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Migraine Headache
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Posted 11/3/2007 7:18 PM (GMT 0)

I have had migraines since I was 13 years old. (for 25 years now so that makes me 38!)  anyway, I used to get them 2-4 per month lasting 1-2 days.  Since August I have been getting them 3-4 per week lasting as long as the entire week...

I have now had a migraine for 21 days today.  I was put in the hospital on Tuesday for IV infusion of DHE, magnesium sulfate, steroids and tramadol for pain (which did nothing for the pain.)  For some reason, the doctors refused to give me anything stronger for the pain even though the nurses agreed with me that I needed something.

I am also on Depakote 1500 mgs per day and the doctor started me on Topomax 50 mg in the hospital.  SO, here I lay, day 5 of this, nothing helping and they are sending me home.  Seems they can't continue on with the DHE without the risk of heart attack and basically they don't know what to do.

I am fed up, upset and disgusted by the whole experience.  Why couldn't I even get pain control... that was the point of being admitted.........

Anyone have any suggestions? How do I deal with the pain?  The nursing staff at the hospital suggested I see a new neurologist but I am being seen by the largest hospital staff in the area at the college.  I would think they would be the best place... And my neurologist is a professor... shouldn't he know what he is doing?

Somebody help me!

Purplegdaisy

Posted 11/3/2007 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Not all neurologists specialize in headache treatment.

Also, it is very rare that headache patients will be given narcotic pain relievers without first trying them on multiple drugs for a reasonable period of time (sometimes multiple months per drug). I'm sorry you've had a migraine for almost a month now but most of us had them for significantly longer than that before pain control was contemplated.
Posted 11/4/2007 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, Sorry to make my situation seem so minor compared to yours.  Guess I am just being unrealistic to expect that any doctor would not want anyone to suffer for a month in pain.  I have had migraines for 2 days and been given pain meds in the er. Just trying to figure out why I wasn't given them when I was admitted.

This is why I don't post often here. Someone always has to put you down.

Posted 11/4/2007 10:08 PM (GMT 0)

I would suggest you see a homepathic or doctor of alternative medicine...Migranines can be cured...I had a post last week about migranines..under the forum..check it out

Hope you get better..

Posted 11/5/2007 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry if it seemed like I was putting you down but I was just trying to give you the facts. Except in very extreme cases it's rare for a neurologist to prescribe narcotics to a headache patient. It's something that's frustrated me a lot in the past, but it's the truth.
Posted 11/5/2007 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
purplegdaisy- I'm so sorry that you are having such a rough time. I totally feel your pain, although my headaches have been pretty good (knock on wood) lately, I was getting them 3-4 times a week and/or lasting up to 26 days, and I know it's awful. The first thing I would do would be to find a neurologist that specializes in migraines or headaches, this is really important. The easiest way to find them is looking for headache clinics or centers in your area. A few of the websites for different headache problems have lists of headache specialists, but sometimes they are hard to find. It's very frustrating but you many have to wait a while to be seen because headache clinics are usually very busy. (I am currently on a 6 month waiting list)

As for pain control in the hospital, I don't know what to tell you. I've been there and I know the amount of pain your in, but the truth is most neurologist don't like narcotics. Not because they don't think they work or they think you'll get addicted, but because of the affects that narcotics can have on the actual headache. Most neurologist are very worried about rebound headaches (sometimes I think more then they should be) and do not want to put you in more pain than you started with. I've been admitted to the hospital 6 times for headaches that have lasted longer then 20 days and have never been given pain medication besides two tylenol (They don't like to give me NSAIDs like toradol because I get chest pains... they think it's probably just because it upsets your stomach, but they like to play it safe anyways) I have recently been prescribed percocet on two occasions beacuse it's getting to the point that they are running out of things to try which is why I'm now trying a different headache clinic... besides that though the only time I've been given narcotics is in the Emergency Room so your not alone. For most neurologists narcotics are a last resort and unless they have extensive past history of your migraines and documented many many things that they have tried to prevent migraines with they usually don't give them.

One thing that I do that more relaxes me more then anything is take a bubble bath with lavendar scented everything... I have a basket that I only bring out during the headaches with lavendar bubble bath, lavendar body wash, lots of lavendar candles, and lavendar room and body spray. I turn the lights off and light the candles, if it's a really bad one I just sit there and try to focus on breathing normally or if it's not a totally bad one sometimes I will read. There are people who say that lavendar helps with there migraines, and that I don't know, but I do know that it is relaxing and it does help.

Good Luck and feel better! **Hugs**

Jenn
Posted 11/14/2007 8:12 AM (GMT 0)

ER doctors are, in my experience, reluctant to give pain medicine; and neurologists that don't specialize in headache management have been arrogant and rude to me in the past because they think the pain is "all in your head" (I was actually told this once 8 yrs ago).  I now see a neuro that is a headache specialist, and she has given me the pain medicine that I need when I have severe migraines. 

Also, like Sugar9486 stated, the rebound effect that some narcotics (such as Vicodin) have on the headache is sometimes worse than the migraine itself.  My neuro has me take Dilaudid for pain when needed, since she said that it seems to be less likely to cause rebound headaches and tends to be accepted well by her patients.

Find a good neuro that specializes in h/a's.  I can't tell you how much this has helped me - even though I'm still having migraines 3-4 times a week, it helps soooooo much to know that someone believes you and knows what you are going through!!

Good luck!

Posted 11/16/2007 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Purplegdaisy,

So sorry to hear you are going through all this. I have got just one suggestion that is a bit of a shot in the dark but it may help.

Have you tried Indomethacin (Indocin)? Indomethacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, have a chat to your Neuro!! You need to take a tummy protector with this drug as it is very strong, and it is prescribed in 25mg or 50mg or 75mg doses to be taken 3 times per day after food! The dosage is very individual as everyone responds in a different way.

Indomethacin is usually prescribed for after joint surgery or intractable arthritis and is a powerful pain killer, but it is also prescribed for 2 headache conditions (Hemicrania Continua and Paroxysmal Hemicrania). As your headache is so continuous it is remotely possible this drug could be of value to you.

As always please discuss this fully with your Doctor and if your Neuro is not a Headache Specialist (even though he is a Professor) you need to get referred to a Neuro who is a Headache Specialist to enable you to get the best possible treatment from someone who understands headache!!!

All the best with this, please let me know how you get on, take care

Ann
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