Constant Migraine and Headaches

[bbgirl011]

It's been a year/ two years now and I have lived with them. The headaches never go away. I had them when I was little to but they where not THIS BAD. Some days are better then others and I can ignore the pain. Some days they turn into migranes and they kill so bad. I do not pop pain killers cause they dont work so why take them if they dont even take away the pain for 10 minutes? I can be sensitive to light some days. Other days my ears ring and it kills. My eyes are acting up suddenly too. Vision can be blurry sometimes when I get up fast and dizziness can come from that. My muscles are starting ache and kill in pain constantly. I feel ten times older then I actually am. Recently I have gone to the doctor and he diagonsed with post concussion syndrome. I should just let my head heal itself and my headaches will go away on their own. However the headaches/ migraines only have gotten worse. I have eliminated activity that will produce more injury to my head under the doctors advisement but still no increase advancement. At that time I had no vision problems or muscule pains. Does anyone have any ideas what could possibly be wrong with me? My other doctor thinks that there maybe something else going on. So I have a conflcition theory of opinions between doctors.

Is it my diet?
I have been trying to lose weight lately and therefore have been working on cleaning up the junk food and including healthly foods in my diet as much as possible. However, there are occasional junk foods.

I excercise frequently in sports that do not involve head contact?
Should that be totally elimnated then because of this so called diagnosis. I have to wait six months before I can go back to my orignal activites like wrestling, etc.

I suffer from extreme irregular periods.
The first time I got it - I only had one that year. It's been irreuglar ever since. One one month then another every three or four months. Im lucky if I have it one after a month. I feel terrible all the time.

So, why exactly or how can I help my doctors fix my head? It's a huge catalyst in my life right now.

- Thanks

[horselip]

Hey-
I was reading your post and thought hmm maybe the irregular periods area clue? Have you had a pituitary workup done? Maybe the gland got damaged after the head injury or maybe there is a pituitary issue. There are pituitary related  blood tests that can be done.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
The management for migraine is usually trial and error in nature. There are many available medications for migraine and what is effective to some may not be effective to others. If topamax and extra strength advil do not help, you may need to try other migraine medications. Ice packs; prescription medications, DHE injectable and nasal spray, 5-HT agonists; or analgesics that constrict the blood vessels may help. Talk to your doctor about these medicines and decide which is best in providing relief in your case.  If you do not take any medicine, this will be difficult, especially if your pain threshold is low.

[bbgirl011]

This might be a stupid question, but if medication type perscriptions in my case "Topamax" were perscribed for headaches and then they do nothing to relieve or remove the headaches, what could that possibly mean? The migraines come and go as they please in severe pain - sometimes behind one of the eyes.

Medication for the headache have been increased a little without any success but success in other areas. I refuse to take any painkillers because they do not work. Extra Strength Advil would not help my migraine when it really hurts. Is this a wise decision not to take anything when the migraines come?

- bbgirl011

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Having several head injuries in only three months makes me think of post-traumatic headache syndrome, which is a very common sequelae following injuries to the head or neck. For some, especially those with more severe trauma, headaches may be a problem for months, years, or even a lifetime.  This is more so, if you have family  or personal history of headaches or migraine prior to the injuries.  Headaches could be due to tension-type headache  or migraine headaches that are usually more severe. It is good that your EEG was fine.  A CT scan or MRI will help in the work-up of post traumatic headaches. Aside from medications, biofeedback therapy may also help. Take care and do keep us posted.

[bbgirl011]

Maybe it should be head injuries. I've had three brutal ones in a matter of three months close together. Twice I was knocked out in karate. The first one my brother and I were sparring and he didn't hit me that hard but he got me right on the left area of my eye. According to spectators it looked like I was having a mini seizure. I was paralyzed for a bit and kept repeating the same things over and over again but was concious. This period lasted almost half an hour. I went to the hopstial. Three hours when I was finally seen by a docotor, I felt fine and was able to move. They sent me home. Second time I got kicked in the head and totally blacked out. I was concious in 5 minutes. The other brutal one happened in wrestling when a professional wrestler got me on my head three times (Im a rookie in wrestling). My breathing was off. After the match I fainted for a good 15 - 20 minutes. I dont remember anything. When I woke up everyone was looking at me. They wanted to call an ambulance because I was so cold.

I've gone for an EEG to rule out Eplisey. I don't have that. I keep getting my hormones checked out by my doctor and everytime I do - they come back normal. I've been to the chiropractor. He told me about my neck and apparantly it's been out of place. He helped it. Told me about possilble reasons for headache/migraines. I have a gynocologist appointment coming up. Along with a possiblity of an functional MRI.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Can you elaborate on the head injury you had? And what tests were done? It is important that further evaluation be done to rule out any underlying cause. With regards to your irregular period, have this also checked by your gynecologist for proper management. There are studies that also associate hormone changes with headaches. Take care and do keep us posted.