Chronic Daily Migraines

I am 23 and have been suffering from intense daily migraines for about 12 years. I have had seizures for about 3 years, but this isn't about the seizures. I have seen tons of neurologists I have tried multitudes of medications and treatments, such as:

Topamax (m&s)
Zonegran (s&m)
Tegretol (s&m)
Trileptal (s&m)
Fioricet (migraines)
Cafergot(m)
DHE, Botox, Lidocaine Injections 
Occipital Nerve Block
Midrin(m)
Triptan Drug Class (Allergic)
Migranal(m)
Voltaren, Lodine , levacet(m)
Benadryl(m)
Toradol(m)
Reglan,Compazine,zofran,-phenergan(m&n)
Ultram(m)
-Stadol & Nubain(m)
-Zanaflex(m)
Baclofen(m)
Flexaril(m)
Valium, Ativan, etc...(m&a)
Celebrex(m&gp)
Ibuprofen, aspirin, tylenol
Verapamil,atenalol,metoprolol(m&heart)
Prednisone(m)
Inderal(m)
Elavil(m)
Nadalol(m&heart)
Magnesium supplements(m&heart)
Lithium(m&p)
Massage & Chiropractor(m)
Cymbalta, effexor, prozac
-Tylenol 3, percocet, lortab, methadone, dilaudid, morphine(m&gp)

(m-migraines, s-seizures, p-psych, h-heart, gp-general/other pain, a-anxiety, n-nausea)
I keep a journal for these very reasons. I couldn't recall these things if I didn't. I have been doing a lot of research about all of the medicines that could help, including off label uses. Some of them I took for other causes but noted that there were no changes in my migraines while I was on them. I have tried all of them for atleast 2 weeks each, if not more. Very few of them helped in the least, and the ones that had a good effect merely dulled the pain to a semi-tolerable level. Some days i can't even get out of bed. I'm soooo frustrated with this. If any one has any ideas, I would be supremely grateful.

Thanks,

Shafreeka

Are you available now? I'm up bc of a rediculous migraine I've had for a week and a half that keeps me from taking all my meds: heart, seizure, etc...So I'm feeling really awful. Don't know what to do. I have a cardiology appt tomorrow and I know the dr is going to look at my blood level of the med I'm on and be pussed cuz it will be non existent. I have a near appt Friday. He has me on a starting dose of methadone for the pain. It kinda dulls it so I imagine the dose will go up on it to help more but I have been out for over two weeks cuz I could get an appontment. Blah.

I WATCHED A WEEK AGO ON TV BOTOX INJECTION TREATMENT FOR MIGRAINE, AND ITS AMAZING EFFECT ON ELIMINATING MIGRAINE FOR A SIX MONTHS PERIOD

Jacob, I have had botox for my migraines and it did nothing at all, but I've read where it has helped some people. I felt no relief at all and it was so expensive ($2,700) and that was just for one session! The neurologist wants me to come back again in July for another set of injections, but I'm not going to since the first session didn't help at all.

Shafreeka, sorry I am just now reading these post. Yes! I would love to chat with you some time. I will try to stop by here Saturday night around 9:00pm est.

Mercyme ;)

Have you tried Acupuncture or Neurobiofeedback or Migraine Elimination Diet?

I have had headacehes for 10 years.  I tried Botox but it didnt work but for some its a miracle.  I have tried Preventative Migraine Medication - Anticonvulsants, Calcium Channel Blockers, Antidepressants. Botox .  Painkillers & Abortives -  Muscle Relaxant, Triptans, Painkillers

I havent found a solution yet but some of these treatments help me.  Keep looking and trying new things.

Yes, I have tried biofeedback, acupuncture, physical and massage therapy, the elimination diet, I have been checked for food allergy. I have had four rounds of Botox and four nerve blocks. The nerve blocks help but not much. The new neurologist went over my history and said part of the problem is that I have refractory occipital neuralgia. I have had every manner of conventional treatment for it and it has helped little. The next options for it are several types of surgery and implantable stuff. I also have degenerative disc disease so my back is a mess as well and surgery is coming up for that. I have seizures and they aren't as frequent but still too often and awful when they occur. If I'm going to have all these surgeries I might see if the dr will put in a vagus nerve stimulator. It is used for epilepsy and depression, so I think it can help. Finally, they also found a cavernous angioma in my MRI and he says it too can play a role in all my health problems. It needs removed. I feel like it's all coming down on me at once. Blah.

Shafreeka

First off, let me say that Shafreeka you are not alone. I think that making use of this forum is a great step (I just joined now) to getting support from people who understand what you - and I - am going through. Second, I am so humbled at the fact that there's people that are much, MUCH worse off than I am. I get weekly migraines, always debilitating sometimes more serious than others. I've been hospitalized many times...I won't bore you with my history but, like you, I have tried many medications, different "cures" (acupuncture chiropractors, naturopaths, bio-feedback, botox injections...) and nothing seems to really work. I would suggest trying to stop taking meds all together and doing daily acupuncture because although I'm not a doctor, I KNOW that taking so many meds whether simultaneously or in 2 week intervals they AREN'T going to help...However, I'm aware of the horrible pain one endures during a migraine attack and know how we all hope against hope that we're going to find the miracle drug. The next one will work, the next one will be the right one. We pray, we hang on with all our might to the idea that "all you have to do is find the right drug, you just haven't found it yet". "There's something you haven't tried". The truth is, we have to find a way to deal with migraines that's sustainable. We just want the capacity to LIVE to be without pain, to function, to be reliable, to get rid of this barbarious invasion taking over our souls. You have to tell yourself "I WILL DO THIS" "THIS WILL WORK" "I'M GOING TO GET BETTER". You have to put everything you've got into it. You've got to say: "NO! YOU WILL NOT TAKE OVER MY LIFE, I WILL BEAT YOU". We need to accept that it's a struggle, it's a battle. You're going to lose some, but you're going to win some. It might never be you are him, but eventually you will win more often and who knows, maybe you will be able to just say that migraine has been defeated. But until that day, and always look to that day, you've got to keep hope and fight with all you've got. I don't mean fight by bombarding you body with large doses of chemicals every day and changing them every few weeks (not that I think meds are altogether bad, I think they're often necessary), but fight with your mind, with your head, meditate, do yoga, get acupuncture, eat the right foods, exercise, be healthy, do introspection...put all the odds on your side, and that's the best you can do. I also pray that one day they'll find a miracle cure and be pain free forever. But until that day comes, we've got to fight for ourselves. I don't claim to have the answer, or that I know any more about migraines than any of you but I know that we're in this fight, and we're in it together.