Any ideas on how to treat these headaches

[Angela11823]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what I can do about these severe headaches I have.
I actually have had 3 occipital nerve blocks in the last few months, but they only work for a week or so, and not very well. My Primary doctor has my on codine for the headaches right now, I have tried Imtrex and it didn't work
I had AVM Malformation surgery in Nov. 2006 on the right side just above my ear. I
have a really deep indent in my skull that runs across the top of my head from front to back and off the right.
The scar is still really painful if I sleep on the my back of my head and this headache stuff has been going on since the surgery so it is nothing that I am doing.
They are extremely distracting (not to mention they sometimes make me sick) and I have not been able to hold a job because they can come on so fast. I have not even driven my car since Oct. of last year because I got a headache soo bad while driving, I had to pull off to the side of the road and have my husband come and get me. I have short term memory issues and can't concentrate for the life of me...
Any ideas?

[Angela11823]

thank you
I live in Michigan, but I definitely will ask about the botox....I would try just about anything at this point.
That is good point about the rebound headaches, I thought for a while that maybe the codine was part of the issue, I had stopped taking the codine for a week, because I thought I was getting immune to it.
My doc, put me right back on it cause she says that I have no signs of dependancy, and that would be the reason to quit.
I think that the Docs I am seeing, including my neurologist are pointing towards cronic pain due to damaged nerves. I am going to apply for supplemental security income because I don't have enough credits to get social security dissability..I am sure it will be denied at least 2 times, just because I am only 29.
I am too young and they will want me to try another job.
Thing is, I was a manager at a Family owned Tanning and nail salon before all of this, and there is no way I could get a management position again. The only other experience I have, is that I worked in a Daycare for 2 yrs. after school, and I was a Nanny for a few years after that. No one in their right mind would hire me to watch their children like this....lol
I have a 4 yr. old that is at home with me all the time and Thank God, she is so smart!
She lets me know if I forget to do something stupid like leave the dishwasher open, or get clothes out of the dryer. lol
Anyway, Thank you for the advice!
I will definitly check into it.
Angela11823

[fearlessone]

Hi,

You poor dear.  You need to find a headache specialist if you haven't already.  Are your headaches mixed, migraine, etc?

Things that I have tried have been numerous.  But in conjunction with medication, I take Botox injections.  They have made a HUGE difference.  They "freeze" the nerves.  It took a few treatments for me to get the full effect, but once I reached that point, I couldn't believe the difference.  

I don't know where you are, but I see a wonderful women in Portland, Oregon.  Her name is Christina Peterson in the Oregon Headache Clinic. (503-656-9844)  I know she does phone consultations if you are not nearby.  It might be worth giving her a call to see if she has anything to offer you.

Dr. Peterson has me on three medications all the time, none of which are pain medications, per se.  The pain medications actually cause a rebound headache, only compounding the problem.  I wish I had known that years ago, when I lived on Demerol and never got over my headaches.  

I wish you luck, and if I can ever give you any more information help, please let me know.