Dr. Krusz is a recognized expert in the fields of
headache and Migraine treatment and pain treatment
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Hi! My name is Donna. In March 2001, a steel cellar door slammed down on my head (resulting from a hinge giving way). I suffered neck injury and laceration to the middle of my scalp. I have had severe headaches 80% of the time since this. I have been on Fioricet, Elavil, and other medicines I can't even recall. My doctor always wanted to give me anti-depressants. I take Ativan, or Xanax at night to help me sleep. A lot of times I go to bed with headache and wake up with one. My doctor has been giving me Ultracet since October 2002. This has seemed to help me more than other meds, but I have to go off them every now and then because my body gets used to them. However, I have been going to traction and therapy sessions since January. They don't seem to help much. I see a pain management specialist once a month. She has given me 4 steroid injections since March. The first injection helped, which was given in the location of C4-5 (I have bulging discs in neck from accident). This did help, but only for about 10 days. It was a short relief. In April, she gave me 3 injections, which did not help at all...unless, of course, my headaches would actually been more excruciating then they already were. Now, May, I am taking Demerol 100mg 2 times daily. I have done this 2 weeks. I haven't had any pain meds for 4 days now. Demerol doesn't help much at all. She told me to lay of Ultracet, but I find this better for me out of all without being doped up. Is it possible that my bulging discs are getting worse? I have not had an MRI since January 2002. Should I get another? She had prescribed Axert, which I did not get filled. I have slightly high BP (on Atenolol) and was worried about the warnings of this drug. Do I actually have a migraine from this accident? What other options do I have to control this headache? Is there a stronger med that would work for horrible headaches? A lot of times I must lay down all day, as it gets go unbearable. I don't think my doc's know what to do about me! I need help! Thank you for your time.

REPLY:

Dear Donna:
You have a complicated clinical picture but the bottom line as I see it is that you most likely sustained a traumatic brain injury when you got hit on the head. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that you get turned around, get confused, forget things, get dizzy, noises bother you, you have memory difficulties and many more features. Don't know what state you live in, but getting to a brain injury specialist would be most helpful. Unfortunately, most headache specialists don't also specialize in this area. Headaches are the #1 post-concussional symptoms and often behave like migraines, and are treatable as such. Axert may be a good option. Ultracet seems much better for you and I would ask for an older version called tramadol (Ultram) which doesn't contain Tylenol. Sleep has to be made better or nothing will move forward. Good luck
John Claude Krusz

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