daily headaches

[MOJOJO]

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?

[mlgable]

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.

[MOJOJO]

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

[Karla]

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.

[kat721]

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