NOT SURE WHAT TO DO

I just need some advice on what I should do.  I have had a headache everyday for going on 6 months.  During the real severe headaches I get dizziness to the point where I see black spots.  I get numbness and tingling in my head also. The headaches are all over my head and are severe behind my eyes and nose and goes into my ears.  I have had MRI's, and CT's done.  My sinuses are good and ears are good.  The neurologist is telling me it is a continuous migraine.  I have tried about 6 differ medications.  They finally put me on neurotin which has helped releive some of the pain.  I just don't know what to do.  I am so frustrated that these things won't go away!!  Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

There are several causes of headaches. Headaches can be divided into primary and secondary. Primary headache disorders are headaches without a direct cause. These are diagnosed after secondary causes have been excluded. Secondary headache disorders are due to an underlying problem, there are many many causes but some include medication side effects, systemic illness, nervous system infection, tumors, bleeds in the brain or clots in the veins of the brain, and others. If your imaging is normal, then a secondary cause is less likely, though there are some secondary headaches which can not be diagnosed with MRI. These include clots in the veins in the brain (called venous sinus thrombosis, best diagnosed with a test called MRV) and benign intracranial hypertension (due to elevated pressure in the fluid around the brain called CSF, suggested by the presence of papilledema, or optic nerve swelling in the eye as diagnosed by an eye doctor, commonly occurs in overweight people or those taking specific medications, and best diagnosed by lumbar puncture).

If your headache disorder is primary, such as migraine, and if your headache initially started out with migrainous features but is now transformed into a daily headache, one potential cause is medication overuse headache.One of the most common causes of headaches in people with chronic headaches is called medication rebound or medication overuse headache: medications as simple as tylenol or advil if used too much can cause rebound headaches that are even worse then the headaches for which the medications were started for. This is very common and is most likely to occur with use of any medication for your headache more than a few times a week. It can occur with all the commonly used headache medications such as ibuprofen, triptans (such as imitrex), fioricet, and commonly with any type of narcotic such as tylenol #3, dilaudid, percocet, etc. The treatment is difficult, but basically involves weaning off the offending agent and replacing it with another that is later weaned off, combined with a more long-term solution. This should be done under strict guidance by a specialist, preferably a headache specialist, or else the headache will not improve and withdrawal side effects can occur.

If you have not been evaluated by a headache specialist (a neurologist specialized in headache medicine) this is recommended.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[T_B]

Hi I'm 14 and I have just the worst haedache of my life. I took some relief pills (only 2) but I have had the headache for a full 24 hours and I feel very dizzy. Should I be concerned