No doctor will look at the whole picture

[falling_apart_at_26]

For almost a year now, I have been suffering from DAILY migraines that are gettign progressively more severe. They always start in my neck and are always on the left side. I also have significantly decreased range of motion and stiffness in my neck. Insurance won't approve a neck MRI, though we have submitted a request several times. Initially, doctor's insisted these were migraines with normal triggers, though no one could find a trigger despite monitoring everything. Acupuncturists and physical therapists send me back to the doctors because they observe that there is a severe and definite problem in my neck. A recent xray shows abnormal straightening of my spine including c2 being anteriorly displaced to c3, loss of lordosis, and instability a c2 and c3. Last fall I also started to show symptoms of Raynaud's in my fingers and toes which has also gotten worse and more frequent. The acupuncturist also believes that my severe loss of muscle and cervical movement in this area as well as the obvious misalignment of my collar bone (left side is clealry lower and retracted as compared to the right side) are results of my neck's misalignment. But no one doctor will look at all the tests, symptoms, etc and hel me understand what is going on. Neuroloist didn't even look at imaging or physical structure of my neck, but started giving me nerve block injections.  When that failed she thought bi-monthly botox injections would work eventhough she could not give me a cause for the migraines. The neurosurgeon: my option are surgery to fuse C2 to C3 or no surgery and live in pain. But he could not answer my questions and would only come back to surgery/nosurgery. His PA was a little more helpful in illustrating the problem with c2 and c3 but what about everything else? Can someone please help me find a way or a doctor that will look at everything, explain to me what has happened/ is happening to my neck and subsequent secondary issues, what are my options, and what can I expect. I can't keep going with severe daily migraines. Insurance only provides 9 migraine tabs a month which means I can reduce/treat 4-6 migraines a month. I have lost a year of my life. I used to be athletic and physically active, but I can barely function most days beyond doing what I absolutely have to. I have to ration the migraine medicine to try and make as far through the month as possible, meaning if I can dull the severity from a 10 to a 5, then I deal with a level 5 pain. Please help.

[wadeheather]

I went through a very similar struggle with daily headaches.  I actually was wishing they would find a tumor at one point just so that I had an answer.  I also hoped for "level 5 pain." I eventually got diagnosed with New Persistant Daily Headache.  All it really means is that "we are really sorry that you have a headache every day but we have no idea why." I did use DHE injections for quite a while which did help dull the pain, but also made my legs feel very tired. It wouldn't hurt to ask your Doc about DHE if you haven't tried it before.

Feel Better.
Heather