Migraine sufferer 10+years

[bucketsgurl]

I've suffered with migraines for I know a good ten years if not more. They became a reoccuring problem when I was around 13 or 14 years old. I can recall having my first one at the age of 8. Well, as any mother would, my mom went and had me checked from everything from cancer to brain tumors. But being uninsured and slightly on the poor side, there was only so much she could do while having to feed us, clothe us, and basically, be a mom.

So, anywho, as I got older, got married, I moved to Germany with my exhusband who was in the military. The army docs could do nothing for me, so they sent me out on the economy. There was a slight language barrier but this is what I understand: That I have a damaged nerve, (a rather large one) on the left side of my neck/head. He wanted to operate to "destroy the nerve" but I didn't want to risk the possible complications. I.E. blindness, numbness, loss of mobility in the left side of my body, and even total paralysis. I've been on everything from imitrex to percocet, to atenol in hopes to prevent my migraines. I was receiving shots in the back of my head whenever I would have one strike during my doc's office hours. After that, I was basically screwed.

My migraines mostly occur at night and I'm woken up by them. I have an aura that accompanies them, I get extremly hot under my skin... if that makes any sense and my vision is blurred or I see light around objects that is not there. I also have extreme nausea and numbness or tingling and pain in my left shoulder/neck area that goes straight down into my fingers.  

Due to a slight language barrier between me and my former doc (I'm now back in the USA and due to my divorce and lack of high dollar income, I'm uninsured... my child is though, cause that's priority) I was wondering if anyone had any clue as to what nerve would my former doc have been talking about? I don't have much of the information that was written down and given to me because when my ex and I divorced, he took our filing cabinet and all of my medical records/important docs with him. Trying to get anything back is alot along the lines of pulling teeth. I'll soon have insurance on myself again though and I want to be armed and ready when I go see my next doctor.

After a migraine hits and I've taken something for it (thanks to the army pharamacy lady I was given a very large supply of imitrex before I lost my insurance) I'm left feeling like I was hit in the head with a baseball bat and it's almost like its too tender to touch. I'm down to my very last pill and the thought of having to suffer through another one without some type of assistance is down right scary. Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Bucketsgurl

[NisaLove]

@bucketsgurl I have the same exact nerve pain on the back of my left head.. I've suffered for also about 10 years... I just came across up ur post so I know you left this message for almost a decade ago... Let me know if some doctors have found a way to get rid of the pain. I've taken everything there is for headache/headpains / migraine/ seizure meds as a preventative/ beta blockers, everything... Just one medication that takes the pain away but causes a rebound. Anyhow... I sincerely hope by now you're better, I have lost.. My job, car, career, everything due to my head.. And yet I can't get disability.

[sdrinkard]

I, too, suffer migraines.  Have since a preschooler, I'm now a great grandmother.  I've taken every medicine that has come on the market for migraines (or so it seems).  Thankfully, I have never been uninsured, since I became an adult, so seeing the doctor is easier for me.  One thought you might consider is chiropractic.  I find relief there, some of the time.  I also have a traction "thingy" that I can use between visits.  On the meds I had a wonderful combination that I used for many years, but suddenly the doctors did not want to prescribe them, and switched me to something less effective.  The most recent combination was Depakote and Inderal.  I found that I gained about 30 pounds, and when I complained about the weight gain, I did not get sympathy.  Shame on that doctor!  I took myself off the meds because I began to feel like the cure was worse than the ailment.  At this time, I'm depending on the chiropractor.  
The best of luck to you, as you shop for help.  

[jcverive]

I'd bet that the occipital nerve is the nerve in question.  Some people have had limited success with burning, freezing, cutting, or otherwise killing the nerve, but it almost always try to grow back.  As it grows, the "branches" it sends out often get tangled with other tissues. When the "other tissues" are from muscles (and the scalp is incredibly muscular), movements in the tissue can cause increased pain.

I've had the most luck with Lyrica, Keppra, Lexapro, and Cymbalta, but you should work with your physician to determine what next steps to take.  

Best of luck!

[needanswers54]

You poor lady!  I understand your frustration and fear as I have had migraines since 1991 and have been without insurance at times (about four years) since 1991 and it is frightening.  If you contact the pharmaceutical company they may be able to get you some free prescriptions.  There is a national assistance program by the drug companies for those who qualify based on income (and extended for other circumstances).  There are other pharmaceutical assistance programs on the internet, depending on your state, etcetera.  Good luck and may God bless you with better health.  I do not know if this helps you at all; but at least you know that someone is listening.