Headache or MS Attack?

[greenstar]

I have had one "exacerbation" - it was in March of this year.

Now I have had a headache for a week and a half accompanied by weakness and pain on my entire right side.  Not so bad that I am falling into walls and pissing on myself (thats what happened the first time), but bad enough that I brought my cane out of the closet and have had it with me if I need it.

My neurologist suspects that the headache is causing my MS symptoms to flare.  The headache went from a real whopper to a constant buzzing headache.  Not so bad that you can't do anything, but bad enough that it makes me irritable and makes it difficult to work and live.

To try to end the headache my neurologist had me try the following:

Plan 1:  Take an Axert (Migraine medication)- I did this even before I called him - FAILED
Plan 2:  Nasal Spray Butorphanol Tartrate (Narcotic) - Sure I didn't care I had a headache, but... still there - FAILED
Plan 3:  Knock yourself out for 24 hours with Phenergan - Lots of sleep, little relief - FAILED
Plan 4:  Medrol Pack - more irritable, 1 day left of pack - still have a headache, still in pain - FAILED
Paln 5:  Put me back on Neurontin - haven't started on this again yet, but last I checked this will not do anything for my headache.

I am confused and frustrated.  It took almost 2 years of a headache that felt just like the one I have now before I was diagnosed with MS.  After my second Solumedrol treatment the headache was gone.

I don't want this to be another attack, but if it is I don't want it to be ignored.  How do I know when to push my MD?  How do I know when to relax and cope with the fact that this is part of my disease?

[JemmAus]

Oh, as to relaxing....I spent 3 years with neuros going "is it stroke? is it TIAs? is it basilar migraine?"

I panicked every blooming time. EEK I'm having a stroke! Thinking with each 'attack" that I was doomed.

Now I have decided to attempt not to panic and deem this an irritating part of MS. I don't like it, but it's easier to deal with emotionally.....

[JemmAus]

Has the possibility of atypical/complicated migraine been addressed as well as MS? I have both just to add to confusion........of course have never figured out if the migraines are part of the MS or seperate...

either way, it's a right pain. I understand. i get similar which lasts from 1-6 weeks. Nothing but time makes it go away - mind you I am so scared  of drugs I ahven't tried many...

Good luck!

[greenstar]

Thanks for the link!  

I have taken the Neurontin before.  I look forward to being on another planet for 6 weeks as my body and mind get used to it again. : )

[Lulu54]

Relaxing and coping with pain as you described should never be an option.  There are too many ways to treat your pain to give up without exhausting them all, if need be.

The headache may be neurologic in origin and react to a nerve altering drug like the neurontin.  It takes a while to get this into your system at the correct level, so be patient if it doesn't give you immediate relief.

We have a health page written about treating this type of pain  - it will be helpful for you to understand the difference.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Nerve-Neuropathic-Pain---A-Primer/show/371?cid=36

Whichever it is that is dogging you, I hope it resolves soon.
feel better, Lulu