UNEXPLAINED HEADACH

[help_4_Lindz]

She was just released from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; they said she's a hard case. Please forgive my spelling before I begin. She received injections for the occipital nerve - Her pain is in the back right at the base of her skull only.  They said that should make her headache go away instantly from the numbing the nerve, then 48 hours for the actual medicine to work. That didn't work at all. So the ran DHE for 3.5 days. She did tolerate that better than most they said after her 7th dose, the pain suddenly got worse so then they thought it wasn't helping. The nurse gave the 8th dose because the neurologist hadn't made rounds yes, they said one more and stop. Part of this I believe also is because the nurse saw (what we have been thinking is just dizzy spells) her have what she said looked to be an absence seizure. Lindz was up to use the restroom and suddenly got dizzy - grabbed me and didn't respond for a few seconds - that's what she's been doing for about 5 weeks - anyway the nurse immediately came to her and pinched her fingers and arms, turned around and Lindz answered "what?" She has no memory of that at all. So then they mentioned doing this 24 hr EEG. They want her to be on normal activities and where the monitor, made sense but she isn't seeing the doctor for a month. She is scheduled to see the pain management again on Friday but she is refusing to do any more injections. I don't understand waiting a month when she increasingly is getting worse. They sent her home one Lyrica 100 mg daily and Robaxin 500 mg tablets taking 2 at a time 4 times a day. Then told us to bring her back if her pain level reaches 8 or higher. When we left she was at a 5. By the way - every doctor, nurse, pain management and pain psychology all said she has developed a high pain tolerance due to learning to living with these headaches daily. They said her 5 pain level this last stay would be any other teens 8-10. She can't even tell us when the last day was that she hasn't had a headache since she was released from the hospital on March 21st. That was her first stay. It's seems the bad pain is coming closer together but she doesn't feel them coming on. She has been on Depakote, Amitriptyline, Compazine, Topamax and Fiorcet at home and Depakon and Toradol IV’s. I can't tell you all of the IV medications. It is fair to say the doctors that have seen her are stumped with her saying "she's a tough case" The attending’s did agree this time they don't believe it's migraines because nothing about her symptoms present as a migraine. She's had ct scan which did show underlying cerebellar tonsils, they don't believe they are significant and not some malformation thing. She's had a MRI, MRA and a 15-20 minute EEG. All which appear to be normal. I'm sure I'm forgetting something but that's what I have at the moment. Oh, one more thing, they said if it were the seizure thing, usually they don't cause headaches but Maryjane - your aunt if you remember her. Your grandma’s sister said her son had seizure where he just starred and he always got headaches after. Just another something to make me scratch my head. I'm most puzzled at waiting a month for follow-up and to get the 24 hr monitor EEG and after her waking up last night in so much pain, we could have already gone back but we have been just trying to help her work through it till she can get to sleep. Lying seems to help and when she gets up and moving around much, seems like it gets bad again but other times she can ignore the pain, go through a whole dance class and feel fine. Any ideas, questions we should ask her doctor would be much appreciated.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How was the follow-up? I hope Lindsey is feeling better. Some side effects of lyrica include  dizziness, somnolence, ataxia, confusion, thinking abnormal, blurred vision, incoordination, and peripheral edema (http://www.rxlist.com/lyrica-drug.htm). Talk to her doctor about this for proper management. Take care and hope to hear from you soon.

[help_4_Lindz]

I haven;t posted in a while. We are going for a follow-up this Friday. Lindsey is still having headaches but not so severe. She is taking Lyrica now up to  150 mg twice a day. She is 16 and does need to be reminded to take her medicine. She forgets regulary to take it. Although she did have a bad spell last Thursday that lasted a day or so but she could ignore the headache for the most part of the day but she did loose her sight again. She is having nightmares and she has never done that before. I'm thinking maybe the lyrica? I'm hoping we can start winging her off because she still has headaches on a regular basis and the only real improvement is that she hasn't been having them so badly she wants to bang her head on the wall. After the vision change thursday she was very tired the rest of the day but that only lasted 10-15 seconds. She did have the EEG to look for absence seizure. It showed nothing and she wore the monitor for about 20 hours. She hasn't had any head trauma but she has a slight curve in her cervical spine. The Neuro has us afraid to seek chiropractic care, after we told her we went and what the xrays showed. Now that it has been a few months I can see a change in her - even whne she doesn't have a headache. She's not as friendly and outgoing as she "normally " is.  

[shanmomof3]

Hi! I commented in the other thread you had posted on, but please check out the Chiari Malformation forum here on medhelp. Blessings ~ Shannon

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How is your daughter? Was there a previous trauma to the head? It would also help to know how long has she been feeling this way ( was it sudden or gradual ?)  and how old is she.  I'm sorry to hear what she has been through. I do understand how it is to be in the dark,  not knowing how to ease the pain of your child and feeling helpless about this. But hang on and  continue what you are doing for her. We need the test results to help with the diagnosis. Can you elaborate on her posture and the fact that it helps her when she is not standing or moving around? Ill posture can also cause headaches and this may be one aspect that needs further evaluation. Have an open communication with your doctors. If you do not understand some terms or management, you ask again until it becomes clear.  There are there help you and your daughter. Take care and do keep us posted.

[Eddie1994]

Sorry to hear of your daughter's plight.  A doctor monitoring this site might want to know her age.  Some of the drugs given her seem unusually strong.  For example, from experience Lyrica is usually tirated up and back down in daily steps such as a certain amount of milligrams for a few days or longer to let the body adjust.  The other medications are very, very powerful for an adult let alone a child.

Maybe you should collect the hospital and doctor reports and try contacting a Headache Center.  I believe that Cleveland Clinic could be helpful and close to you.

God Bless you and your Child.