The Never Ending Headache
 

I experienced a ruptured right posterior communicating artery aneurysm on Aug 7, 2008. I had not had a migraine since my 20's and thought they had come back with a vengence....for that reason I did not seek medical attention til Aug 9th. The neurosurgeon said I was lucky to be alive....and I am but, since the aneurysm, I have had a headache every single day ranging from "nagging" to severe migraine with neuropathy.

Is this the way it is always gonna be. I have ask the neurologist, the neurosurgeon and my Internist....no one will "go out on a limb" to tell me if this is gonna always be this way.

I take Neurontin 2400 mg a day. I stopped taking the Percocet and narcotics because they didn't seem to help that much anyway plus, I'm an RN that would like to return to work someday. I have taken Soma for the worse of the migraines and only get minimual relief with it. The neurologist put me on Phenergan 12.5-25 mg ....I know a nausea med but, he said a study was being done with neuro accident pain because so many ask for the nausea medicine saying they got more relief from it than the narcotics. So I guess you could say I'm a lab rat with the Phenergan....I do get the most relief with it for the "nagging" to the full blown headaches but nothing seems to help with the migraine pain.

I would love suggestions/recommendations to pass along to my doctors. I would also like feedback to the post headaches and do they go away and when.

Thanks so much in advance for your replies.

Hi,
You didn't mention how you're aneurysm was repaired, clip or coiling? With a coil repair it seems more people have headaches and for a longer time in their recovery, not a medical fact, just my observation. You are still pretty early in your recovery so headaches can be a problem and should diminish in time. I had a rupture and clipping 4 years ago and got different degrees of headaches frequently over the first year of recovery, but I just took Tylenol for relief so yours sound more intense, everyone is different and we all heal differently. It has been 4 years for me and I usually get some sort of head pain almost every day, from a nerve type pain that lasts only 20 sec to an "out for the day" headache. I also suffer with migraines, but surprisingly have had fewer of these since the aneurysm. You mention you are a nurse, I know the stress involved in the job, I am one too, so please don't go back before you're completely ready. I have never gone back, and if I do it will be doing something else, less stressful. I wish you the best in your recovery, and it is a slow one to be sure,
Ruthie

I did in fact have a coiling.....said I wasn't stable enough at time for clipping.

Hi,
Have you had the coils checked via an angeogram yet? I would call the neuro doc and tell about the everyday headaches and ask when the coils are going to be checked, also ask if these daily headaches are a common thing with post coiling. Being a nurse yourself you know how any foreign object in this case being the coils, in the body can cause some problems at first and may take time to adjust being there. Hopefully someone who has also had a coiling and is on this board can give you some insight here. I would keep taking the Phenergan for pain relief as long as it is working. Take care,
Ruthie

Ask for one of the newer Migraine meds on the market.

Could they be rebound headaches?

I also had a ruptured brain aneurysm and had a craniotomy in Jan. 2008. I was 45 years. old then. From the time I woke up 6 hours after the surgery I had this pain behind my right ear...but just like Ruthie1959 I would only take tylenol or dolcet and it goes away. Told my neurologists about it but they said the pain is not related to my aneurysm. Still have one more aneurysm but never had it treated its <3mm. I was told I have cervical spondylosis and this neck pain may radiate in the brain so that could be one cause. Ten days after my surgery, I was back to work ... with a hat of course because I couldn't stand the post traumatic stress disorder related to the rupture. I guess I'm back to normal now and do not really think of the "other one."

New To Forum!
 

Hello....Im new here and saw your post. I had a right ruptured aneurysm in Aug 2009. Had no idea as the doctortoldmefor amonth my migraine was duetoa sinus infection. Anyway! Im blessedto be here and amwondering howothermpeople that have had the same as me are coping? I feel pretty much alone as most people dont understand that I now get tired easily or I dont always feel good. Now my PA says I am experiencing PTSD after all this time? Has this happened toyou or anyone else?

THanks ! Stacey

Hi Stacey,

The fatigue you are experiencing seems to be pretty normal after what you have gone through. Your brain has been through a HUGE ordeal and it takes time to recover. There is no time limit on these things - your body will do what it needs to do when it needs to do it and not before. PTSD also is not an uncommon thing to have - especially after a rupture. Facing your own mortality is really confronting and scary, and your body and your mind are now trying to process and accept what has happened. Maybe talking to a professional therapist who has experience in brain traumas may be really helpful for you to identify just what it is that you are thinking and feeling, and helping you to accept it and then be able to integrate it into your life and be able to move forward. Just know that you are not alone - be kind and gentle with yourself as you heal.

Hugs,

Nat xx

Hi, I know this reply is late, but if your still experiencing headaches, maybe it will help. My aneursym was unruptured, very large, 15 by 15 by 11 mm, it was a superior hypophyseal aneurysm(whatever that is, ugh) Anyway, mine was coiled, and I will tell you, I do experience headaches everyday, some mild, some I just want to curl up in a ball and forget everything. I usually try tylenol, cause I hate taking drugs. I'm already taking Zoloft and Lorezapam for PTSD, I was also given Fiorinal for the headaches by my neurosurgeon. I don't know how long the headaches last, mine is going on 6 months now. I go for my cerebral angiogram in 2 weeks, praying that go's well. Hopefully, this isn't a lifetime thing, but if it is...I'm thankful to be here nontheless, as I'm sure you are too. With all the prayers and support here, we just might find an answer, if not, know this, we have definitely found friends.
Hoping your headaches stop...Laurie