Hi,
I've had daily headaches for at least 10 years. They are always on the left side - involving my temple and eye. Occassionally one of the preventative meds worked so I didn't have a headache every single day. Unfortunately the meds didn't consistently work for long periods of time. I've been on so many it's hard to remember. Currently I'm on tizanidine, also known as Zanaflex, to help the daily barrage. I'm on Lasix and Klor-Con, too. My rescue med is Vicodin - 1/2 pill when needed. Pseudotumor cerebri was suspected but lumbar punctures have been performed with basically normal results. Does anyone else have similar daily headache issues?

There are tons of drugs used for migraine prevention. Some of the ones I know off hand are Nortriptyline, Elavil, Propanolol, nadolol, atenolol, timolol, and metoprolol, Neurotin
diltiazem and nifedipine. doxepin, and imipramine. You mention having tried many drugs but again check this list as it is quite a few to try. A new one I didn't know about is using verapamil ER which is what my husband is trying right now. Have they considered trying migraine relief meds like midrin for when you get a really bad headache? Also have you had your dentist check your jaw to be sure it is not misaliagned? One poster a couple messages down found this out after checking with his dentist as a last resort and is now scheduled for surgery to correct this.

Thanks for the info --
I have had a check of my jaw with no negative results. I've had intensive eye exams, lumbar punctures, MRIs and CT scans. Still no luck finding out what's causing these horrid daily headaches. I've been on tons of meds - including those that you mentioned. Also have tried nardil, depakote, verapamil, neurontin...depakote worked for the longest amt of time but stopped being effective. Nardil helped me lose weight due to the long list of restrictions.

Jo

Do you notice any nasal stuffyness or drainage durring your headache? Do you find it impossible to lay down durring your headache? Do you get wakened out of your sleep the majority of the time with your ha? Do your headaches occurr at the same time everyday? I suffer from what you were describing plus most of the above mentioned symptoms and I suffer from cluster headaches. Was just wondering if maybe that could be your problem. I know that at first I followed up with a lot of eye specialists because I thought since there was so much pain in my eye that it had something to do with it. It was latter that I found out that my eye was just one symptom of many. I hope you are feeling better soon.

My daily headache started with a car accident 20 years ago and just compounded with other traumatic events in life.
With the exception of a few magical weeks this summer my headaches have been pretty constant.
I had a hysterectomy in April.
I was given a combo of Elavil and Prozac at the lowest dosage made to help control my hot flashes and electric pelvic pain from the surgery.
The headaches went away for a few months. Allergies were almost non existent.
I handled head pain when the rains rolled in w/ 1 benedryl and 2 regular asprin.
It was wonderful
However, the pain came back full force in October when I had a whole left side body spasm.
I am finally going to see a neurologist and a Physical medicine Doctor as soon as the referals arrive in the mail.
Speculation has been, Cervical spine compression from the accident and other later injuries.
Calcification on the cervical vertebre.
Hormones.
Neurological damage.
My colon being stuck to my pelvic wall w/ adhesions.
A spastic colon.
My High Blood Pressure.
My low Blood sugar.
A transformed Migraine.
the list goes on.
so I think at this point they are all guessin'
Kat

Hi, I have also had horrible headaches daily, for years.I have been on lots of different meds. The one I seem to have the best results from is called Veralen PM. The dosage had to be changed a couple of times, but now I take 300milligrams every night and as long as I remember to take it every night I don't have a headache, except the occasional low grade migraine will slip through. On the whole though this med has greatly increased my quality of life! Hope this helps

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My reasons for wanting to be healthier are simple: Jacob,6 Matthew,2 and Katie,1

[This message has been edited by Dawn Ochoa (edited 02-22-2003).]

Your headaches being around the eyes and temples are where your Liver Meridian runs. You sound as if your headaches are being caused by what is known as Liver Qi Stagnation. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi around the body and when this becomes stagnant you can get pain at points around your body.

I would advise you to have some acupuncture treatment. This can help with getting the Qi moving and by moving the Qi it can help the headaches.

Hi Sarah - I have constant daily headache (likely from TMJ disorder) for over 15 years now. I have tried everything under the sun and nothing ever works for even a little while. My worst pain is in temples, behind/around eyes, jaw and forehead. Every test has been negative - CAT scans, MRI's, Sinus x-rays, spinal taps, cervical x-rays etc. etc. I have tried many, many different meds, seen chiropractor, cranial osteopath, many neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, neuro-otologists, ENTs, dentists/TMJ specialists, many bite splints, etc. etc.

The consensus is TMJ disorder, since everything began right after my 4 wisdom teeth were removed, and besides the headache and jaw pain, my ears always feel "full" or pressured or clogged (however, ENTs say they look fine).

I have tried a little of the NAET treatment once, but didn't really like where that was going - didn't help at all. I would be interested in trying some accupuncture however. Something that would at least help the pain behind/around my eyes and in the temples. How do I find a GOOD accupuncturist? And, what kind am I looking for? This daily head pain is really tiring me out and is VERY depressing.

Thanks,
mbr (p.s. - I quit taking painkillers years ago because I used to eat them like candy, they didn't really even help, and I didn't want to get rebound headaches).

Originally posted by Sarah68:
Your headaches being around the eyes and temples are where your Liver Meridian runs. You sound as if your headaches are being caused by what is known as Liver Qi Stagnation. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi around the body and when this becomes stagnant you can get pain at points around your body.

I would advise you to have some acupuncture treatment. This can help with getting the Qi moving and by moving the Qi it can help the headaches.

Basically, you are looking for someone who practices Traditional acupuncture, that is in conjunction with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

You can look them up under acupuncturists in the phone book, or alternatively look for an ND in your area. They practice acupuncture and a range of other alternative therapies such as homeopathy and herbal medicine. Make sure that they are licenced to practice in their State.

Acupuncture does not help everyone, but you certainly have nothing to lose by trying and even if it does not help your pain, it should help you to feel more relaxed and better in yourself generally.

Hope this helps and good luck?

Thanks Sarah - my neurologist is giving me botox injections in March, never tried botox before. If that doesn't help anything, I think I'll try the accupuncture (in April) you suggested.

The accupuncture you speak of is with the thin needles, correct?

Thanks again,
mbr

Yes, it is very fine needles that are used for acupuncture and they do not hurt, but you will fell a dull aching sensation as the needles grasp the Qi.

Just one word of warning though. Be very careful with the Botox injections. They work by causing paralysis in the surrounding area of the infection and you are being injected with a lethal toxin called botulinum, which kills by causing paralysis of your whole system - nervous system. I don't mean to scare you, but docs may forget to tell you this, just so that you can go into it with your eyes open before deciding to be injected with something that is lethal. Also, if it is successful, you will have to have more injections every six months, as they don't last.

Good luck anyway.

Karla - Thanks for the info...my headaches do wake me up sometimes. It doesn't hurt to lay down either, it actually helps.

MY NEURO HAS RECENTLY STARTED DOING THE BOTOX INJECTIONS FOR MIGRAINE/HEADACHES. IT HAS NOT BEEN SUGGESTED FOR ME BUT SOUNDS SCARY. ACUPUNCTURE HAS BEEN ON MY MIND AND I MAY TRY IT. ANYTHING TO HELP THESE HEADACHES. IT IS DEPRESSING AND TRYING ALL KINDS OF MEDS IS A DRAG. DO YOU FEEL LIKE A GUINEA PIG FOR THE DOCS, TOO? I WONDER IF MY NAME WILL SHOW UP IN THE MEDICAL JOURNALS SOMEWHERE-- THE NEWEST MED IS DOPEXIN - HAVE YOU HEARD OF IT OR TRIED IT?
THANKS FOR ANY INFO

Accupuncture was never right for my headaches or my hypertension. In fact, I almost stroked out on an OR table because Accupuncture masked my symptoms and the Anesthesiologist didn't have HBP meds to put into my I.V. bag.
I've had much better success combining body work,reflexology, essential oil therapy with hot or cold therapy and chiropractic, with the chriopractic coming after a few sessions of intensive body work and then back to the body work after the chiropractic.
Alternating one modality with the other as progress is made has helped tremendously.
My endocrinologist is hoping that I might be able to get the injections for degenerating disks in the cervical spine.
I don't know much about that process but the little I do know is that the injections reinflate(? lack of a better descriptive)the spaces that have compressed and are causing for the vertebrae to touch.
Since I landed on my head in a car accident it's a high probablility that my discs are degrading.
When trying to figure out which modality would be best for a headache or any other ailment it's best to try and trouble shoot the root and then apply the mechanics of body structure to finding a remedy to the problem.
I've had Accupuncture by people trained in the far east. One person was a Shinto Priest from Japan another was a former Doctor in the Red Chinese Army and another was a Medical Doctor trained in Korea and who was also a Martial Arts practitioner.
So it was most certainly not lack of skill.
It just was not the right modality for the problem.
You should know after one or two sessions if the process would be right for your individual problem.
Kat

Posted>>>The consensus is TMJ disorder, since everything began right after my 4 wisdom teeth were removed, and besides the headache and jaw pain, my ears always feel "full" or pressured or clogged (however, ENTs say they look fine).<<<<<<

That's interesting. I had Emergency Surgery in April
and a throat tube had to be used for the surgery.
my whole jaw, neck and throat hurt for days later.
I lost my voice too.
Several months later, in October, I had a full side body spasm that pushed my jaw out of place and it's been an issue ever since.
I think things like surgical positioning can compromise the body and throw it out of balance thereby setting up the foundation for manifest problems caused by misalignment of the musculature.
I don't think the bones are always the root but they could be.
Muscles are some strong stuff.
When they get torqued the injury to the muscle can take a long time to heal.
Micro tears in the muscle fiber often can't be seen by imaging tests and those also can cause a fair bit of grief by making the muscle weak and weak muscle seeks to compensate.
kat

One more thought.....

Posted>>>There are tons of drugs used for migraine prevention. Some of the ones I know off hand are Nortriptyline, Elavil, Propanolol, nadolol, atenolol, timolol, and metoprolol, Neurotin
diltiazem and nifedipine. doxepin, and imipramine. You mention having tried many drugs but again check this list as it is quite a few to try<<<<<<

I'd also consider the Migrain thought here.
Have you tired any of the Triptans?
The whole thing about Migraines is that they remain relatively misunderstood.
It is a thought that people who suffer migrains have a different kind of brain chemistry than people who do not have migraines.
However, that does not explain the huge number of people who develop migraines after traumatic injury especially whiplash.
kat

Sarah - thanks again for the info. My neurologist is very conservative, and has done a lot of botox injections, so I feel comfortable with her treatment. I think I'll at least for now see if I can find a accupuncturist in the Detroit area, hopefully by referral, for potential future treatment.

Kat - I have heard of many people who developed TMJ disorder after being intubated from surgery. You may want to check out the TMJ board on this forum.

Take care,
mbr

Hey Mojojo. I've had what they call chronic daily headaches since approx. 1988. I've gone through a ton on meds and neurologists-none of which helped! They put me on Prozac years ago because they learned in some cases it helps headache sufferers--well, I tried to go off it and couldnt-everytime I tried I got real dizzy, so needless to say I'm still on an antidepressant, but now its Effexsor. But anyway last year after giving up with neurologists I'm seeing my general practitioner who is a lifesaver and put me on tizanadine also! Isn't it wonderful! I only get an occasional headache now instead of daily! Good luck with your headaches, I know they can be miserable!

MOJO, I had the botox injections in Nov. They last for 3-4 months and I am due to have them again. They take 20 tiny needles and inject them around the hairline and a couple in the hair. It doesn't hurt at all. Expecially when you compare it to the pain of the headache. The dr. told me it can take around 6 weeks to feel the results from the botox and even said I might not feel any benefits the first time around because my body might need to build up the toxins.
Did you mean Doxipin? I have heard of that. I have heard mixed results about it. But with so many meds they effect us all differently so It is hard to say. It is one I havent' tried but would recomend trying it. I haven't heard anything about bad side effects or anything. Good luck with trying your knew ideas.

LORVETTE,
THANKS FOR THE INFO...I WAS ON EFFEXOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND IT DID HELP ME. UNFORTUNATELY IT BECAME INEFFECT SO HAVE BEEN ON MULTIPLE OTHERS SINCE. THE DOXEPIN SEEMS TO BE WORKING - STILL HAVE A MINOR HEADACHE BUT NOTHING LIKE THEY WERE. TIZANIDINE ALSO HELPED ME FOR A FEW MONTHS -- IT WAS MIRACULOUS TO HAVE NO HEADACHE FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS! I HOPE IT WORKS OUT FOR YOU.

KARLA,
I HOPE THE BOTOX WORKS FOR YOU. PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED, OK? I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW IT AFFECTS YOU. I'M GLAD THE NEEDLES DON'T HURT ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE 6 OR MORE OF THEM! THANKS.

MOJOJO,

I have 2 suggestions for drugs to try...they both worked beautifully for my "cluster" headaches and my sisters classic daily migraines (we both inherited from mom who had daily headaches from puberty til menopause).
First (and least "side-effecty"): any ergot compound (ergotamine, ergonavine)...Don't consider this class of drugs if you want to conceive, it's also a fairly potent abortofacient.

Second...the Mack truck of migraine fighters, SANSERT (methysergide), but MANY side effects, some serious like lung fibrosis (must test semi-annually)

Both can make you feel a bit spacey...like mescaline (extra-pyramidal symptoms) but ergot not very much so...SANSERTS will put you in a world of your own [ http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif]

I tried the beta-blocker (propranolol, nadolol)...they are a JOKE.

[This message has been edited by zip2play (edited 02-27-2003).]

Hi - I have had a migraine everyday, without a break, for almost 8 years. I was diagnosed bi-polar the summer before my junior year in college and put on Lithium. The pain started the following fall. I can't suggest any miracle drug to you, for my meds only lessen the pain to bearable. But, I can recommend a clinic, and I guess I have been since my boyfriend introduced me to this site. Once a year I travel to Chicago to visit Dr. Merle Diamond (female) at the Diamond Headache Clinic. The first couple years my mom had to wheel me off the plane, but this year I am going by myself, at age 27. This place is known as the best migraine clinic in the country. Good luck!

Okay, here's the scoop so far from the neurologist.
I was switched from my triptan medication to Imitrex(another kind of triptan) which comes in 3 delivery systems to the body.
When the first stages of my migraine appear I am to take the injection form. If the migraine does not do enough of a change an hour and a half later I take the tablet. And if there is still an edge going on I then use the nasal spray.
So far that cuts the migraines the best. It might take a couple of days to really work so I am also given some other meds that work well with the triptans to ease out of the cycle.
I began the cycle, took the triple doses and additional meds and it took three days to climb out of the cycle. I then had to wait at least 3 days to do another dose and I was restricted from everything not Neurologist approved includig ASPRIN! I took another round of the triptans at the specified time period. The second time worked better and I did the same restriction for the specified number of days. I have now taken a third round of the 3 dosings and finally the lingering fog of the migraine is starting to clear.
I had not really considered the foggyness as troublesome as it was until the layers of pain began to lift.
My Neurologist feels that I have a combination of things going one.
First, the migraine.
Second, rebound headaches that can be caused even with Asprin. Chronic every day headaches are usually either cluster headaches or rebound headaches.
They can also be cause by terrible structural problems making pressure on the nerve.
Apparently with migraines using OTC medications do more to make trouble by feeding the rebound.
With Migraines, you need very very specific medications and a timed schedule so you do not confuse your pain situation with rebounds.
I would think the same goes for herbs too because there are many herbs in the pain relieveing category that do leave a residual effect.
Because Migraines are actually a genetic brain dysfunction it would be the neurologist who mught have the best answers for treatment.
However, like anything else, there are good Neurologists and not so good Neurologists and we as patients need to be aware of the good and not so good and make changes with Doctors if need be.
I also have injuries that have collected over the years and compromised my body greatly.
I will go to see the Doctor of Physical Medicine next week to see about strengthening my support structure and addressing other issues that the Neurologist might not cover.
So that's what i've learned so far.
kat