Hi. I'm new here, so I'm not sure if this has been discussed before or not. I've been looking around a bit, but if this is a repeat, I apologize.

I gave an overview of my story in the new members forum, and, bottom line, doctors have been looking for a diagnosis for me since I was suddenly ill this past February.

There are a variety of symptoms, and the neurologist at this time is focused on perhaps MS or some kind of epilepsy, though I've never had a seizure that I know of. I am having my 2nd MRI this week. My first was when I was hospitalized in March, approx 6 mos ago.

One thing that has been a CONSTANT, but not really addressed, in my opinion, is the fact that I have had a headache almost EVERY DAY since February. I am taking 500 mg of Naproxen a day, but even tho I can take up to 2 a day for the headache pain, I don't want to do that. Even taking one a day, it does NOT take away the headaches, it just makes them bearable.

Does anyone else have regular, daily, obnoxious headaches? I never really had headaches before, except right before getting my cycle, but that headache is nothing like what I've been dealing with now.

I don't know if these would classify as "migraines" or not. The greater focus has been on trying to find an overall diagnosis for the combination of symptoms I am dealing with.

I have had 6-7 concussions in my life (I'm now 39), most during my teenage and college years, though my most recent one was 6 yrs ago, from a minor car accident. However, I've not had regular headaches these past six years.... only since this "mystery" illness has started in February.

I'd appreciate any information or suggestions that others may have.

Does anyone know- are daily headaches a part of MS?? Thank you.

Have a read of this. Might be something to think about.
http://www.nyheadache.com/blog/?p=128

My headaches (25+ years) were cured by taking magnesium. They were caused by tight neck muscles. This may not be your situation, but magnesium deficiency may well be a factor.

Has anyone mentioned rebound headache or medication rebound? (Google those terms to learn more)

Doc

No Doc, no one has mentioned anything to me about my headaches.... nothing at all! Other than my PCP rx'ing naproxen 500 mg 2 times a day prn, no reason or look into the headaches has even been explored. And, the naproxen, I'm taking 1 daily, usually in the morning, about when I get to work, so around 8 am.... and it's enough to take the edge off the headache to make it tolerable, but that's it. It doesn't ever seem to truly go away.

It does seem to be less painful when I am laying down vs sitting up..... but short of some kind of heavy duty pain meds, which then would not allow me to work cuz I'd be a space cadet, not sure what to do. Sometimes, usually at home, in the evenings or weekend, I get sooo sensitive to sounds (which is great when you have young children) just making my head throb. Funny think is that I"m hard of hearing... so I tend to take out or turn off my hearing aids, but even that doesn't help. (I never had headaches really, except little ones ladies get just before their cycle starts... hormonal ones).

My vision is slightly blurry w or without my glasses on (and I'd just gotten new glasses in January before all this "mystery neurological illness stuff" started in February. But the headache is not likely vision related (I'm a vision therapist, trained in vision and low vision at the master's level). Though I am being referred to a neuro-ophthalmologist, per my request, so hopefully I will have that appointment in the not to distant future.

I think it may somehow be related to the overall condition I've been dealing with since February which has yet to be determined. I have been working w a Neurologist (my 2nd neurologist).... had a bunch of tests, but so far, nothing "remarkable". So, more waiting and more testing.

I'll google what you've suggested. Thanks!! I can ask my PCP doc when I see her in a few week about what you've mentioned...... Amy Kate.

Thanks, Peter--- I'll check that out too!! AmyKate

Well, Doc-- in googling those terms, I'd have to say that I doubt those are what I have going on. I HATE taking meds..... and other than regularly rx'd one for depression, I don't take meds.... I usually just ignore and get past the pain.

Other than the Naproxen, as I previously mentioned, I don't take any other pain relievers. And that was rx'd specifically for these headaches. I do need to talk w my PCP about how it's not really helping anyways......

I'm not a tylenol, ibuprophen or any other kind of OTC med girl. Other than some vitamins and supplements I'd be happy if I never had to swallow a pill again!!!

But, thanks for the thoughts...... AmyKate

Yes, definitely worth considering. I had rebound headaches from Tramadol.

Ok, it was a starting point from your OP above.

Did the headaches begin with, or just following, a virus of any kind?
Have you ever had Mono or other EB related DX?

Doc

Thanks, Doc. I remember feeling like I was starting with a cold and I then did, on day 3 (with a weekend in there not counting) go to the doc's as I needed a note for missing 3 days of work. I was dx'd w a "virus" (the great catch-all for "obviously you're sick and don't feel well, but we have no idea why), but eventually was found to have a sinus infection and was ordered an antibiotic. That was mid February.

As far as I can recall though, the every day headaches didn't really start until mid March, after I'd been hospitalized for 5 days for supposed, but then not dx'd, Guillian-Barre Syndrome. And it's been a mystery ever since.

I did have Mono.... 3 mos after having my first son. Worked full time during it, against doc's orders (not due to the mono, but due to my 4 infections of my c-section), but felt I had to go back to work as my hubby had been laid off just then and we needed an income. I didn't realize what was wrong with me, and doctors just kept saying it was post par-tum depression and tried to put me on anti depressants. I refused, and kept going and seeing other docs in that practice until FINALLY, one thought to test for mono. Turns out I'd had mono at that point for 12 weeks, as I worked full time with a newborn whom I nursed/pumped so others could feed him at home. That was in the late summer of 2004.

So, my "current" blood work does show minor elevation of the antibodies for Epstein Barr.... but they accounted that to having had mono eight years ago.


Interesting thing....last week my hubby was so at the end of his rope w my not feeling well that he made me an appointment at the chiropractor's. (I'd been there before, but had to stop last fall due to $ issues).

Anyways, I went, and while I am still quite skeptical, I must admit that I do feel a bit better since Friday, and DEFINITELY have had more energy since then!

So, while I am NOT cancelling any of my other neuro appointments, I am going back to the chiro tomorrow evening, and will keep going, so long as it is helping. Can it solve everything? I don't know.... but if it does, I'll be glad but also very mad that something as simple as going to a chiro wasn't suggested earlier in my ordeal.

Now, am I feeling a bit better because of what the chiro did or because of some kind of placebo effect? I don't know. Does it even matter? I don't know the answer to that either. Have the headaches stopped? No, not yet.... Interesting, though. Interesting. Amy Kate

The reason I ask about viruses is that I've had illnesses (IBD) catalyzed by viruses, and I have a chronic headache condition (chronic tension type/migraine complex -- sudden onset) that is caused by reactivation of E-B (30 yrs after mono in my case) by a secondary virus.

To find this out, I had to go to a headache/migraine specialist (practice limited solely to chronic headache). The several neurologists I went to previously just weren't up on all the headache types & causes.

Doc