PLEASE READ - Compare Symptoms. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

Starting at about age 12 I would get severe headaches on the right side of my head just above the temple. The pain would start slow, then gradually progress into a throbbing explosion. There is no mistaking this particular kind of headache for me. All other headaches... hangover, tension, stress, etc... all have a different feel.

I would get the headaches 1-2 times a day, every other day or so for about a month, then they disappear for as long as two years.

When I was younger they would ALWAYS happen in the late morning at about 11AM, as I got older they started to vary. Sometimes at night, sometimes while I slept, etc.

Light and sound doesn't bother me during the headaches, nor do I get severe nausea. The pain is unbearable though, like I'm being stabbed in the right eyebrow.

Heat works the best, ice to some extent. Maxalt worked for a period of time, then lost it's effect. Now I use Immitrex and it works moderately well but it puts me out of commission. Drowsy, etc.

I carry a heating pad and Immitrex with me everywhere. I'm a musician, so I live in fear of getting one while onstage at a gig.

ANYONE have similar symptoms? There are so many variations on headaches. If you do have similar symptoms, what do you do for them? What works?

I'm open to anything. I would drink an Octopus shake if someone said it helped them... (don't mess with me though. :)

Thanks so much. I'm 29 now, and ready to find an answer to these once and for all.

sounds like the supraorbital nerve, a branch of your trigeminal nerve. I have that pain as well as other places in the head. I finally ended up having a nerve stimulator implanted. I've gone through all the seizure meds and most of the narcotic pain meds to no avail. I'd start with a neurologist who will probably want to start the MRI, CT scan road. Sorry you have to go through this. Hopefully I'm wrong and its just something simple for you( we can hope!!) but a neurologist would be able to begin to pinpoint the problem.
good luck to you and let us know whats up.
catahoula

I've had the MRI's and Ct as well, TONS and they all came back clean but still there is pain. Nerve pain is a funny thing. Sometimes it kills you and other days you think you are cured. The anti-seizure meds do help with nerve for some folks...topomax, lyrica, tegretol, depakote..and on and on. Sometimes you just need to find the one or combo of some that work. Don't rule out a nerve problem until you see a neurologist. Its a real pain to have to go through this "discovery" stage but you just have to go with it if youwant help. Just know there is no quick fix and it gets pretty frustrating, I'm still trying after 10 years to find a reason for the pain or a cure but whats your other option? You may be one ofthe lucky ones and find a great doc first time out. Don't give up but you just have to jump in.
keep in touch
catahoula