Question: Headaches becoming more severe last 10 years. How to find help?
Answer:
Full Question:
I started experiencing severe headaches on the
left side at approximately 15 to 18 years of age. I would get the headache once
or twice a year and in my 20's they increased to 4-6 times a year. I am now 43
and for the last 10 years they have become increasing more severe and I now have
them 2 to 4 times every month.
The headaches usually starts at night and are always very deep in the left side
of my head. It literally feels like I have a hatchet planted in the left side
and the pain goes down under my left jaw and down the left side of my neck. I
almost always have nausea and often dry heaves that last for hours and I also
get numbness and tingling on the left side of my head. The headaches usually
last 12 to 20 hours and I have a very dull bruised feeling on the left side for
another 24 to 48 hours.
My doctor has prescribed many medications to try to prevent them and nothing has
worked. I have been to the Emergency Room often with them but even the strongest
pain medication will not relieve the pain during the migraine. I have had
Percodan, Morphine and Dilaudid with no relief. Phenergan will help the nausea
and help me sleep through them.
They are becoming debilitating and I am at a loss of where to find help. My
doctor has tried Topamax and a beta blocker with no success and Imitrex or other
medication of that type do nothing once the headache has begun.
Any suggestion of how I might go about finding someone who may possibly be able
to help me? Tammy.
Answer:
Dear Tammy;
It's time to get yourself to an actual headache and Migraine specialist. There's a link below to our directory of recommended specialists.
As far as preventives are concerned, you've barely scratched the surface. Take a look...
Medications for Headache and Migraine Prevention
For those of us with frequent headaches or Migraine attacks, preventive
medications, dietary supplements, and even medical devices are often a good
option. There are over 100 medications that can be used and nearly endless
combinations of them. The list is ever-evolving, and will this one will be
updated regularly.
Good luck,
Teri Robert and John Claude Krusz
____________
To visit our directory of recommended specialists and clinics, click
HERE.
To visit our forums for an exchange of information and support, click HERE.
Published March 6, 2006
