Chronic Intractable Headache 24/7 for almost 4 weeks!
Posted , 3 users are following.
PLEASE HELP! I am a 46 yo woman suffering constant everyday ,every minute monderate to severe headaches. I’ve always suffered from migraines since I was a young girl and I’ve always been able to control them with OTC Excedrin. BUT, these headaches are uncontrollable!!! I've seen my PCP, who prescribed me Fioricet & 800mg Advil. When that didn't work, she started me on Topamax (now on 50 mg 2x/day). I also received a Toradol shot, which didn't even touch the pain!!! I even took Norco and that didn't even help!!! I am going CRAZY!!! I am a very active woman and my life has been a complete mess. I can’t exercise, I’ve been told to rest and not to exert any energy (which I’ve done). I saw an Internist this week, and after his examination he didn’t recommend an MRI or CT Scan but referred me to a Neurologist. He prescribed me a steroid pack and offered a Toradol shot, which I declined. The pain is in the crown and temples with occasional shooting, sharp pain on both sides. The pain ranges from moderate to severe, but is constant. Why isn’t there any medication out there? I’ve had a 2hr massage focusing on my head and neck, laid on my inversion table, and used a heating pad. What other treatment options are there?
0 likes, 7 replies
susan64289 s07428
Posted
s07428 susan64289
Posted
Ironic you mention the pill. I have appt with my GYN doc tomorrow. I've been on the pill forever, but my doc has advised me to stay on bc of perimenopause. hmm? I'm wondering if these headaches are a result of hormone imbalances. Thanks for the info.
max0101 s07428
Posted
Best thing to do now is to rule out other causes and work your way from there.
Just my opinion though.
s07428 max0101
Posted
Hoping to finally get some relief and answers.
max0101 s07428
Posted
s07428 max0101
Posted
I wanted to give anyone who is interested in these intractable migraines an update. I’m taking time to write this because I thought I was alone out there, but I soon discovered there are tons of us suffering from these disabling migraines, so I hope this provides hope and help.
Since this initial post, I have seen 5 doctors, been to the ER, had IV Infusion Therapy Medication, and Botox injections. So, it's been approx. 40 days that I’ve suffered with these debilitating migraines. Initially, it is quite a scary ordeal. Very frightening, in fact. My PCP was at lost, as well as my OB/GYN (I thought it could be a hormonal imbalance). My neurologist was the most helpful & understanding. At my first exam, she increased my Topamax to 150mg/day and tried keeping me out of the ER by prescribing me an opioid nasal spray, but that didn’t work. The next day I was in the ER, they tried their usual “cocktail” which contained Toradal, Benadryl & Reglan. When that didn’t work they gave me Morphine, and when that didn’t work they gave me Dilaudid, and that didn’t even work!. After an hour or so the ER doc FINALLY came and introduced himself and stated that he did NOT like treating migraines with narcotics and that I was released to go home. I explained that I was still in pain, but that didn’t seem to matter. The following day my neurologist was able to order IV infusion for 3 consecutive days, unfortunately the pain did not subside and it was the weekend. I sat in agonizing pain & nausea for 2 days before we could get ahold of the doctor and when we did she stated that we should try Botox, and she prescribed Nortriptyline 10mg. I was in so much pain, and nauseated that all I could do was cry, and that made the pain worse. She said that we had to give the Topamax a full 6 weeks in order for it to break the “cycle” of the migraine, and I had only been on it for about 4 weeks. So that meant another 2 weeks of insanity! Luckily, my husband found a doctor that administered Botox and I was able to get some injections, but only in the temporalis muscle because he was not a “headache specialist”. So, 4 days later I’m feeling 75% better. However, I am not out of the woods yet.
The way I understand an intractable migraine in layman terms is…Chemicals and nerves in the brain are going crazy and are overreacting, and need to calm down. But we don’t know when they will calm down. The brain will not respond to any medication to eliminate the pain, but eventually the cycle will break.
At this point I’m waiting for that cycle to break. I have appointment with a neurologist in 12 weeks who specializes in administering Botox, since it must be done 12 weeks apart. So for now, it’s a waiting game hoping that the pain does not worsen. With lots of support from family & friends, lots of praying, & lots of medication.
s07428
Posted
I wanted to give anyone who is interested in these intractable migraines an update. I’m taking time to write this because I thought I was alone out there, but I soon discovered there are tons of us suffering from these disabling migraines, so I hope this provides hope and help.
Since this initial post, I have seen 5 doctors, been to the ER, had IV Infusion Therapy Medication, and Botox injections. So, it's been approx. 40 days that I’ve suffered with these debilitating migraines. Initially, it is quite a scary ordeal. Very frightening, in fact. My PCP was at lost, as well as my OB/GYN (I thought it could be a hormonal imbalance). My neurologist was the most helpful & understanding. At my first exam, she increased my Topamax to 150mg/day and tried keeping me out of the ER by prescribing me an opioid nasal spray, but that didn’t work. The next day I was in the ER, they tried their usual “cocktail” which contained Toradal, Benadryl & Reglan. When that didn’t work they gave me Morphine, and when that didn’t work they gave me Dilaudid, and that didn’t even work!. After an hour or so the ER doc FINALLY came and introduced himself and stated that he did NOT like treating migraines with narcotics and that I was released to go home. I explained that I was still in pain, but that didn’t seem to matter. The following day my neurologist was able to order IV infusion for 3 consecutive days, unfortunately the pain did not subside and it was the weekend. I sat in agonizing pain & nausea for 2 days before we could get ahold of the doctor and when we did she stated that we should try Botox, and she prescribed Nortriptyline 10mg. I was in so much pain, and nauseated that all I could do was cry, and that made the pain worse. She said that we had to give the Topamax a full 6 weeks in order for it to break the “cycle” of the migraine, and I had only been on it for about 4 weeks. So that meant another 2 weeks of insanity! Luckily, my husband found a doctor that administered Botox and I was able to get some injections, but only in the temporalis muscle because he was not a “headache specialist”. So, 4 days later I’m feeling 75% better. However, I am not out of the woods yet.
The way I understand an intractable migraine in layman terms is…Chemicals and nerves in the brain are going crazy and are overreacting, and need to calm down. But we don’t know when they will calm down. The brain will not respond to any medication to eliminate the pain, but eventually the cycle will break.
At this point I’m waiting for that cycle to break. I have appointment with a neurologist in 12 weeks who specializes in administering Botox, since it must be done 12 weeks apart. So for now, it’s a waiting game hoping that the pain does not worsen. With lots of support from family & friends, lots of praying, & lots of medication.