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Posted 3/30/2007 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
My neurologist put me on toradol and it's not working. She said if the toradol did not work then she would put me on a steroid dose pack. The problem is I'm allergic to the medrol dose pack and stated this in my paper work but she did believe me because I have asthma too and the medrol dose pack is given for asthmatic attacks, Yet I'm not allergic to prednisone. My asthma doctor says prednisone and the medrol dose pack are not the same and it is possible to be allergic to the medrol dose pack. If I call the neurologist to tell her the toradol is not helping my headaches I'm afraid she'll prescibe the medrol dose pack this will put me in the ER. What should I do, I also just had an MRI done and waiting for the results please help, I'm in pain. I'm very very sensitive to light to even at night the car headlights can be hard that I wear my sun glassess at night. I wish you all well and hope you have relief from your pain.
Posted 3/30/2007 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Chartreux,

I'm a little confused by your explanation, i.e. what your exact problem is, but I think you have seen a neurologist for migraines and he has given you toradol(ketorolac) for the pain.  This is an NSAID, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, just like aspirin.  I've never heard of steriods being prescribed for migraines, but maybe your doctor is somehow associating you asthma with your migraine attacks.  In all my time dealing with migraines (33 years), I've used or tried practically every medication used for the prevention of, the aborting of, or emergency treatment of migraine attacks.  FYI - Toradol is a fairly mild pain killer, which might only give you a pain little relief when taken for a migraine.  I think you should go back to your primary physician, who knows your whole medical situation, and see if you can't get put on a good preventative medication and and abortive to take as soon as you feel a migraine coming on.  Your PCP should know what kind of medications will fit in with any other medications you might be taking. 

Good Luck and let us know how things work out.

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 3/30/2007 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chartreux,

Sorry to hear you are suffering. Some Doctors do prescribe steroids in difficult to treat cases to give the sufferer a pain break! I have been prescribed steroids a couple of times myself over the years for just such a reason!

I can only tell you what I would do in this situation, that does not mean that I think that you should do this the decision is yours! I would go back to the Neuro and say that the toradol is not working and remind the Neuro at that time about the allergy to medrol.

I would add that the usual steroid given for a pain break is prednisone! But obviously I cannot be certain of that as I am not a Doctor!

take care

Ann
Posted 3/30/2007 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thank You Leigh Ann (cranky1) and Ann (annuk) I see my Asthma/Allergy Doctor on Tuesday and will have her call the neurologist about my allergies as my asthma/allergy doctor referred me to this neurologist. Then maybe I can get a good medication that will help me with the migraines or whatever it is that is causing my headaches. I've been in pain for this long ...just a couple more days and then hopefully some relief.................
((HUGZ)) to you both and I'll post back later. Thanks so much
Posted 3/30/2007 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Chart I got high doses of pred for my Crohns and a pleasent side effect was not to deal with the migraines for the time I was on it.  What about imitrex?

Pred works well on the neural peptides that cause inflammation.
Posted 4/2/2007 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Well I guess I might not have migraines after all. My neurologist just called and said that on my mri my pituitary gland was enlarged and I will be going for another mri of just the pituitary gland here in a couple of days, The headache is still pretty bad though. (((HUGZ))) to everyone Thanks
Posted 4/3/2007 1:17 AM (GMT 0)

Hey guys,

In my last post, I said that I had never heard of steroids being used to treat migraines.   I was totally wrong!  DUH!!!  I guess it was another case of post-TOPAMAX brain freeze.  I was actually given steroid shots called occipital nerve blocks in my head.  One shot in back of my head at the base of the skull, one behind my ear, and one over top of the eyebrow(on the side of my head that I get my migraines).  They were pretty painful as I could feel the tip of the needle hit the skull bone.  Anyway, they didn't end up helping prevent my migraines. 

What I really meant to say was that I never heard of anyone taking ORAL steroids for the prevention or pain relief of a migraine.

Hope this clears up the brain freeze of my previous post.

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 4/3/2007 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Leigh Ann,

I was prescribed a short course of oral Prednisalone (steroid) just before Christmas to give me a pain break, and I also had this a few years ago! I also know a few sufferers who have needed this treatment for a pain break!

Chartreux

I too have a bulky Pituitary and am waiting to see what is to happen about it so I will keep you posted.

take care all

Ann
Posted 4/6/2007 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Geeze All week I've waited for this Neurologist to get this stupid MRI scheduled and nothing. I'm in constant pain never lets up and at my wits end and now I have to suffer over this three day holiday week. Oh How I wish I could put my neurologist threw this and see how she would like to be in pain. Sorry I'm just so darn(non specific cuss word goes here) fuming mad at this Doctor plus another three day wait for her to get the results. Pain can't get enough (by three days grace)
Posted 4/7/2007 4:19 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Chartreux,

I have so been where you are now.  Last week, I had to wait three days to get my abortive prescription refilled so that my insurance would pay for it.  Of course, I ended up in the emergency room in the meantime.  If you could give us a run down on your health problems and what medications you are taking, it might better help us get you through the rough spots.

Hang in there and let us know how you are doing.

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 4/7/2007 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Leigh Ann (Cranky 1) for your reply
I have a lot of stuff so here goes dx with Allergies, Asthma (pneumonia 3x before I was 18 yrs old) , Degentive Disc Disease, Gerd (upper endoscope showed two bleeding ulcers in 1996), Osteoathritis and Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.
My current list of meds: Singulair 10mg once a day
Clarinex 5mg once a day
Astelin 2 puff BID Nasal spray
Asmanex 2 puffs once a day inhaler
Xopenex inhaler as needed
Zantac 150mg BID
Lidocaine Patch for back
portable tens unit for back pain
saline nasal spray
sometimes omega-3 or vitamin C not always
For pain I have Vicodin 5-500 or Darvocet N 100mg not ever taken together and usually once a day at night because I need to drive
And I have scripts for other emergency asthma medications if needed
Currently my headache pain far exceeds my lower back pain, I get dizzy and have had blurry vision since last year and I have had vision blackouts on and off since I was 12 yrs old, doctor always thought it was sinus infections. the only time my headaches go away was when I have been placed on prednisone for my asthma flairs. Hope this info helps wish I can get in Monday for my MRI. Thanks leigh Ann
Posted 4/9/2007 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Chartreux,

It sounds like you may have run into the problem that a lot of people run into with sinus and asthma. The more medication you take, the more you have to take, just to achieve the same effect. Sinuses are especially vulnerable to this. My ex-husband got addicted to Afrin Nasal Spray, which escalated to prescription nasal sprays. He totally overdid it, was using them way more than he was supposed to. He had to stop completely and after a while, all his sinus problems went away.

I use to have a hiatal(sp)hernia years ago, but it got fixed when I had a gastric bypass. You might ask your doctor about switching from Zantac to Nexium, which is far better for controlling the stomach acid. If you haven't had an upper endoscope since '96, you might think about having another. There may be better treatment now.

I've had migraines since I was 8, so I know about that pain. I usually have two or more a week, and have tried every medication available. I finally found an abortive, Migranal Nasal Spray, that will actually work for me. The only other option was narcotics, and my doctors don't want me taking those regularly. I'm going into a clinical study at the Medical Center at the University of Virginia, a combo with the Neurology and Cardiac Departments. I qualified because none of the migraine preventatives ever worked for me. Apparently, there is a connection between people that have migraines and those who have a DPO, which is a hole between the two sides of the heart that is supposed close at birth but doesn't in about 12% of the population. Of these people, they think about 60+% have migraines. The study is a trial of closing the hole to see if the migraines go away. It ought to be interesting anyway.

I also have numerous bad back issues, having epidurals every six months and misc. steroid shots in between. I will eventually have to have my lower spine fused, but trying to put that off as long as I can stand it. I'm currently in a lot of pain, so I'm doing hydro-therapy twice a week to ease it off. I haven't slept in my bed in two or more years. Stuck sleeping in my recliner, so I can feel your pain.

I have a real problem with dizziness too, but mine I think has to do with all the medication I take and the fact that I have naturally really low blood pressure.

Anyway, let us know how things go with the MRI. I had four last fall, and they were miserable, plus they give me migraines from all the loud noise. Hope yours are better.

Leigh Ann
Posted 4/12/2007 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Finally got all the insurance stuff approved and will be going for my second MRI tomorrow night at 8 pm and will probably have the results late next week. So take care and I'll post back later, alos the doctor switched my medications yet again and I don't like them, If they would just find what is wrong first then fix that with meds that would be nice. HUGZ and see y'all later
Posted 4/18/2007 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
My second MRI still showed an enlarged pituitary gland, the neurologist does not think it is a tumor so I'll be going to see an endocrinologist on June 4th. If your reading this dub you were right hun, maybe you should be my doctor (lol) Lots more testing for me (yippee--in a very sarcactic way). I'm thinking now this is all related to the steroid injections for my back and they are planning on doing more. My cats get more humane treatment. Thanks
Take Care and Hugz
Posted 4/19/2007 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
No, the gave me no reason why my pituitary gland could be enlarged. Plus all my blood work done in November was normal, it was seven vials of blood too!
Posted 4/23/2007 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
I have run the gamet on medication for migraines. My doctor has given me steroids for the time I was in what he refers to as rebound headaches. I had no bad reactions. I am now getting Botox injections every three months. It has helped the severity but not the frequency. I have 10-15 per month.
Posted 4/26/2007 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am new here but I just wanted to tell you that when I feel a migraine coming on, my neurologist has prescribed Relpax, 1/2 prenisone tablet and 1 Dilaudid.  He has me taking that regimen when I know that the weather is going to change (the low and high pressure systems) even if I don't have a headache yet.  So far, that regimen is working well.  I am not sure what the steroid does but I do know that I have tried only taking the Relpax and don't have results that are as good.  I voiced my concern about taking steroids and he assured me that steroids in that small of a dose and only occassionally are safe.  I have no side effects except that the Relpax does make me sleepy for a couple of hours.  This regimen has kept me out of the ER for several weeks now (which is when I started it) so I am keeping my fingers crossed. 

Good luck to you.  By the way, the neurologist also has prescribed 4% Lidocaine nasal spray for when I have a bad migraine - haven't had to try it yet.  He says it will work great or not at all - for some people, it works - others, it doesn't.

My daily meds for migraines are Verapamil and Trileptal.  I also take Lortab 10/500 if needed but since he prescribed the Dilaudid po, I haven't needed the Lortab.  Also, it usually only takes 1 Dilaudid to do the trick.

Posted 6/10/2007 8:21 PM (GMT 0)

Hi baseballmomof3,

     I also suffer from migraines due to weather changes and usually end up with a pain shot of dilaudid,benedyl and zofran. Would you mind sharing the doses of the relepax, dilaudid and pednisone you take. I only get the pain shot after trying bendryl and visteral and oxycontin before a strom. But it usally does not work. Thank you fro sharing.

Somedayishere

Posted 7/3/2007 1:22 PM (GMT 0)

somedayishere, sorry that I am just now responding.  I have been gone for 2 1/2 weeks on a trip for my son's baseball team. 

My neurologist prescribes a whole regime of meds so here goes:

When I feel any headache at all or know that the weather is predicted to change, I take:  40mg Relpax, 1/2 (1mg) Prednisone, 2mg Dilaudid and if I am nauseous, 8mg Zofran. 

Hope this helps.

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