daily headache for 10 months

[cynthia03]

I have a 16 year old that has been suffering with daily headaches for 10 months, some days its a 2 or 3 on pain scale most days higher 6 or 7 can get as bad as a 9. Often complains of stomach aches, has alot of dizziness, few fainting spells, wants to sleep alot, has alot of problems with her neck, back and etc. going out, treated by chiropractor, she has alot of tension in base of head, has had ct scan and 2 MRI's went through massage therapy of upper back and neck, and also physical therapy. Has been seen by a neurologist that currently has her on Elavil and Topamax for several months now, with still no relief. Has also taken a muscle relaxer that did not help. This all started with a headache and throat inffection, the throat cleared up but headache did not go way. Blood work as far as routine, cbc, hormone, antibodies, etc. has all came back ok. Any thoughts or suggestions. She is very physically active in sports. Her sports and academics are really suffering. Do to see another neurologist that deals in headaches, at a childrenshospital, thats where she has been being treated. Frustrated and concerned!!

[Ball123]

I understand your concerns. She is being treated with amitriptyline and topomax, two very potent headache preventatives and still has no relief. That is very concerning.

You need to start all over again with the "investigations", to see if anything has been missed.

Keep us posted.

Best wishes to you and daughter!

[Mainester]

Lyme

[jabbs]

Just a quick note to say hi! have her pituitary gland in her brain checked. had the same thing and they missed it for two years. get an mri of her brain with a contrast so anything in her brain will show up. good luck

[tomsant]

F, 16yr, physically active in sports, daily headache in the frontal region, starting with a 'headache &throat infection' 10 mth back.

Also has neck problems, tension in the base of head

CT and 2 MRIs (Probably head / neck?) hopefully were Normal?

All blood tests normal.

Seen by neurologist. Has had massage by chiropracter, physical therapy (by physiotherapist/ physiatrist?)

On Elavil (Amytriptylene) and Topiramate for a few months.

Other complaints: Stomachaches, dizziness, fainting spells, wants to sleep a lot.
=============
I hope I haven't missed anything. But this gives is a 'mixed' picture.

The upper respiratory infection has gone, but the headache persists. It may be that a sinus infection (unlikely)/ irritation in the nose/sinus is persisting. Or a then-not-so-obvious cervicogenic headache (headache with cause in the neck - as the she is a sports-girl, might have injured her neck some time in the past) would have surfaced after the infection?

Is the giddiness / fainting episodes/ sleepiness from the beginning or after starting Elavil? Similarly, did the stomach pains start after Topiramate?

My suggestion would be to meet an ENT who can look into the nose and maybe see the various scans once again. If he draws a blank, let the neuro think about a 'cervicogenic headache' (for which you may have to meet a 'spine surgeon' or 'ortho' if the neuro is not 'interested' in cervical spine (so to say)

How will you judge her 'level of happiness' ?(leave the headache)

Hope this helps.

Best,

Thomas Antony

[debrasue45]

I forgot to mention, my daughter says it feels like she has pressure on the top of her head with sharp pains every so often

[debrasue45]

Hello, My daugher is having the same problem, My daughter Victoria is 14, she got virus type symptoms on Oct 26.2008, headache, dizziness, chills, nausea, sore throat. I took her to her family doctor on Oct. 28th, she was tested for strep throat, and the flu, and both were neg. It was determined she had a virus. On Oct 31st she was still not getting better, she was started on Amoxicillin 875mg 2 pills 2x a day. Promethazine 25mg for upset stomach and Prednisone 5mg 6 day pack. She got worse and on Nov 2. She was tested for Mono it was neg. She was given a shot of Toridol( that is probably misspelled. Her headache and dizziness continued to get worse. She was given Treximet because the doctors felt like the virus she had triggered a migraine. She was given a shot of Prednisone on Nov 9th. She still not did improve. She was sent to see a Neurologist. Her symptoms now were just the headache and the dizziness and nausea. The neurologist did his physical exam and felt it was a migraine. He gave her Naolol 80mg and Chlorpromazine 10mg. He said in her physical exam he did notice that she had weakness in her left arm. He wanted to schedule an MRI, she still has not had it, because it has taken him 2 weeks to schedule it. She is now complaining of tunnel vision and being really dizzy when she stands. Her headache will go from a 1-2 to a 8-9 when she stands. She says she feel like she has been on a carnival ride for a really long time. On Nov 18th I took her to the ER because her headache was a 9. They gave her fluids and compazine by IV. She felt a little better after getting the fluids. They did a CT and said that is was normal. All her labs are normal as well. On Nov 20th she woke up throwing up and with diarahha. She threw up all day, I called the neurologist and he said it sounded like a virus to take her to her family doctor. I did that. They gave her a shot for her the throwing up and another shot of Toridol. They noticed also that her blood pressure was low. They told me to take her to the ER if she started throwing up again. She did so I took her and again they gave her one lt of fluid because she was dehydrated. They also gave her Morphine and Pepcid and an anti  neusea medicine in her IV. She started to feel some better. They also notice the low blood pressure and they did her blood pressure lying it was 109/63 which is pretty normal for her. Sitting it went down to 98/63 and standing it was 91/68. They did send her back home after the fluids and the meds. Now she has had a non stop headache and dizziness and nausea since Oct 26. Her family doctor took her off the Nadolol because she felt the dose was too high and with Tori's blood pressure dropping it was dangerous. She felt some better yesterday but woke up this morning with a very upset stomach and diaraaha again and she said her head is pounding. I need advise on what I should be doing. It seems like nothing is helping, if this is a migraine shouldn’t something be helping. The neurologist said she should stay on the Nadolol that he does not worry until the blood pressure drops by 20 points.  I am open to any advise, she has been so sick and has not been able to go to school for 4 weeks now,

[cynthia03]

Also her headaches are always in the fron of her forehead!!