Help with migraines...

[CounselorForChrist]

I'll skip the long story but REALLY short version is I am disabled and one of my major problems is I have migraine (dizzy, head pain...etc) REALLY often. Sometimes 20 a month. Sometimes less. Example I have one right now, its not to bad though.

So my question is when I have them I notice if I even gently press my lymph node under my chin (near back teeth) the pain gets 100x worse for a few seconds. Is this normal? Or could this be something else? Supposedly there is nothing wrong with my lymph nodes, but I can't help but notice those ones make my migraine worse if I touch them.

I do take pills for when I get migraines, headaches, cluster headaches....etc. But overall they don't seem to help that much. And when one kicks in it does not go away until I sleep usually.

 

[vespasia]

OKay from the top.

Migraine and cluster headache pain are felt across any point of the trimalgic nerve that runs from the bone behind your ear and it splits to run across the lower jaw, the upper jaw and lower eye socket and the upper eye socket. With cluster headache the optic nerve likes to join in the pain as well which is why it feels like someone is trying to lazer burn your eye out from both sides whilst playing with a needle lance.

IF you press any point of the TMN during a migraine of course it will feel worse- the poor thing is already racing with pulsating pain massages. During a cluster attack you will not notice any other form of extra pain.

Cluster is best treated with ice packs and high flow oygen via a none rebreather mask, sumatriptain injections help. No other analgesic will work and you can store up rebounbd headaches on top. Verapamil is the first drug of choice to try and prevent attacks. If you suspect you have these you do need to see a neurologist. They are called suicide headaches by medics for a very good reason and you cannot stay still let alone sleep.

Migraine that happens more than once a month indicates a need for preventative drugs. There are four main groups of drugs used ; beta bloickers, calcium channel blockers, anti-epilepsy drugs and anti depressants. Its best to chat with a doctor about which tyope fo drug woiuld be best for you. If your loosing 20 days or more to headaches and requalrly taking analgesics it is a good idea to get medical advice as it could be rebound headaches rather than migraine. If you have more than 4 migraine a month it is wise to get a ref' to a neurologist with an interest in migraine or to a migraine clinic.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Yeah I got a big team of doctors. I also go to the headache clinic at the Cleveland Clinic. I take 7 meds (I use to be on 14 but took myself off of them with the docs permission). My meds are Flurbiprofan, Vimpat, Pottasium CT, Pravastatin, Lisinopril, Vimpat, Protriptyline, Advair and Levetiracetam. Thats not counting my natural supplements like Cranberry (for kidney stones) and Vitamin D.

My doctor has switched various meds so it helps with the headaches and also improves my vision issues. I at one point did have some headache injection thing where you came in every day for a few hours and they had an IV in that flushed your system I think and also gave it meds? I can't remember off hand. Some of the other meds are for heart issues I've had since my first seizure and brain injury.

The headaches that are really bad I have to lay down for and wrap my head in a magnetic headband and take some headache meds (which don't do anything most times). Its hard to fall asleep but it feels like the only option left. I remember one time it was so painful felt trapped and screamed in pain. I honestly felt like killing myself. Until the point I didn't understand why someone wanted to take a drill to their head. Now I know why. The pain gets that bad about 3-5 times a month.

When I was younger the said I had cluster headaches. Then they called them something else. Now they call them migraines. When I have them the pain is sometimes behind my eyes or where my temples are. Also I tend to feel pain near the middle/top of my head. I know my headaches are what got me on SSI. The doctor says surgery is always an option, but its a last resort and as long as my headaches are more under control (top some degree) they would rather avoid surgery because it has to many risks.

 

[Tigger45]

Praying for healing from your headaches brother. Lord have mercy.

 

[Stephen J]

I hope you are feeling better by now. Prayed for you anyway =]

 

[morethanenough06]

I used to get frequent migraines, although they weren't really bad. Two things helped for me. One, I'd recommend you add magnesium to your supplements. My headaches basically disappeared once I started on them. Also, drink more water, especially at the onset of your migraine. Hopefully something will work for you!!

 

[CounselorForChrist]

I have noticed now that I've been drinking over a gallon of what a day for my kidney stones I seem to have much less migraines. I'll try the magnesium to and see if that helps.

 

[morethanenough06]

I hope it will! Headaches suck!! Get well!

 

[angelacaldwell]

I'm also a chronic migraine sufferer. I can't make plans, because nine times out of ten, I'll have to cancel. People who have never had migraines will simply never understand how debilitating they can be.

 

[vespasia]

I tend to make a Plan A, plan B and plan C but I also have a few reserves of d through to z.

Mine you I have also looked so ill people have offered to call an ambulence or on one noteable occasion have a bucket and bottle of waterready and waiting off stage 'just in case' I did not make it to the end of the presentation. [well you have to find a way to laugh or else you can end up without any life]

 

[Mary7]

I suffered with severe, SEVERE migraines all my life, even as a child. Some lasted 10 days. It was rare not to have a headache. Just some encouragement.. when I turned 50 they started decreasing to the point that I rarely have one anymore and if I do an aspirin will knock it out.

 

[gerbilwoman]

Have you tried Excedrin? I find it to help better than other over the counter drugs.