Headache/joint pain/weakness

[WorriedMom911]

My son is 16 years old and has been suffering from headaches every day for the last 7 weeks.  He has not been able to attend school and is now on home instruction through the school.  He does have some sinus issues and had surgery about 4 weeks ago to remove a mucocele from the left sphenoid sinus.  His headaches persist every day and he now (since his surgery) has daily joint pain, daily weakness, occasional dizziness, and occasional mental fogginess.  The headaches only subside by using Vicodin taking no more than 2-3 per day.  I don't believe sinus explains all of the symptoms.  He has had 2 MRIs, 2 CT Scans, spinal tap, numerous blood tests, test for West Nile, Lyme, meningitus, mono, Valley Fever, and a few more I am forgetting.  All come back normal, except for a large amount of polypoid soft tissues in both sphenoid sinuses which show up on the MRI and CT Scan.  These polyps are new since the surgery since they didn't show up on the MRI before surgery.

Before this, he was in excellent physical condition and very active.  I have taken him to 2 Neurologists, an Allergist, an ENT, a primary care physician, and a pediatrician.  No answers yet.  I tried calling 2 infectious disease doctors and they tell me that we need to know what the disease is or he should have an unexplained fever before they will see him.  We don't know what is wrong and he does not have a fever.

He is taking Pamelor 20 mg for headaches, Vicodin for pain, Veramyst spray for allergies, Zyrtec for allergies.  Previously, he was on a round of Augmentin before surgery, Levaquin after surgery, and tried various other pain relievers such as Darvocet, Fioricet, an Imitrex without success.

People tell me to take him to a University or a specialty clinic.  I have made some calls, but they want to know what specific doctor to see.  I don't know what kind of doctor he needs.

Does anyone have any ideas what this could be?  Any ideas on what type of test to try next?  Recommendations for a type of specialty doctor I should take him to?  Any other recommendations?

I am all out of ideas and REALLY need some help for him.  He wants his life back.

[WorriedMom911]

Thank you for your replies.  He has been tested for Lyme disease...twice.  Both came back negative.  He has been off of the Vicodin since 10/31/07 and is on Lyrica now.  The Neurologist said this drug will not cause rebound headaches, so it is better than the Vicodin and it works.  After numerous trips to UCLA, no one can determine the cause of the headaches, but the Neurologist is going on the rebound headache theory.  The headaches are the main problem right now.  The pain is in the back of his head and the Neurologist has ruled out occipital neuralgia.  He is seeing a pain specialist at UCLA and is working on the proper dosage for my son.  The joint pain is almost all the way gone now.  I believe the joint pain is explained by a reaction he had to an antibiotic called Levaquin after surgery.  Some people do get reactions to this medication and it could take a few months (some less time, some more time) to get back to normal.  

Again, thanks for your help!!

[noops01]

Hi,

There is a possibility that your son may be suffering from rebound headaches due to overconsumption of pain killers. I would suggest you to get in touch with your doctor and discuss this possibility, he may have to wean himself off the pain medication but under medical supervision.
Also get his eyesight tested just to be on the safe side.

[teenageLD]

You may want to look into Lyme Disease.  My 13 yo daughter has had headaches for over two months.  They first thought she had "chronic migraines", but we believe she has presented more consistent with LD (acute joint pain, numbness/tingling) over the past month.

You might want to review some of the inks at this web page.

http://www.lymeinfo.net/lymediseasetreatment.html

Dr. Pietrucha on Lyme Disease in Children
Tick Borne Illness Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines 10/05
Dr. Jemsek's Detailed Lyme Overview

Good luck