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Anyone with Post-Concussion Migraines?

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Posted 7/26/2009 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
My diagnosis is "Post Concussion Syndrome". I was involved in a serious car accident in November 2007 which left me unconscious for a brief time. To this day I have very frequent migraines (they last anywhere from a couple days, to a couple weeks; 1-3 days "off" in between; and then it starts all over.) I'm still in the process of finding a med that works, and my specialist just says that "in time, they will go away".

It's been a year and a half of almost daily migraines. Just wondering if there's anyone else in this boat, and if so, how have things been for you?

Kindest Regards.
Posted 7/26/2009 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I usually post on the FMS page but visit Migraine frequently to lurk. In 1999 I fell and hit my head, knocking myself out for a time. I was concussed and also slightly fractured, and was diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome. I want to say that incident sparked my migraines, but have had them since I was very young. But they definitely got worse after the fall. One of them was especially scary as it happened while I was driving - I got vertigo and the worst pain in my head ever. I thought I was having a stroke, it hurt so bad, and made me vomit alongside the road. I had them every couple of days for about two years, and they did lessen to a degree. I still have them every couple of weeks, but they have gone back to their pre-fall levels. My neurologist put me on an antidepressant, which helped the depression side, Topamax ("dopamax" didn't make me dopey at all) and also Maxalt, which doesn't work for some people but my doc ramped up my dosage, and that helps. When things got really bad I had to go into his office and he would shoot my (I think) ocular motor nerve - the one with two branches at the back of the skull, where I fell - with a lidocaine solution, which would numb the nerves and bring relief for a time. During this time period of worse migraines I had to be careful of my activities, food triggers, stress, worry, anything that would make my headaches worse. And they did lessen, but those couple of years were hard. I am still extremely noise- and light-sensitive. Everyone's head is different, though, and that is good you are seeing a specialist. Hang in there and keep asking questions.
Posted 8/2/2009 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I also have had head trauma, and recently had ncr done which has helped alot, and plan on getting more treatments.
Posted 8/3/2009 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I was in a car accident in Dec 2007 and suffered a concussion. I have never felt such pain before and hope I never have another concussion. My doc said, "Wait a year and you'll feel normal." Didnot happen.. I was diagnoise with fibromyalgia one year later...

Hope your head stop hurtings...I know I get tired of my headaches.

Take care
Stari
Posted 8/15/2009 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your replies. It's definitely a frustrating journey especially when all you hear is "Just give it time". I've tried a whole bunch of different meds... Amitriptiline, Noritriptiline, Topamax, Propranolol, Metropolol, Amerge to name just a few of the recent ones... and I'm currently trying Atacand, Maxalt, Migreleif, and trying to get approval for a second Botox treatment. (forgive me if I spelled some of them incorrectly.) In the beginning my doc was also treating them with Percocet, Morphine, and a pain patch... but I quickly ditched those at they were just horrible... nothing like feeling over-medicated. Just gotta grin and bear it I suppose, and be thankful for the blessings in my life.

Wishing you all the best of luck and good health.
Posted 8/27/2009 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
I haven't had a concussion, but I've had brain surgery. I deal with migraines 4-5 times a week. this week has been bad, I've had a migraine everyday this week. I've tried so many meds with little impact. just went to the neurologist today, he started me on elavil, we've tried it before but that was years ago. Now we are going back and trying meds that I've used in the past, doc just doen't know what to do for me.

We are waiting to hear from my insurance co. to see if they will approve for me to have botox injectiions into my scalp and neck. I will do anything now for relief. It gets overwhelming when you deal with head pain on a day to day basis.

God Bless,

Mercyme
Posted 8/27/2009 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi cestlavie I am sorry for the incident happen to you. I also have the same experience that's why I decide to study and be Consultant Headache and Migraine Physiotherapist; Adjunct Lecturer, Masters Program, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia; PhD Candidate, Murdoch University, Western Australia.

Please visit forum rules before posting again, Thank you!

Post Edited By Moderator (tysmyboo) : 8/31/2009 8:56:31 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/18/2009 3:15 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Im new to this and jsut came across this forum while desperately searching for answers - Ive had  a numbre of concussions over the last 18 months (I had about 8-10 before that too) - a few quite bad and the migraines are driving me nuts too - am getting migraines every day - every little thing - noise and light - trigger them and can also trigger seizures - I dont knwo how much more of it I can take - Im on my own and find it really hard to talk to Dr - I cant concentrate on what shes saying and I cna t remebmer what I need to tell her - have tried maxalt, amitriptyline and gabapentin but limited success - some one said topiramate might help but Dr wont consider any change to meds without specialist input and Ive been waiting for months and knocked off the list 3 times now - any advice would be so appreciated  - I have to find a way to fix the problems (vision, memory, migraine, fainting, seizures, concentration, insommnia, fatigue, noise/light sensitivity) and get back to work or I could lose my home - my insurance keeps saying the problems are persisting too long and seeking theri successive specialist opinions to try and say its all in my mind so they don't have to cover me - I cant afford to get independent specialist assessment to prove it isnt and the stress just seems to make it worse.  I am so grateful to hear Im not the only one having this problem even though Im really sorry you are too I was startign to feel like I was going mad.

Posted 10/18/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
I had head trauma when I was 8 - a baseball smack above the right eye that required stitches- but never really noticed any head pain problems for years. The theory is that the scar tissue generated from the head trauma began to encroach on a nerve and compress it, causing the pain. I wasted about 3 years going from specialist to specialist trying to get on a treatment plan to prevent/lessen the pain of "classic transformed migraines". The bit that caused so much confusion was I would get auras and neuro symptoms prior to a headache, so doctors automatically assumed it had to be generic migraines. After they found nothing obvious, their best advice was to see a psychologist because my pain must be imagined or "in my head" (pun intended). Starting to feel defeated, I made an appointment with a local pain clinic to be examined. After the first visit, he suspected scar tissue causing nerve compression, so he scheduled a procedure. Since that procedure (injecting MASSIVE amounts of steroids + local anesthetic), I have not had 1 headache with aura, I've been able to go school, get my life back, etc.

If you didn't read that spiel, basically I recommend seeking out second opinions and new ideas.
Posted 10/20/2009 6:28 AM (GMT 0)

Hi G Coin, Thanks for the advice adn support - I really need it at the moment - like you, beign told its all in my head by the insurance specialists is so not helping adn Ive been feeling like I can't take much more - I am so pleased to hear somethign worked for you -I'll try to get  back to my GP and see if she can refer me  to a pain clinic - hopefully she can and they can help - again thanks very mcuh, Renee

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