I've got a question that I hope you can help me with. Two years ago, I was in a car accident - I was a passenger in the front seat . We were hit from behind at a high speed and the fellow's head from the back seat collided with mine - also leaving 2 teeth in my head, which weren't removed for over a week. I've got a lot of problems since then with memory loss, and nasty head pain.

     I've been told a lot of different things - but yesterday finally met a neurologist that seemed to understand that there would be a lot of what I am experiencing from the impact and the teeth.

     I also have a history of kidney stones (cystinuria). This dr. prescribed topiramate at a low dosage - Anyway, before filling any prescription, I do check to see what it is about. I have never seen kidney stones mentioned before that I know of - but there it was - and as I researched, I see that when taking this medication, you should increase water intake as it could cause 'calcium' build up kidney stones. My stones (I've had over l800) of them are cystine - but to read this just baffled me. I definitely told the neurologist about my kidneys as I have been prescribed MS Contin for many years for this.

     I am more than frustrated by the headaches - they are horrible - I am also beyond that with my memory, but I am now leery about this medication as I have a genetic disorder as I mentioned (cystinuria) and wonder about increasing my risk of more stones, calcium. I do hope you can answer this.
Very sincerely,
Cathi.

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For the past 3 to 4 weeks I have had extremely sharp pains shoot through the back of my head. The area is on the left side, behind my ear above the neck. It only last a few seconds to a minute. At first it was only every now & then. Now it happens frequently all through the day but has not happened at night. Or at least it has not disturbed my sleep. For the past few days, during the time this occurs, my eye has a "lazy" type of feeling and sometimes tingles. It has made the back area of my head and the left side of my face sore to the touch and it has a burning type of sensation. Not severe, just a warmth. Any help?

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Hi,
I have had migraines all my life. I am 42 and female. during pregnancy they stopped but started back. 2 years ago I started having a daily headache. I have been misdiagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, seen specialists, etc. I have been detoxed and put on Zomig daily but when it wears off the headache comes back... I read that people with transformed migraines never get better, is there any hope? Also, I saw psychiatrist, but they said it was not depression. Of course I am starting to get depressed now.
thanks,
Sandy

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I have had headaches/migraines almost everyday since I was in junior high (I am 23 now). I have routinely switched from one painkiller to another because I become immune to them. Right now, I take Excedrin Migraine or Excedrin Quicktabs and these are the only two that help. I have seen neurologists and they have put me on Fioricet, Bextra, Skelaxin, Lexapro, Maxalt, Prozac and Imitrex, but none of those help. I even went to the ER once because of a migraine that lasted 4 days with intense pain around my eyes. Usually the headaches are in my temples/forehead but when they get bad enough they spread to the back of my neck. I have had a cat scan, an EEG and an MRI and they all came back normal. Migraines and headaches run in my family. My question is: Do you suggest I just keep taking Excedrin everyday or see another neurologist and try another medication?
Thank you,
Nelly

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I am 36-years-old, and I have had migraines since I was 12. My question is, if migraines are swollen blood vessels around your brain, is there a chance they could burst? I have learned about migraines but I guess I never thought to ask this question.
Thanks.

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I have been diagnosed with migraines since I was 19. The first signs of a migraine were the flashing lights. Then as I got older the signs were getting worse. About a year ago while at work my left leg felt like it was asleep but didn't tingle. It felt like it would give way if I walked on it, but it didn’t. I went to the ER and they did a CAT scan, drew blood etc. nothing showed up. The episode with my leg lasted about 45 minutes to an hour then was gone. No headache came after. I was told that it was a prelude to a migraine. Now today my leg acted up again. Have you ever heard of this symptom for migraines before? Thank you for any help you can give me.
Sue

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Dear Dr. Krusz,
I've been getting migraines since I was 5 yrs old. Though they were not diagnosed until my late teens. I've read some information on there being a connection between yeast infections, (systemic), and migraines. I was treated for acute yeast with Nystatin, diet, herbs and even macrobiotics. My headaches never went away, lessened maybe. Now, some 15 yrs later, I have Migraines almost daily, suffer from fibromyalgia, probably chronic myosfacial pain (from several injuries, including a head trauma in 2000), severe depression. So, my question, do you think there is a connection, and do you have any suggestions as to where I might seek help. I have just started taking Topamax, after Depakote which cause severe weight gain. I am a mess. Please help!!!
Thank you
Laurie

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My 7 year old son suffers from severe migraines complete with head banging and vomitus, between one and 2 per month, with an occassional headache thrown in there. The school nurse has called me three times in 4 weeks for this problem. For the past 4 months he has been on Periactin twice daily. I sense it really isn't working. This is being treated by the pediatrician. Should I go to a pediatric neurologist? I have brought it up but never really got an answer from them. The poor kid also has allergies and they can be so severe a headache a nebulizer/inhaler/ or oral medication is needed, and then the migraine comes with it. He has an Allergist too. Singulair was Rx'd after the latest attack, nothing oral due to the periactin being contraindicating with most allergy medicines. Any suggestions or where to go with this once average playful child. Regards, Beth Conlon

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I am a 33-year-old female with basilar artery migraine and common migraine. For approximately the last year and a half, I have been having very uncomfortable burning pain throughout my skin (mostly hands and feet and face) preceding my hormonally-triggered migraines. Sometimes it seems clear to me that this is related to migraine, sometimes the burning seems to come in the absence of any significant headache. Some aspects of the burning skin pain are similar to my migraines, e.g. the prickly burning pain will get better with sleep, and may (and sometimes may not) get better with Midrin use. Often the prickly pain will also seem to exacerbate the acid reflux problem that I already have, but that is usually controlled well with medication. I am on Neurontin and Verapamil for migraine management, and take Midrin and Ultram as needed, which is becoming more and more often since this other aspect to my migraines began. This problem is very discouraging to me, and has become almost a daily thing, especially from the time around the onset of menses to mid-month. The ob/gyn doctor suggested hormone intervention, but per my neurologist, I am not to use estrogen. Progesterone seemed to help the burning pain a bit, but caused a lot of weight gain (6 lbs. in a month) and made fluid retention worse. Could this possibly be related to my BAM problem (which is frequent)? I do know that my BAM attacks can cause perceptual problems, in terms of temperature—where cold water feels hot and vice versa. Also, in a typical BAM attack, I will get pins-and-needles feeling in my hands and feet, but it never used to be this burning pain. Any help would be appreciated. I have a wonderful neurologist, but he's not sure what this could be.
--A.H., Chicago, IL

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