constant headaches what should i do?

[drummergrl1992]

i am 16 years old and have been having constant non-stop headaches for the last 6 months no kind of pain medication will work for me, my doctors cant find anything wrong, what should i do?

[rintin]

I am thirty-six years old and have terrible migraines and neck pain for the past five years of my life. My headaches sometimes last for a month starting everyday at the same time which is usually around 2:30am and not sure why it is always that time. I sometimes just want to feel like Icould cut my head off I would be fine.  I went to my family dcotor and he did not want to prescribe me any pain medication so for my migraines.  I take maxalt and compazine at the same time and sometimes it works and sometimes it does not always help and this is when I need a dose of some type of pain med.  It really dives me crazy when you cannot get your doctor to give you anything and has been seeing you for 12 yrs.  So my dr suggested i go to  a pain specialicist of coure did not think I needed that but I did not want to hurt anymore with a migraine that was continuing for a month.  So I went to see this other doctor abou a week later and e gave me pain medication without hesitation .  It was not much but something for me to try when they were really bad and after a month.  I felt like it was really bad.  Anyways he also keep me on my maxalt and compazine combo and also a lortab as needed for excessive pain and ritalin for the headaches as well.  So far it has been three months and not a migraine yet and I can focus again because I was having a hard time reading a work.  I am so glad that someone got me to this doctor.  He has been doing pain management over 20 years and has been in practive something like 40 years total.  He has saved my life.  If anyone is interested then check him out his website is www.understandingpain.com.  my last visit I have been doing so well and then I also realized he wrote a couple of books about chronic pain.  I had to buy it was called Curing chronic pain by robert t. cochran, jr.  I have almost finished it.  I now realize I am not alone in this painful world.  He sells these books out of his office I never asked if he sold them anywhere else beccause  he is in Nashville, TN.  sorry guys if you thingk you might want to read i guess look up the website and maybe it will tell you.  I know that all I am worried about it not having anymore mirgraines after three months.  i hope this pain free life continues to live on .  My neck pain even stopped after the migraines stiopped.  What  a wonderful feeling. I also remember as a child having 3 one summer when i was 13 and my paretns where getting a divorce.  Some of this just all makes since.  I hope this will help some of you.  I had to be in pain and i have to work because my owwn boss and if I do no do it that means it will not get done.  So I am very greatful to this new pain doctor and loving his book.  It has opened my to many things aboout pain and pain issues.  God Bless to you all and to all of the doctors that really listen. RT

[jeric]

So your previous doctor that treated you for these headaches... was it your primary or a specialist treating you? If it was a specialist what kind?

You mention that you have tried a lot of other treatments... what exactly have you tried? Can you give me the names of the medications or any alternative therapies or surgeries.

Also, what kind of tests have you had done... blood, CT, MRI... etc

As far as it being a brain tumor my neuro told me that the chances of a headache and only a headache being the cause of a brain tumor is rare.

I'm sorry that you have lost you insurance, I really don't know what you could do here because I've never experienced that.

Are your headache more on one side of the head than the other or are they straight down the middle?

Also, my parents were convinced that I was making up my headaches... just don't give up. :)

[drummergrl1992]

i have been on anti-depressants, and every pain pill in the book, i have tried experimental drugs and everythoing. the headaches are constant and are normally on the top of my head towards the back, i cant go see the doctors anymore because my mom lost her insurance and cant afford to pay for more insurance, and there arent any free clinics in the area that i can go to, im afraid it mi9ght be a brain tumor, but there is nothing i can do to go get it checked out, i feel like this condition is running my life for me, i cant do certain  bc of this "problem" my mom thinks im just being a baby and making the pain up, but im not and she doesnt understand

[jeric]

I have been through the ringer with headache and headache diagnoses and might be able to offer you some suggestions but I need some more info first. :)

Can you describe your headache? Is it one-sided or both sided, what does the pain feel like? Is it 24/7 headache or does it come and go? If it comes and goes are you keeping track of the times and days that you get the headache?

Have you been keeping a headache journal? If not, write down when you have the headache, how bad the pain is on a scale of 1-10, anything you tried (pain meds, heat/cold compresses, etc.) and if they worked, any possible triggers (what caused it ex. bending over, exercise, food, chocolate, caffine, etc.).

What types of medicine have you tried for the headache and how often/how long did you try them?

Have you only seen your primary care doctor or a specialist?

One big thing to keep in mind though is that only you can know what ou a really going through, the pain that you are dealing with. It is your job to make others (especially your doctors) understand. You need to advocate for yourself and not give up. Before I was eventually referred to a neurologist I seeing my PCP every 3 weeks for almost 6 months before she even prescribed something for the headache and then my mom called and complained about her choice of med and that was the only reason she referred me... anyways advocate for yourself things will get done much faster!!

Good Luck =) and the more details you give me about your headaches the more I might be able to help you out.

[jollyman069]

have your parents get you tro different drs. what type of drs. have seen you..this is not something to let go without anything being done about it