Aa
I can't find medication that works without terrible side effects
A little background: I've always had headaches, and I got migraines every once in a while when I was younger. Then in August of 2007 I got into a car accident and shortly after that, the migraines kicked back in again. Since then, I have gotten 2 more concussions (I got a concussion in the car accident) and the migraines have been CONSTANT since before the last one in August 2010. Like literally constant. Last June I got a migraine and it lasted for a month and a half. About week 3 I went to the doctor and she prescribed me Topamax. The headache had just gone away when I got my 3rd concussion. But the Topamax helped with that and the pain went away again. I was on Topamax until the end of September and there was no pain during that time. Then I stopped taking Topamax (doctor's orders-side effects were terrible) and waited. There were small headaches between then and November 28, 2010, when the migraine came back, and it hasn't gone away yet. Oh, and I'm a 22-year-old student teacher 1200 miles from my doctor.
I have been on Verapamil for a little over 2 months now. It's doing absolutely nothing to help. The headache is still there, and it becomes unbearable about once a week, and I have to take either Excedrin Migraine or Butal (generic Fioricet) to make it go away. Sometimes that doesn't even help. Should I call my doctor and get her to try something else for prevention (she said we might try Inderol next), or should I give it more time? Thanks!
I have been on Verapamil for a little over 2 months now. It's doing absolutely nothing to help. The headache is still there, and it becomes unbearable about once a week, and I have to take either Excedrin Migraine or Butal (generic Fioricet) to make it go away. Sometimes that doesn't even help. Should I call my doctor and get her to try something else for prevention (she said we might try Inderol next), or should I give it more time? Thanks!
Best Answer
yeah, the mri of the head would not be relavent to the problem causing the headaches I(in my humble opinion), the problem would be coming from the nerve roots in your neck, your cervical spine, probably caused in that car wreck, or excelerated due to the wreck. If you ever find the means to have one, you should get an MRI of your cervical spine and have a neuro surgeon look at it, or someone at a good spine institute take a look at it not a neurologist. I have a neurologist also and they are great at what they do, they dont do spines or problems with spines, though they do well with problems involving the brain. any way, I do wish you the best in the future and if you ever get the chance, have an MRI of your CERVICAL SPINE!!! and have a SPINE person look at it. take care
I hope so, too. It sounds like it helped you a lot. If I remember, I'll mention it to my doctor this summer and see if there is any way my insurance might cover any/all of it, because that would help a lot. Thank you for all the advice and support. I will definitely find time to come on here and see how you guys are doing and let you know how I am doing.
Meg
Meg
I've had more migraines then I can count! I wish I could help anyone. Since I can't Help myself! I've had them now 32 years! And 2 years ago my husband lost his job and our insurance! ALL of 2010 was my brutal Breast cancer battle. 3 Chemos made me now in unbearable pain.. So much pain my migraines can be the least of my problems! But we're down on our luck and experiencing many hardships... I did feel Gatorade helped some! But after having Red Devil Chemo.. I'd pee red. I couldn't take that anymore! I wish everyone the best and your healing recovery. I was reading how migraine sufferers would less likely get Breast cancer! Not right with me! When I think I can tolerate something no longer. I got something Worse. But nonetheless nothing has improved my way. Good Luck!
well I hope things turn for you and it happens. I know all to well about the student loan with interest thing, still paying mine and I agree, they have never paid good teachers enough. I do hope you get in the position to have the medical procedures done that need to be done. I can say that it is wierd when the headache is suddenly gone, but oh my what a wonderful wierd thing it is when it happens, its like all the holidays rolled into one ( it was for me anyway) I still wake up and lay there, waiting, expecting it to strike and then just smile when nothing happens. of all the people I have met on this and other boards I do believe you will be in my mind and heart for a very long time because we have shared such a similar experience in life. I can honestly say I will think of you often, and please come back and let us know if you find a way to free yourself of your little demon headaches. feel free to email me anytime.
Mike
Mike
Hopefully I will have the means to get one done in the next year or so. I have about $50,000 worth of student loans to pay off (plus interest), as well as rent etc. wherever I wind up living after graduation. So if I get a job that pays enough (though teachers never get paid enough, and now everyone's cutting our pay, but that's another - very political - rant that I won't get into here), then I will get one done. Otherwise, I guess I'll just have to save up money and get one done as soon as I am able ...
HAHA there's a reason I never took physics in high school. All that science stuff you said doesn't make any sense. I mean, I know what you're ultimately saying, but the numbers and science-y words don't mean anything to my very English-centered mind. I do understand about the tight budget thing (I have about $50 in my bank account right now).
As for how I'm doing ..... Thursday I had one wicked bad migraine. It was one of my worst 3 this semester. I woke up with it and the meds didn't work and then I went to the HS and it just got worse and nothing helped. I wound up leaving early and going back to my dorm to lie down. But otherwise, it's just business as usual - the small headache that's been here since Nov 28 is still here, just hanging out in my head. It's gotten to the point where it feels weird to *not* have a headache ...
As for how I'm doing ..... Thursday I had one wicked bad migraine. It was one of my worst 3 this semester. I woke up with it and the meds didn't work and then I went to the HS and it just got worse and nothing helped. I wound up leaving early and going back to my dorm to lie down. But otherwise, it's just business as usual - the small headache that's been here since Nov 28 is still here, just hanging out in my head. It's gotten to the point where it feels weird to *not* have a headache ...
If the cash register has a video display board it counts because it had a video display interface (VDI). My wife can no longer do grocery shopping as a result of its proliferation in stores. Granted, you don't have five stainless steel wires holding a large piece of skull bone flap in place like my wife, but physics theory nicely explains how electric fields can co-mingle through a process called "mutual induction." Incidentially, weather changes also produce huge electric fields that are measurable utilizing sophicisticated meters called "Electric Field Mill Sensor" FYI, on a normal day the average voltage range is 100volts/meter, and on a very bad weather day it will exceed 100,000 volts/meter. I realize this may seem like too much information, I have been getting positive reviews by Physicians specializing in Headaches. This is a new research area by the way. Also, the Pamalor was prescribed by a well known Medical School Headache Research Center. It's not the only med, but when your on a tight budget, well enough said. Let us know how your doing.
Because I feel like giving more relevant information:
I used to think that stress caused my migraines, but that's not always true. Sometimes exhaustion causes them. Sometimes it's weather-related (changes in weather mess with my sinuses, but it's only rarely that this causes a migraine). Sometimes it's caused by dehydration or caffeine withdrawal. Sometimes it's caused by really strong smells (usually perfumes). Sometimes it's seemingly caused by absolutely nothing at all. I've kept a headache diary and I haven't found any common ground across all of them.
My migraines feel like someone is jabbing an icepick through either my eyes or my temples straight into my brain. They often start as a dull throbbing and then progress to a piercing, blinding pain combined with a far-less-dull throbbing. Movement, light, sounds, and smells just make them worse. I usually have to take prescription meds (Imitrex or Butal these days) and lie down in a cool, dark, quiet room with an ice mask or something cold over my face (and I usually fall asleep for a couple hours). That's the only thing that make them go away.
I used to think that stress caused my migraines, but that's not always true. Sometimes exhaustion causes them. Sometimes it's weather-related (changes in weather mess with my sinuses, but it's only rarely that this causes a migraine). Sometimes it's caused by dehydration or caffeine withdrawal. Sometimes it's caused by really strong smells (usually perfumes). Sometimes it's seemingly caused by absolutely nothing at all. I've kept a headache diary and I haven't found any common ground across all of them.
My migraines feel like someone is jabbing an icepick through either my eyes or my temples straight into my brain. They often start as a dull throbbing and then progress to a piercing, blinding pain combined with a far-less-dull throbbing. Movement, light, sounds, and smells just make them worse. I usually have to take prescription meds (Imitrex or Butal these days) and lie down in a cool, dark, quiet room with an ice mask or something cold over my face (and I usually fall asleep for a couple hours). That's the only thing that make them go away.
Like I said to mcamp, I'm already planning on talking to my doc about antidepressants. Thanks for a specific one, though :)
As for electrical devices, I use the computer a whole lot more here than when I am at home, that is true. Unfortunately, I have to deny that as a cause, or at least have doubts. Last summer is when this last bout of migraines really started, and I was only on the computer about 2 hours a week at the time. Unless the registers at work (I was a cashier at a fast-food place) do the same thing that a computer would? I honestly have no idea about any of this stuff. As for smart boards, my school doesn't have the money for such things. I use good old-fashioned chalk (haha).
As for electrical devices, I use the computer a whole lot more here than when I am at home, that is true. Unfortunately, I have to deny that as a cause, or at least have doubts. Last summer is when this last bout of migraines really started, and I was only on the computer about 2 hours a week at the time. Unless the registers at work (I was a cashier at a fast-food place) do the same thing that a computer would? I honestly have no idea about any of this stuff. As for smart boards, my school doesn't have the money for such things. I use good old-fashioned chalk (haha).
If Codeine is not in Vicodin, then I am not allergic to Codeine. I had a reaction to Vicodin. But that's not really relevant.
Allstate was also the insurer of the other driver in my accident. However, GA has a rule that says something about this. I don't know the exact wording, but it's something like once the insurance company has paid you, you can't get anything else out of them. Allstate paid me $15,000 more than 13 months after the accident and according to GA law, I can't get any more money out of them. I consulted an accident attorney at the time and he told me this (he's the husband of my mom's co-worker, so I trust that he's not lying to me).
I have had several head scans done since then (the first few on Allstate's bill, the last few on my own health insurance). The only thing they showed was the most recent MRI showed an "unusually small frontal lobe" but my neurologist said he's not worried about that. So ... no surgeries (as of yet, I guess). I'm running out of ideas, and my doctors are, too. When I get home in May I'm going back to my neurologist and probably my regular doctor as well to figure out other options. Other people have suggested antidepressants, so I will most definitely bring that up with my doc (maybe even before I get home I'll call her and ask about it).
Allstate was also the insurer of the other driver in my accident. However, GA has a rule that says something about this. I don't know the exact wording, but it's something like once the insurance company has paid you, you can't get anything else out of them. Allstate paid me $15,000 more than 13 months after the accident and according to GA law, I can't get any more money out of them. I consulted an accident attorney at the time and he told me this (he's the husband of my mom's co-worker, so I trust that he's not lying to me).
I have had several head scans done since then (the first few on Allstate's bill, the last few on my own health insurance). The only thing they showed was the most recent MRI showed an "unusually small frontal lobe" but my neurologist said he's not worried about that. So ... no surgeries (as of yet, I guess). I'm running out of ideas, and my doctors are, too. When I get home in May I'm going back to my neurologist and probably my regular doctor as well to figure out other options. Other people have suggested antidepressants, so I will most definitely bring that up with my doc (maybe even before I get home I'll call her and ask about it).
hi,
You can't get Dilaudid, it is only for opioid tolerant patients I believe. I am pretty sure, but you could ask a doctor, that vicodine and codiene are not the same. there are a lot of mild pain relievers out there that are not a derivative of codiene are are safe to use. just let your doctor know you are allergic to codiene. zoloft, an anti depresent works as a preventive in some people also. I had a car wreck, got an attorney based soley on a contengent basis, havent paid a dime yet, have had two surgeries lots of tests and have another surgery to go, Allsate insurance is going to foot the bill for this, they are the insurance for the other driver, he hit me and started this ball rolling... so if your accident was someone elses thing, or even your own, use your own auto insurance and get the help you need dear, dont suffer needlesly
You can't get Dilaudid, it is only for opioid tolerant patients I believe. I am pretty sure, but you could ask a doctor, that vicodine and codiene are not the same. there are a lot of mild pain relievers out there that are not a derivative of codiene are are safe to use. just let your doctor know you are allergic to codiene. zoloft, an anti depresent works as a preventive in some people also. I had a car wreck, got an attorney based soley on a contengent basis, havent paid a dime yet, have had two surgeries lots of tests and have another surgery to go, Allsate insurance is going to foot the bill for this, they are the insurance for the other driver, he hit me and started this ball rolling... so if your accident was someone elses thing, or even your own, use your own auto insurance and get the help you need dear, dont suffer needlesly
If you can tolerate the side effects, topamax I believe comes in a generic version so it should be much cheaper. You might also your Doctor if you can try the antidepressant Pamalor. It comes in a generic version for about $6.00-$10.00 for 30 days. It seems to help some migraine patients by nulling the neuronal electrical activity. It is also not without side effects and is usually taken at bed time.
I realize you said you had skull injuries so something else comes to mind. You may not believe this but electromagnetic fields from electrical devices have been known to cause migraines. As a teacher, I suspect you are using a computer monitor for quite a few hours a day and also smart boards. I have come to suspect these fields can leak into skulls that have apparent defects. The energy mingles with our own electrical fields and triggers a migraine. We have been able to achieve a cause and effect using these fields although the medical field hasn't seen enough evidence to make a positive conclusion. I give you this information because obiviously your migraines are being initiated by something.
I realize you said you had skull injuries so something else comes to mind. You may not believe this but electromagnetic fields from electrical devices have been known to cause migraines. As a teacher, I suspect you are using a computer monitor for quite a few hours a day and also smart boards. I have come to suspect these fields can leak into skulls that have apparent defects. The energy mingles with our own electrical fields and triggers a migraine. We have been able to achieve a cause and effect using these fields although the medical field hasn't seen enough evidence to make a positive conclusion. I give you this information because obiviously your migraines are being initiated by something.
Unfortunately, I cannot afford a surgery of any kind. I'm a college student with literally $100 to my name, and I still have 2 1/2 months until I graduate and no job. So no surgery for me.
As for the preventatives .... Topamax worked. It really did. The only head pain I had during the 3 months on Topamax was a result of the concussion. The only problem was the side effects (which, according to my research, may have been a result of the concussions and not of the pills, but I don't know how to prove that). And now I'm on Verapamil, which isn't helping, and my doctor is running out of ideas.
And as for the abortives ..... I'm allergic to vicodin (and I'm pretty sure that contains codeine, just judging by the name, so I avoid codeine). I've never heard of Dilaudid. What is it?
As for the preventatives .... Topamax worked. It really did. The only head pain I had during the 3 months on Topamax was a result of the concussion. The only problem was the side effects (which, according to my research, may have been a result of the concussions and not of the pills, but I don't know how to prove that). And now I'm on Verapamil, which isn't helping, and my doctor is running out of ideas.
And as for the abortives ..... I'm allergic to vicodin (and I'm pretty sure that contains codeine, just judging by the name, so I avoid codeine). I've never heard of Dilaudid. What is it?
I have had 3 CT scans of my head (one after each concussion) and 2 MRIs of my head (one with contrast in 2007, one without contrast last summer). I also had one MRI of my back (I think just my lower back, not sure) in 2007.
The first CT scan showed a brain atrophy (turns out the person who said that was an idiot and there was no brain atrophy according to the MRI with contrast). The second and third CT scans didn't show anything wrong. The second MRI (the one without contrast) showed that my frontal lobe is apparently smaller than it should be, but my neurologist isn't worried about it.
I don't think they ever checked for soft tissue damage. But I'm honestly not sure.
The first CT scan showed a brain atrophy (turns out the person who said that was an idiot and there was no brain atrophy according to the MRI with contrast). The second and third CT scans didn't show anything wrong. The second MRI (the one without contrast) showed that my frontal lobe is apparently smaller than it should be, but my neurologist isn't worried about it.
I don't think they ever checked for soft tissue damage. But I'm honestly not sure.
hi,
I had a car wreck that resulted in daily headaches, I had them since july 12 2010 every single day, tried all the meds you mentioned, nothing helped, verapamil, topamax, gabapentin, inderal, nothing. I went and had an MRI of my cervical spine. I Just had a posterior laminectomy (on the 17th) to remove some pressure off the nerve roots in my neck and I haven't had a headache since the 17th of this month, the daily headaches disappeared with one surgery. I am still stiff and sore from the surgery but it was a GOD send and I would do it again and again!!! get an MRI of your neck.
The migraines are another thing entirely. I have had them since I was seven, I am 50 now I have them 3 days a week every week and always have. no preventative medicine works for me so when I get one I take a strong abortive like Dilaudid or Codiene (narcotics) to stop to pain.
I had a car wreck that resulted in daily headaches, I had them since july 12 2010 every single day, tried all the meds you mentioned, nothing helped, verapamil, topamax, gabapentin, inderal, nothing. I went and had an MRI of my cervical spine. I Just had a posterior laminectomy (on the 17th) to remove some pressure off the nerve roots in my neck and I haven't had a headache since the 17th of this month, the daily headaches disappeared with one surgery. I am still stiff and sore from the surgery but it was a GOD send and I would do it again and again!!! get an MRI of your neck.
The migraines are another thing entirely. I have had them since I was seven, I am 50 now I have them 3 days a week every week and always have. no preventative medicine works for me so when I get one I take a strong abortive like Dilaudid or Codiene (narcotics) to stop to pain.
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