Is it a schwanoma?

[Marasmom]

I was diagnosed with migraine headaches 17 years ago.  They cam and went around my period.  As I had my first child the headaches became mor frequent and at one time I had had 63 days straight with pain.  I was hospitalized and diagnosed with non-aura tension type headaches.  I was then put on triptan type medications and was told to never take over-the-counter pain medication again.  

I have gone through the gament of preventative type medicines such as topamax, amitriptaline, anti-seizure meds, beta blockers, iron supplements, etc.  None of these have helped on a long term basis.  There might be a relief for a month, but the headaches still come and continue to get worse.  

I had my second child 5 1/2 years after my first and the headaches have worsened still.  A year ago I was diagnosed as having cluster headaches and was told that my headaches had changed.   I would get bouts of 4 and 5 day headaches that wouldn't respond to Maxalt or Imitrex.  I would have DHE treatments, oxygen treatments and even steroid treatments.  

The steroid treatments seemed to help and provided releif for the days I was on steroids.  The past few months the headaches have returned with a vengence.  I was put back on a 5 day steroid treatment which didn't help.  I am taking a triptan medication daily which lessens the headache, but if it does go away, it always returns.  I have had constant ringing in my right ear since March and have had a "nervous" leg on my right side which used to happen infrequently, is becoming more constant.  

Could this be a schwanoma?  I have a follow-up appointment with my neurologist later this week and wondered if I should ask about this?

Any advice would be helpful.

[Marasmom]

The neurologist is at a loss for what he can do to help me.  He is recommending that I go back to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago ( I was there 5 years ago) to see what they can do to help.

I have had scans in the past - the most recent was 4 years ago after my father died suddenly of a brain anyeurism.  

I am so frustrated living with pain.  

My neurologist wants to put me on Cymbalta for preventitive and gave me mironal nasal spray as an abortive.  I can only use the spray a couple days a week, so what am I supposed to do the other 5 days.  

[Kamal S Saini, MD, MRCP (UK), DM]

Hi

I am really sorry to know about the pain which you have been  suffering from so many years..
However,I an glad that you have an appointment with a neurologist ..Go for a scan if he advoises you to..but importantly, identify the trigger factors for the headaches..chinese food, chocolate icecream , lack of sleep or anxiety....each person has his own trigger factors and needs to identify and avoid them..

Regarding your question about a schwannoma, its a tumor  which arises from sheaths which cover a nerve and is benign in majority of cases..the ringing in the ear needs an evaluation from the otolaryngologist and the pain in the leg coud be a sciatic pain..

Let meknow what the neurologist tells you..