Quote:
Originally Posted by hepper81
I have had a headache pretty much every single day for the last 4 years! Yes every day. Some days are better than others, I can't even count how many times I have had to go to the ER to get something to help me with the pain or my family doctor. I have been to many doctors, been on countless medications. I am at the end of myself here. I feel like no one wants to help me or listen to me. My headaches started right after I had my son. I feel like the headaches are related to the epidural, but no one will take me seriously on it. It is so frustrating. I just don't know where to turn next. Any advise???
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WOW! I feel 4 u! I suffered from headaches everyday 4 about 2.5 years until we got to the right doctor and got the cycle broken.
I am sure u have probably been to see some neurologists. U need to see an actual "Headache Specialist"........they r neurologists as well, but headaches r the ONLY thing they treat! Their biggest focus is on prevention!
Probably u r suffering from "rebound headaches" or "medication overuse headaches"...........when u have a headache and take meds 4 it.......whether it is tylenol, advil or something prescribed by your doc, and u take too much of it..........it turns the headache that u took it 4 in the 1st place even worse and makes it CHRONIC in nature rather than episodic.
Sometimes it can take very strong IV meds or steroids to break a headache cycle as long as the one u r in. If u go to a good headache doc, they will probably wean u off of ALL the pain meds u r taking. Once they can stop the cycle they will get u on a good preventative regimine.
They use different kinds of blood pressure and epilepsy drugs to prevent migraines. U can also take things like Coenzyme Q10 and Magnesium Oxide. I actually take an ALZHEIMER'S drug for prevention. It is considered experimental as it is not FDA approved for that purpose........but 4 me and others it is a life-saver!
Then they will try to find a good abortive 4 when u have a migraine. These include: Imitrex, Treximet, Zomig, Relpax, etc. MOST TRUE headache specialists WILL NEVER prescribe things like Vicodin, Percocet, etc.......they can cause Rebound.
Of course they will run tests to check 4 various things..........others have mentioned "pseudotumor cerebri or idiopathic intracranial hypertension"........I suffer from that as well. They say that I fit the "typical patient............obese, young woman. They were correct when they said about papillodema which means your optic nerves r swollen. That can cause vision loss.......that is the biggest concern. It is diagnosed with a spinal tap. I am one of the few whose optic nerves aren't affected.
There r many, many other things that can cause headaches.........and there r many different types of headaches as well!
Usually the best place to find a headache specialist is to go to the closest teaching hospital near u...........affiliated with a major university. They will usually have a headache center/clinic.
I wish u the best as u search 4 relief!