[postconcussion]

Hello!

Just thought I'd share a bit about my experience trying to stop rebound headaches.

After reading a couple of people here mention that they stopped pain pills I was inspired to try myself.

I have very severe headaches, which have been my main problem for the past 2 years. After the acute healing stage, I was taking usually ibuprofen or tylenol daily, usually twice a day. I still suffered and the headaches were never below a four. With exertion and toward the end of the day they can be a nine.

I was reading that it usually takes about a month for the rebound headaches to stop.

I have only done 10 days so far. The first week was sooo horrible and I had to take a tylenol twice and restart my daily count of pill free days. I was on eggshells. I did the least amount of activity possible.

I am taking magnesium and coq10 300 mg alongside my other vitamins. Supposedly it will help..

Please see this article below
http://headaches.about.com/cs/preven...coq10_prev.htm

I am taking it one day at a time because i am in a lot of pain. But, I do notice a difference in my headaches. The main difference is that the tension headache/ gripping headache is not as bad.. but the fire burning feeling is the same.

Is this nerve pain? Any opinions?

I hope to not take daily pain pills... If I can make it.. and maybe take imitrex for emergency situations. Does anyone do this?

I will update later. Sorry I have spent too much time on the computer now. Good night and thank you for any thoughts.

[pcslife]

Hi,
I tried Imitrex few times. Did nothing for my pain/dull headaches/dizziness. Good news is I didn't have any side effects.

3 weeks ago I felt palpitations/pain/dizziness while driving so I went to ER. ER doc did a CT scan and found nothing. They know my history so they don't leave anything for a chance.

They tried toradol (usually given after surgery) and did nothing much for my symptoms. Then they want to try some morphin derivative which is very powerful. I said no and ER doc explained it can help to break the pain cycle and never thought my pain can be that bad. So I agreed.

Drug hit me even while they injecting the shot. Now I can understand why people get addicted to pain killers

That was first time ever I felt close to normal in about 3 years. Symptoms came down a lot I was able to think clearly, talk clearly and no stimulation bothered me. All symptoms came back next once the medicine gone from the system ofcourse.

Neurologist now trying Trileptal and wants me to get some shots in my neck, spine and head after my PT. I found a new PT in the same hospital who is doing Cranio sacral therapy, myofascial pain release and healing touch for pain and it does help so far. May be shots (botox etc.,) can give more symptom free days? That probably is going to be next trial after PT gets tired of me.

My Neurologist also gave some Codeine Sulfate for pain when symptoms gets worse and so far I tried only twice and it only touches my symptoms very slightly. I don't want to increase the dosage since I can clearly see the trouble with pain killers.

[postconcussion]

hi pcslife

thanks!

what kind of shots are you going to get? I have gotten two steroid shots. my doctor tried to get the muscle knots out of my shoulders. I didn't notice much difference at all. I did have side effects though. I was super grouchy and didn't sleep for weeks with my heart racing. I would just stay up all night and listen to my heart LoL! I have heard of botox for migranes..

Maybe the steroid shot would be more effective directly in the neck?

That's great that the pain med helped so much with your symptoms. Good luck with pt. It is helping me as well, are you getting your neck stretched? That seems to be the most helpful. Also, the ultrasound heat massage.

[pcslife]

hello postconcussion,

good question about shots. I have no idea since there are quite a few. Once I got the shot some where around trapezius muscle and didn't do anything. I should be happy I didn't have any side effects. Your side effects (heart racing especially) sounds scary. I am thinking about Botox?

It is pathetic to say I am happy nowadays if I don't get side effects with medicine, therapies, shots etc.,

I am thinking shots in neck and also in Jaws since my Jaw, around ear all tight and probably causing some TMJ issues. I may get some MRI of my jaw.

Interesting for me neck stretch makes it worse and heat doesn't do anything. Glad it works for you. My PT does some Cranial work and also work directly on my face, neck and yes it brings down my symptoms. Even an hour ago I got it done and I feel the noticeable reduction in symptoms. Before I go for shots I am going to continue this for few more months and also planning to increase 3 times a week (now only twice a week). So the painful journey continues.........

[wdl6591]

Originally Posted by postconcussion

Hello!

Just thought I'd share a bit about my experience trying to stop rebound headaches.

After reading a couple of people here mention that they stopped pain pills I was inspired to try myself.

I have very severe headaches, which have been my main problem for the past 2 years. After the acute healing stage, I was taking usually ibuprofen or tylenol daily, usually twice a day. I still suffered and the headaches were never below a four. With exertion and toward the end of the day they can be a nine.

I was reading that it usually takes about a month for the rebound headaches to stop.

I have only done 10 days so far. The first week was sooo horrible and I had to take a tylenol twice and restart my daily count of pill free days. I was on eggshells. I did the least amount of activity possible.

I am taking magnesium and coq10 300 mg alongside my other vitamins. Supposedly it will help..

Please see this article below
http://headaches.about.com/cs/preven...coq10_prev.htm

I am taking it one day at a time because i am in a lot of pain. But, I do notice a difference in my headaches. The main difference is that the tension headache/ gripping headache is not as bad.. but the fire burning feeling is the same.

Is this nerve pain? Any opinions?

I hope to not take daily pain pills... If I can make it.. and maybe take imitrex for emergency situations. Does anyone do this?

I will update later. Sorry I have spent too much time on the computer now. Good night and thank you for any thoughts.

When I was in the hospital following my concussion / TBI, I had severe headaches. They had me taking hydromorphone (dilaudid) 2 mg IV for 12 days. When they discharged me I was prescribed 4mg tablets. The dilaudid helped with my headaches but never stopped them. I was also taking ibuprofen. I started to see a concussion specialist neurologist who had me stop immediately and start taking tylenol and depakote as a prophylactic for headaches. He then added amiltriptyline, also as a prophylactic. He then stopped the tylenol and started tramodol for the pain. After a month and a half, he had me stop all pain relievers (which were not really helping anyway). The prophylactics help. They reduce the pain levels to a 3 or 4. I too have increased pain with any exertion, physical or mental or emotional.
Once I was off of all analgesics for 30 days, the neurologist ruled out rebound headaches. In order to prevent them, he suggests that I rotate different "families" of analgesics. I'll take Tylenol one day, ibuprofen the next and tramodol the third. I try to avoid analgesics altogether if possible. If the headache is a 3-4 I just try to gut it out. I'm in my fifth month following my TBI. I've had a headache (of differing severities) every day. A 3-4 headache seems manageable to me after having 7-9 type headaches. Hang in there and good luck.

[HeadStrong]

I have tried quite a few medicines since my injury and none of them have given me much relief from my headaches/migraines.

I am currently on 80 mg of Propranalol and just had the Botox injections yesterday.

I might add that that was pure TORTURE for me becuae of all the inflamation and scar tissue doc had to get through (no numbing meds).

As of today, my headaches are worse and I've felt nauseous. Doc said it can take a few days to kick in.

I hope they find what works for you. Take Care.

[postconcussion]

wdl6591,

Thank you so much for sharing! If i cannot make the thirty days I will try to rotate the pain meds as you suggested.I am happy to hear the thirty day period confirmed by your doc. You are so fortunate to have such a specialist. Honestly, what I have been worrying about for months you have answered in one post. Are you still on amiltriptyline?

Headstrong,

Thank you also for sharing. Will you please update us on the botox and if it helps? I can imagine it felt awful to get the shots. Hope that goes away quick.
My usual blood pressure is 98/68ish . It will go up when I'm having major headaches, but do you think that propanalol would help me. I feel like Im going to pass out quite frequently since my injury. Do you think the bp med is contraindicated or would it be fine? Did your doctor talk about dizziness or any other similar issues with a blood pressure med? Any thoughts and thank you again.

[HeadStrong]

Postconcussion, I would check with your doctor to see if a BetaBlocker like Propranalol would work for you. For me, it has helped take the edge off of my Migraines but it does nothing for the tension part of my headaches.

You can find more out about the drug and it's side effects here:http://www.medicinenet.com/propranolol-oral/article.htm

I experience fatigue, light headedness, tingling in extremities and a few others while on this med. (having a complete mental block and can't remember the rest).

I will update in a few days how the shots are working.

[ger715]

Years ago, my neurologist put me on a daily regimen of Propranalol (Inderal), along with Elavil. These were to help lessen the frequency of the migraines and meant to be a preventative. They did help. I was also given Bio-feedback therapy. These by no means did away completely; but did help. When I do get a migraine, I am fortunate 25mg's Imitrex is quite helpful keeping the pain very low, if any.

(Ger)