Question: Wife's Migraines... shot in the back spinal area?
Answer:
Full Question:
My wife has suffered with severe migraines
every day for the last year and before that every month for most of her adult
life. She is now on 50 milligrams of oxycodone, 125 milligrams Topamax, 40
milligrams Prozac, 50 milligrams Indocin, Frova as needed, Maxalt as needed,
aspirin, Keppra 5 cc's 3 times a day, multivitamins and more I can't remember.
This is every day. An anesthesiologist in her doctors office wants to give her a
shot in the back spinal area to relieve the pain and swelling in the muscles
which he says will help the migraines at least 70%. He says he has had this done
to himself. Have you heard of this treatment? The migraines are really affecting
her quality of life and is considering this treatment. Signed Pain in Phoenix.
Answer:
Dear Pain in Phoenix;
Sometimes, injections at the base of the neck (occipital nerve blocks) can help a headache pattern but this sounds like reaching for straws in this situation. I'd seek the advice of your local headache expert; I see at least 6 listed in the American Headache Society rolls in the Phoenix area. BTW, the doses of Topamax and Keppra might be low. I had the first data with Keppra for refractory headaches and Migraines and the dose was considerably higher.
Good luck,
Teri Robert and John Claude Krusz
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Published February 20, 2006
