I am a 46 year old man. I never had a migraine headache until 45 days after slipping on a wet floor causing a soft tissue injury in the L4 - L5 area 8 years ago.
     The back injury causes the muscles on the right side of my spine to tighten. When the area is irritated enough the muscles cramp. The muscle tightness runs up the spine through the neck. Then the muscles in the middle of the right side of my face cramp to the point of feeling like a bad toothache. Then the migraine begins. This takes from 2 minutes to 30 minutes, usually just a few minutes.
     Only 2 treatments help. One is to massage the injured area of the back with a special massager, sonoid. The muscle along the spine knots up. Massaging the muscle knot will slow down the increase of pain and up to half the time the headache will go away as the muscle relaxes. The rest of the time only Imitrex shots help, usually in 5 to 10 minutes. When auras are present they start when the back muscles start to cramp. I have had several thousand migraines in the last eight years and the all start the same. They leave in just the reverse, headache goes, then the facial cramping, then the neck muscles relaxes and then the knots in the lower back goes away. I have seen many doctors for this; they say this is caused be a little scar tissue wrapped around the nerves coming from my spine.
The first 4 years of being hurt the headaches started when ever I walked for more than 100 feet, sat up for longer than a few minutes or when a low pressure system was getting close.
     The last 4 years my back has been better due to several treatments, massager, special recliner, a good chiropractor, using a inversion table several times a day, ice packs and moving to Florida...higher air pressure. Now I go through a cycle working till my back is worn down and irritated. Then the headaches start, up to 5 a day, when I try to sit up or walk. After being off work for several weeks the back irritation settles down and the number of headaches decline, then go away. Then I can walk, sit up, drive a car again, most daily activities. Last year I was off for 5 months, the first 6 weeks headaches all the time. The last 5 months I worked on getting back in shape, I was walking 2 miles 4 times a week, could swim etc. I had no headaches no matter what I did.
     I went back to work in the fall. It was the same as the other 6 times I went through this cycle. At first no major back pain and no headaches. After 2 months the back wore down causing a lot of pain and numbness in the legs/feet. When it got to the point where I had trouble walking from the car into work (desk job) the headaches came back. Now I am back to laying down 99% of the time. None of the 50 to 60 different kinds of doctors have a clue what is going on or what to do about it. Except to keep me in stock with Imitrex shots, I take 2 a day every day until the headaches go away again.
     Have you ever heard of anything like this? If so, what type of treatment is beneficial?
     As you can imagine the pain and helplessness is driving me crazy.
Steve

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I have a lot of headaches, but I worry a lot and under a lot of stress. Now I have headaches in one area mostly and for some reason have thinning hair in the same area. My family has a history of migraines and stress can cause thinning hair, but I am worried it’s a brain tumor. I get nausea and that’s about it besides the headache. Can headaches cause thinning hair as well as hair to fall out in one area only?

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I have had migraines since I was a teenager, I am now 50. Last month I started having an unusually high number of migraines (around 20 in March). I also started having seizure like symptoms. The periods and type of disassociation have changed 3 times I am now having vision problems in my right eye, some muscle weakness on the right side (headaches are almost always on the left), balance problems, nausea, and extreme fatigue as well. I am scheduled for an EEG and MRI in the next couple of weeks. I had a CAT scan this week that was normal. The neurologist has indicated all of this may be from migraines. Have you had other instances of migraines causing these types of symptoms. The headaches are not as frequent now (1 a week). Would appreciate any info, I am not sure what is going on with my body right now.

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Can you tell me why, I get a headache around my eyes when it is rainy or windy, mostly rain, also when my sinuses are bothering me its usually only one on the left side of my head, and I usually get congested on that one side. Thank you.

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I wake up with Migraines at least three times a week during the Spring-Fall months. My doctor has put me on Elavil which helps but after awhile, they seem to start again, and they only option he gives me is to increase the Elavil. I presently take 75 mg. I take Zomig when they begin no more than three times a week, so I don't think I'm rebounding. What is your opinion?
Lynn

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Symptoms: headache, dizzy, left side of face tingles and pain in left ear, and face feels hot I have had these symptoms on and off for about 5 months.

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Hi, what do you think about Migrelief for migraines. It has feverfew, magnesium and B2?
Thank you, Ruth

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I suffer from Fibromyalgia as well as severe Migraines. After running the gauntlet of remedies the Dr. put me on OxyContin 20mg. twice a day with a Percocet 5 to use when the pain is unbearable. My sister claims that the narcotics will destroy my internal organs. Is this true?? I have asked two other Dr's about this and been told NO! I was also very worried about addiction, but they said as long as I took them for the Chronic ongoing pain of Fibro. and Migraines and did NOT abuse them I would NOT become an addict! I use them ONLY when I am completely around the bend in pain and not able to function in a reasonably normal fashion. They have made my life worth living again, BUT I don't want to destroy my organs either. I have tried ALL of the new Meds. and have suffered a lot of allergic reactions to them. These two pills are the ONLY ones I have been able to tolerate. WHAT should I do??? Thanks for your help.

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Dear Sir,
     I used to suffer from vertigo from the age of three. I would wake up in the early hours of the morning and see the whole room spinning. These headaches used to happen very frequently; nearly every week but only when I was in bed sleeping. I am now 29 years of age and haven’t had a dizzy spell since 4 – 5 years ago. However, whenever I tie my hair back, even if it is loose, I feel a bad headache coming on and a bit dizzy as well. When I was younger this would never happen when I tied my hair back. Furthermore, I used to dance from the age of 4 until 13 and when I did my turns in ballet I never felt dizzy; now I do.
     What can be the cause of my headaches when I put my hair up? I am getting married this September and I want to have my hair done up. But what if I have a headache because of it?
     Please let me know what I should do.
Thank you and kind regards,
Litsa

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     I read about an individualized metabolic program close to my home. Some of the tests they perform include: state of immune system, vitamin & mineral deficiencies, liver stress, anemic blood conditions, toxic conditions, free radical oxidation, digestive weakness, hormone imbalance, and Candida conditions. Detoxification, catabolic diet and pH balancing are also part of the program.
     What is your opinion regarding individualized care, and do you think it will ever become the norm - replacing today's methods that Band-Aid the pain, and often times create more problems?

Thank you Dr. Krusz for offering your services to our site.
Jasmine

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How much can sinuses and migraines be linked? It seems like every time the weather warms up and my sinuses act up, so do my migraines although I also linked my sinus surgery to my migraines because I didn't start getting migraines until after I had my first sinus surgery and after that nothing helps them
Melissa

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I have tried, truthfully, all the migraine prescription and over the counter meds. Midrin helps some. My migraine history began after a bout of viral meningitis. I have been seeing a Neuro specialist for 5 years, and he is very current with all the migraine findings. I am now trying CoQ10, 100mg, 2x/day. What studies/information/results have you found using this? I think it is beginning to lessen the migraines, (averaging one a week, running anywhere from 1 -5 days).

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I have had headaches in the back of my head everyday for about 2.5 weeks now. They don’t go away with Advil, Tylenol, or aspirin. But stopped taking them after about a week. What do you think cause the headaches in the back of the head?

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I have suffered from Migraines for about 15 yrs now, however, in the last month or more I have had about 7 episodes where I have part vision loss and then the really bad pain hits. I have had a MRI done in the last week and half which came back normal. What could this be? I have had my eyes checked, and nothing there either. I have been in a lot of pain everyday for a month now and its really getting me concerned. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank You
Terri

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Dear Dr. Krusz,
Over the last week I have experienced some very sharp pains in my head which last for a minute or two and then become a dull pain for around an hour. These pains came after strenuous exercise. I used to get these pains occasionally when I was in my late teens, however at 31 now have not had them for 10 years or so.
Any ideas?
Thanks and best wishes
Dean

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I am a 48-year-old female and have had migraines for many years, which would respond to Amerge and/or Fiorinal C1/2. A little over a year ago my migraines became much worse in frequency and intensity, at the time I was being taken off Celexa for anxiety. Can coming off an SSRI trigger or contribute to migraines becoming worse in both intensity and frequency? Thanking you in advance.
Gezele

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Dear Doctor,
I have been having headaches for several years now. I am now 34 and a wife and mother of one. I get them at all different times and sometimes more severe than other times. I have been told they are probably tension type headaches but I do not know? I, like your other letters, have no energy and feel tired all the time. I sometimes go to be with a terrible headache or will wake up with one or develop one after a few hours. I cannot take it so I usually take 2 Advil just to function during the day. I have told my doctor but he does not seem to take my complaints seriously. What do you think it is? What should I do to get some help with this? I am so tired of having these headaches....I can't deal with it. I usually have to go lay down, however they are not as bad as a migraine....
Thank you , Amber

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Dr Krusz,
     Where can I look up results or more info on Botox injections for migraines?
     I would also like to know how involved the medical community is in helping to see that Botox is approved by FDA for migraine use.
     I have had Botox injections which each time have to be approved by my insurance company first before I can go ahead with the injection. This is a real hassle. The Botox has helped me a great deal although the affect seems to wear off in two months.
     I just wish the medical community trusted its patients more.

Thank you,
Marlene

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After 30 years, no answer or results yet! Hope you can provide comprehensive answer:

Please delineate and list all methods to stop rebounding migraines and transformed migraines. Once this is accomplished, or beforehand, what preventive medicines are there and, after initiating preventive RX therapy, which abortives are best in a regimen to prevent more rebounding?

I sincerely hope you can help!
Gratefully,
Alan R. Sharett

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