14 yr old with constant headache

[dragonsmama]

My 14 yr old daughter has had a constant, or near constant, headache for almost 3 months now. In the past month the severity has increased to the point she missed an entire week of school at once. There is a strong family history of migraine, particularly in females, and starting about her age. We have been avoiding the common triggers that we can, such as dietary, for the past 3 weeks. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, have been tried, alone and in combination, with very little and temporary improvement. Ice packs provide some temporary relief, and we take walks at night in the cold. She has spent most of the past week again lying in a dark quiet room, which isn't good for her emotionally, physically, socially or mentally. She has been to the family doctor, who recommended Tylenol #1, and has given her a headache journal to fill out for 2 weeks before returning for follow up. They addition of codeine and caffeine hasn't helped either, but I'm cautious with the use of pills so have only given her the minimum dosage so far. She is fairly healthy otherwise, suffers some allergies, seasonal environmental and scent reactions mainly. She has been on Naproxen and Nexium for over a year for painful periods, but no other meds regularly. 2 weeks is a very long time in a 14 yr old's life, particularly when it's so unpleasant. I'm willing to try just about anything, this is severely debilitating for her

[sadmommyjoy]

My daughter suffered from migraines for several months. Her neurologist prescribed her Amitriptyline and she hardly ever had a headache for 10 months. She stopped it because she had been on it for so long and BUMMER she now has occipital neuralgia (back of the head) and it's sometimes debilitating. She is 20. I would suggest a neurologists who hopefully will suggest an MRI. I would also read about "rebound" headaches from pain medications. I feel so sorry for her and you because I know firsthand how the pain causes isolation, and most people think "it's JUST a headache" when it's not. We are looking for help for her pain now. No luck since October. Best of luck to you.

[dragonsmama]

There is a very strong family history of migraine, and hers follow the same pattern, including the lack of a positive response from standard treatments. Poor her. Most of us have had MRIs and a couple have had EEG, CAT, among others. All with normal results. There is a long wait for any specialized tests here, and in order to qualify you have to meet certain requirements. So for now, we are working on fulfilling those requirements. But, I hate to see her suffer, and I know how miserable life can seem after days on end of horrid pain. We aren't fond of taking meds, especially if they do little or nothing, but that's one of the first steps.
I'm really hoping for other types of relief, home remedies, anything that people have tried and found useful. We're trying alternating cold/hot this week, with slightly better results.

[fairyann]

Just as selmas pointed out, anyone with new onset headaches, especially if severe or unrelieved with conservative treatments should be checked out with an MRI.

[selmaS]

  Hi have u considered a MRI for her or others in the family that have these HA's?.....There may be a reason for them, and using meds is like a bandaid...covers it, does not really got to the bottom as it were.