Hi
I am currently 15 years old, and have been having severe chronic migraines since 2008. I have been on many different medications to try to stop or prevent them, from beta blockers to topamax which is the most recent. No pain medication really helps besides Tramadol. Which knocks me out for 8-10 hours. :\
To give a back story:
2008: living in shanghai, china. Traveled to the gobi desert with school for a week, got hit by tent pole to back of neck/head.
2 weeks later got first migraine ever, had one every 1-2 weeks or so for a while then they started to get more frequent. To the point of having them everyday. from around 3-4 am to 2 pm.
Moved to austalia, sudden lack of migraines for 6 months!!!
and they are back now. they followed the same pattern as before and have gotten to the point of having them daily again.
my blood has been tested for all common (and quite a few random) causes of migraines, have had multiple CT and MRI scans on my brain and spine. in the first brain scan I was fully clear but in the recent one they found a small cyst on my right frontal horn as well as a few white spots but they weren't concerned about either.
I have had my neck checked out by a physio but they found nothing wrong with it. its not food related as far as we can tell as well. I went to see a infectious diseases man, and they want to do a LP.

so all signs point to migraine but... any other ideas/thoughts/opinions would be much appreciated!! but other than that I was wondering about the lumbar puncture. I am very sensitive because of the migraines and almost any pain could set me off. I'm just worried I might jump or jerk away. does anyone have any tips to help me keep calm during the LP? My mum told me it really hurts but everyone here seems to say it doesn't much? I'm a woose, kind of wish they could just knock me out and do it while I'm konked. :P
sorry for the long post!

I realize you said that you don't believe its food related as far as you can tell, but do you mind my asking how you ruled food out? I recently had bad headaches and random musclular twitching symptoms enter my life about 6 months ago. They progressively got worse as time went on and the doctors did brain CTs and an MRI along with other testing, which all came back negative. It wasn't until I saw a homeopathic doctor that it was suggested that I try cutting all wheat and gluten out of my diet. If that didn't work they said try dairy next. Those are apparently the two most common adult onset food sensitivities because they are in just about EVERYTHING we eat.

Sure enough the doctor was right. I had developed a sensitivity to wheat/gluten. Food sensitivities are tricky because you can have a delayed reaction by up to 72 hours after you eat something. Furthermore, you will have to avoid foods you are sensitive to for around 4 to 5 days before your symptoms will clear.

If you really want to put food sensitivities to the test and truly rule them out, I'd suggest going on a diet of only meat, fish, fruits and vegetables for at least a week. Also, I'd recommend strictly drinking filtered water. Cut all processed foods, grains, dairy (butter, milk, cheese), cafiene, alcohol and vinegars out of your diet. Try this for a week and see what happens. If you start to feel better, start slowly adding things back into your diet one at a time and see if you react. This is an excellent way to rule out food sensitivities. Don't cheat or you'll just be cheating yourself.

The good news is that adult onset of food sensitivities is usually a symptom of another condition called 'Leaky Gut Syndrome.' Basically the use of antibiotics over the course of our lives does cumulative damage to the helpful bacteria that lives in our digestive tracts. Antibiotics kill this bacteria off along with the infections we take them for. In the absense of the good bacteria a harmful fungus takes hold and spreads. Eventually over time the lining in our intestines weakens and undigested food protiens get absorbed into our blood streams along with some of the fungus, which is called Candida. Our bodies see the undigested food proteins as a threat and attacks them. The next time you eat that food, your body learns to proactively attack it causing different symptoms in all of us. My body reacts and makes my muscles twitch and sometimes gives me a bad headache. Some people have rashes, others migranes. Food sensitivities aren't lethal whereas food allergies are.

The Candida that enters our blood stream will migrate to different areas of the body and take hold. It has been linked to all sorts of problems that for some reason get treated symptomatically by the medical community. Candida has been linked to IBS (Irritiable Bowel Syndrome), arthritis, weight gain, enlarged prostate and ED in men, yeast infections in women, headaches, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, mood disorders such as depression, loss of bladder control, and much more.

I've been on an anti-Candida program through Dr. Jeffery McCombs' website for a month now and I feel better than I have in years. My twitching and headaches are gone and I seem to have more energy than I have in quite a while. Its a 16 week plan. Once that plan is done with, I will have to continue to treat my 'Leaky Gut' as they tend to take 6 months to a year to heal. Once my homeopathic doctor confirms that my 'Leaky Gut' is healed, I can begin to try to reintroduce foods I am currently sensitive to back into my diet.

Your migranes could be a result of what I am going through or they could be completely unrelated. I just wanted to share my experience in case it can help. I know how frustrating it can be going from doctor to doctor and then to specialists and they all tell you that its in your head or stress related. I had a real problem and finally found a real solution. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

possible medical issues.. This is a discussion from the past in the Peripheral neuropathy forum: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...umbar+puncture
Web up Lumbar Punctures and go only to NIH, Hospital or good research sites for info on how it's done, why it's done, and what YOU should do before, during and after the procedure.
Some folks have had bad experiences, but-IF the procedure is done by an experienced doc, under good conditions with proper follow-up. It shouldn't be much of a problem other than if someone's hit you by accident in the middle of your back with a 2"x4"x8'. Essentially for a couple of days afterwards? Go baby yourself! Rent movies and stay in bed if you can to watch them....ideally with popcorn or ice cream to 'help' the recuperation. That means no lawn-mowing, or cooking a 20 lb turkey or the like.
Only thing is, and good web sites state this? Bad Headaches, or really severe back pain could/should warrant a call to your doctor. Soo, best thing to do is have the procedure done on a Tuesday or Wednesday...so you can get HOLD of the doctor before a weekend... Sure beats 'waiting' in the ER to be looked at and then told to 'go home'. There are contagiously 'sick people' in ER's! I don't want to get shared with! Good luck it's easier than a colonoscopy! 's - j

i'm thinking this is more likely cervicogenic than migraine....good luck

kurokat......i just read your post and u have probably already had your LP.......if not.......I have had quite a few and the experience of the doc doing them makes a huge difference! I would recommend that u just really try to focus on your breathing during the procedure. Slowly breathe in through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Controlled breathing helps with anxiety but helps with pain - if there is any 4 u at all! It can also help take your mind off of what is going on in the room! Good luck!

Since the migraines started after the hit on the head/neck - I'd think about an upper cervical chiropractor.

some info about it- explore the whole site -
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm

Just a thought but have you had an MRI w/& w/o contrast? I have what is known as Cavernous Angiomas of the brain. I have constant, daily migraine like pain in my head. Some days greater than others (esp when i have an active bleed) it will not show up in a regular MRI. They must use a contrast medium to see the bleeds. Check w/a neurologist on this if you haven't already. Good luck & God Bless.

I am a little skittish about replying to a 15 year old and medical advice. However, I am not sure of your location, but in San Francisco BAy Area there is a fab doctor that deals with all types of chronic pain disorders. Please have your parents reply to my post and I will give them all the info. Thanks anf good luck dear.