it did. I have autonomic and sensory neuropathy with postural hypotension. I've passed out several times in the last 2 years. I have  expolsive headaches when I stand up in the back of my head  and neck which doesn't involve the throat .This headache only lasts a few seconds. Most of my migraines I get last for few hours have the regular symptoms I have these 1-2 times per month. I had 1 episode a year ago which involved  pain in the back of head, neck pain ,speech problems, vertigo, double vision, vomiting and throat and ear pain. I had a MRI that was normal at that time. My neurologist said it was a basilar artery migraine. Thank god this episode  I only had the throat and ear pain. The pain seemed to start after I turned my head to the right. Have you ever heard of someone having stabbing and burning pain throat and ear pain with a migraine? I have not told my MD about the last episode because the symptoms are so weird maybe he won't beleive me. It's happened twice now so something must be wrong. Hope you can help me.

[StormyRenee]

Hi Cathy,
I dont so much get the stabing pain mine is more of a horrible burning type pain.I get it om my face/cheek/mouth and neck area. Sometimes with an actual migraine but I also get it without. Do you have that happen without an actual headache?
I have 2 really bad episodes that mimic stroke with aura from hell. My neuro mentioned migraine varient like Hemaplegic migraines. I have had a normal LP but my brain mri showed 15 spots/lesions.I also get regular migraines too.
I know how you feel it is truely frightening.....
I do know that if you are sufferring from Basilar or Hemaplegic type migraines you Should Not Take Triptans! My neuro mentioned a preventitive medication to try to stop them before they start.I go see her on Feb 4th to discuss a plan of action.
Please Take Care, Theresa

[StormyRenee]

Oh I forgot....
I get Icepick headaches.These only last about a 20 seconds tops. But they are brutal!
They can happen anywhere in my head/face. People who get migraines are prone to getting these.
Theresa

[cathy213]

Hi Stormy,
Thanks for responding. Yes I had serveral episodes last year after the migraine of stinging( like bees stinging the inside of your throat )  and aching pain and pressure in ear. No problems with this until a few dasys ago. The pain is incredible. Its so bad You have to lie stil and hope the pain stops. I looked up my symptoms on the net and glossopharyngeal neuralgia come up. The treatment includes anticonvulsants so that maybe the reason the gabapentin helped. I'm going post a ? to the doctor's form to see if they can help. Why are triptans contraindicated? My doc prescribed them. They do help the pain. I'll have to lok up ice pick headache.
cathy

[StormyRenee]

Cathy,
The triptans are contraindicated because  of their vasoconstrictive properties and concerns about stroke. Hemaplegic and Basilar migraines are different than regular migraines because doctors believe that the blood vessels contract. Where as in regular migraines the blood vessels expand.Thats why our aura is so much worse than folks with regular migraine auras because we are actually being oxygen deprived.
But there are also some studies where the triptans treated both types of migraines without any problems..But most doctors still do not prescibe triptans to Migraine Varient sufferers..From what I have read most doc seem to go the anticonvulsant or calcium channel blocker route...I am currently not on anything at this point.
Take Care, Theresa

[cathy213]

Stormy,
Thanks for the info. I've read the debates on Triptans. I was surprised when my doc put me on them. I'm sure there's safer drugs to use. Unfortunately I can't take Ca channel blockers because of the low pressure problems( postural hypotension), my doc just took me off them for the hypertension I had prior to delveloping the low BP. I've heard of Topramax helping. My husband had a bad reaction with disorientation and memory problems with that. He's last neurologist called it Topra-Dopra because it dopes you up so much. I would be a real mess if I had to take that every day. The Gabapentin (a anticonvulsant) I take already causes some of that. Your ice pick HA's sound horrible.The last one I had felt more like I'd been hit in the back of my head with a 2x4. It did not go away quickly. It lasted several hours. I couldn't stand or move because it would intensify the pain. I wasn't aware migraines could cause throat pain. It's got to be a real unusal symptom. I wonder how many people experience that?  So glad to hear from some who has experienced similar problems. Some times it feels like out all alone with this. These sure are not your common variety migraines. How often have you experienced the hemiplegic migraine and or basilar? I've only had the basilar once with stroke symptoms and I was like that for awhile. My speech took weeks to  come back fully. I also had right leg weakness. My internist felt I did have a small stroke even though the MRI did not show it. I also had the burning/stinging throat pain intermittantly at the same time.The stroke like symptoms happened after I had a non stop migraine for three weeks that I did not go to the doctor for. Beleive it or not before that I mostly had migraines with visual aura and not pain. I kept thinking the HA would go away. Guess it's called status migraine which can be quite serious. I won't let that happen again. Thanks agian for you help and encouragement.

[StormyRenee]

Cathy,
I have only 2 episodes that I thought I was having a stroke and eachtime was in the ER overnight. They scared the heck out of me. But eventhough my brain MRI is not normal it did not show that I had a real stroke. The MRI said they could be caused by migraines. The first episode was actually pretty brief. Within a few hours I felt pretty normal. But the last one back in July was BRUTAL!!! I was screwed up for a month. I had the Status migraine monster too. But it was weird I just woke up one morning and it was like the migraine switch had been turned off. My previous neuro was not taking care of me the way he should have and pretty much dismissed everything.If it was up to him I would probably be taking MS DMD's right now. So since I have changed neuro's and have MS and a bunch of other nasty things  pretty muched ruled out.The new neuro really takes migraines seriously.I never had a real migraine in my life prior to this past year. Now I get the aura alot without an actual headache. Sometimes it's real brief others its off and on for days. I'm not real big on taking meds everyday but at this point I am willing to try anything.LOL
Take Care, Theresa

[cathy213]

I was in the ER when I had the status migraine,slurred speech,rt leg weakness with  a tingling sensation in that leg,hyperactive reflexs in all 4 extremities and stinging throat pain. The ER was convined I had either a stroke or mennigitis. The MRI and spinal tap were normal so they sent me home like that. I ended up going to another ER that night and they made me stay overnight. I saw my neuro the day after that. I still had the hyeractive reflexs and foot drop. He thought I may have a ruptured disc in my neck but the MRI only showed arthritis.So after that I was basically dismissed. He treated like I was some screwball. I wasn't even given anything for migraines. It took 2 months for my speech and the weakness in my leg to recover. I was in the ER again 3 weeks after the first episode with double vision,nytagmus,fainting vertigo,slurred speech and projectile vomiting. I did not have any HA at the time. I also was disoriented. The scary thing is I don't remember most of went on the ER. My vision was so bad I had to keep my eyes closed. The doc also  thought I had a stroke and told my husband he was going to do a CAT scan. Instead they gave me a anti nausea drug and kept me overnight for observation. I was DC'ed the next day with a DX of vertigo. The next day the vertigo,vomiting,slurred speech and double vision were gone. I slept the whole day because I was so tired. I when to another neuro and he thought it could be vestibular neuritis or Menieres. It's weird both of these things occured weeks apart. From what I"ve read basilar migraines aren't suppose to last long. I,ve read some posts on hemiplegic migraine where people are left with permenant paralysis dispite having a normal MRI. My internist says MRI don't always show up every thing but don't tell that to a neuro. I have I differrent neuro now who I saw after these symptoms were gone and his theory was basilar migraine. I've only had regular migraines 1-2 times a month in the last year until this last episode with the sudden very severe HA with the throat and ear pain. Your right these HA are very frightening. What makes it is worse is that docs don't always dx it right perhaps because they are unfamilar with it. You learn not to trust them in fear that they might accuse you of have some psychological disorder . I felt the same way you do about taking meds every day. I have alot of fears about a reoccurance. ER docs will just rule out stuff. There not going to treat you in an emergency. I'd rather avoid them all together and have something to take to stop the migraine in its tracks before the serious symptoms start. I wonder how you would find a migraine specialist? Most neuros advertise they specialize in everything. Yor support has really meant alot. Cathy

[StormyRenee]

Cathy,
I found my current neuro through the MS society.She's an MS specialist but she also has a great intrest and understanding of migraines.So I guess I lucked out.
I had the facial droop which was really scary.I mean it's my face it's not like I could really hide it.In the beginning the docs thought I might have Bell's palsy.But I did not.
I also was told by the ER doc the first time around that I was anorexic and suffering from panic attacks..It's great how they make us feel like we are crazy..
Have you seen a Rheumatologist?You might want to give it a go. They look for less obvious causes. Mine tested me for all sorts of weird clotting disorders that can present with migraines.It's weird but my blood pressure and heart rate get pretty crazy when I am in a migrainal state.I guess it's a common symptom.
I never knew migraines could wreck the havoc they do until I actually had one...Unfortunatly even on the Migraine forums on here there are not many of us who actually suffer from these rare forms of migraines...We are the minority....LOL
Please feel free to message me....We have a group on here called Surviving Neurological Limbo Land you should check us out....I am the Moderator....
Please Take Care, Theresa

[cathy213]

I have a idopathic sensory autonomic neuropathy which I've had for 10 years now. It causes alot of burning pain in my limbs and effects all my autonomic functions BP,stomach, bladder heart rate and so on. I've had nerve biopsies and tilt table tests which confirm it. It is slowly progressive. Just found out a month ago I have postural hypotension. I've passed out 5 times in the last year and a half. It's not a good sign. I get dizzy alot and get a severe HA every time I stand up. It only lasts a few seconds though. When I mean idopathic,there isn't any known cause. I've had every test for autoimmune disorders,diabetes,amyloid,cryogloblins etc etc. Nothing no cause.I went through years of tests hoping to have a name of something that caused it. One third of cases are idopathic. I even when to Columbia Presbyterian and the Cleveland Clinic.The neuro I had 6 years ago is a expert in that area (peripheral neuropathy). I saw a different neuro for the last 7 years. He is the one who is the ahole.I also had a ahole before the middle one.I went back to the neuro I had before the last ahole. He is the head of the department and only sees a limited number of patients with a long waiting time. The nurse at my internist gave me a name of her neuro that she sees for migraines recently. She's a female with a nice personality. I need a neuro where I don't have to wait 3 months to see. Even this one did'nt change the Triptan my internist put me on. I checked out the group surviving neurological limbo land. Boy I sure can relate. I'm having surgery on my left elbow on feb. 2nd for cubital tunnel and golfers elbow if I don't respond for a week thats why. After that I'll type with my right arm. Take Care, Cathy

[StormyRenee]

Cathy,
Sounds like you have run the gauntlet of aholes and tests that I have..It just never seems to end....
My current neurologist is female and I can honestly say it has made a world of difference. She is not trying to blame everything on my hormons..She doesnt freak out if I get a bit emotional..
You have been dealing with this along time....I have only been going through this a little over a year..
The forums a good place to vent and go for support when you need it.There is always some one who can relate to your situation and that will listen.
I hope your surgeries go well..Please keep me posted....Please Take Care Sweetie ,Theresa...

[cathy213]

Hi, Theresa,
I'm recovering from the arm surgery I had 9 days ago. I'm doing well. I got my soft cast off so I can type now. I have alot of staples still in and a 6 inch incision. Next week I get the staples out. I will be so glad. The darn staples seem to hurt the most. How are you? How are your migraines? I was reading something on the net. I typed in sudden severe headache and thunderclap headache came up. It seemed to describe the type of headache I had a month ago. The concerns are that it can mimic a hemmorage in the brain. After reading this I'm really frightened of having another headache like this. I've decided I'm not going to try to treat this  type of HA at home but go the ER and have a MRI to rule out anything serious. Have you heard of this type of HA? Has this ever happened to you or anyone you know? We really do know how to experience some of the most scarry migraine symptoms don't we?

[StormyRenee]

Hi Cathy,
Great to hear you are doing well after your surgery! Because of the staples you could call yourself FrankenCathy..LOL
Well I had one last week that was all aura. Those are so weird. I have heard of the Thunder clap head ache. I do not believe that I have actually had one of those. From what I have read those can be quite serious. I would recommend that you do go to the ER if it happens agin...Although my experience in the ER with migraines has been pretty negitive.. They tend to not take it seriously. Out of the 3 ER vistis only one time has been decent where they did not treat me as if I were crazy. Migraines are so poorly understood.  I know what you mean....I dont care if I have migraines for the next 20 years I will never get use to the aura....
Take care.....

[cathy213]

Hi Theresa,
I know what you mean about ER's. The last time when I had the stroke like symptoms the Dr. was really nice to me and believed my symptoms until the MRI came back negative. Then it was like get out of here. We don't care if you still can't talk or walk right. I was teriffied I would stay like that. I feel that's what would happen again. It's so humiliating. But if there is a chance it could be life threating it's something that should be checked into. Believe me the ER is the last place I want to go to. I rather grin and bare it at home. Do they think we get our jollys for some kind of attension? They wouldn't if they ever had I migraine like that. It's difficult to experience noncommon types of migraine because no one understands. It's so easy to stick the crazy label on you. I do feel like Franken Cathy! My daughter won't even look at my arm. I can't wait until that come out in 5 days.
Take care

[Kimnissa]

Can u tell me who your neuro. Is... I have a friend, he was told that these episodes were hemiplegic migraine's. His speech, vision, walking, and hands are affected. Acts as a stroke at first. The hospital diagnosis is hemiplegic migraine's, but they told him they r very rare and that it's hard to find a neuro. That really knows anything about them. He can't work, being an electrician loosing his house, how does he get disability???? But first he needs a Dr. That knows Something.....can u Please Help???