Migraine/Neuralgia

[Guest guest]

"Thanks so much. I really do not know whether my headaches are migraine, or neuralgia."

Dear Ling,

There is a huge difference between migraine and neuralgia. I have them both and they are a totally different sensation. From my experience only I can tell you that my form of neuralgia (a-typical facial) feels anywhere between a sharp pain and a hot burning sensation, on my left hand side of my face. Where as migraine causes vision problems, sound problems, nausea, throbbing headaches, pressure headaches, cluster headaches, ice-pick through the eye headaches and muscle weakness. Luckily for me amitriptyline is a drug that works for both conditions. Here are some links for your research.

Neuralgia http://facial-neuralgia.org/conditions/conditions.html

Migraine http://www.migraines.org/

Have you seen a neurologist? You prolly have I just don't remember!!

Love Aisha.

[Guest guest]

Dear Aisha,

There is a huge difference between migraine and neuralgia. I have them both and they are a totally different sensation.

The neurologist said that I have occiptal neuralgia. However, when I talked to my pain doc, he mentioned that it could be migraine, you see. He also that more than one thing could be causing my headaches.

I often have this sharp pain starting from my neck, and is often accompanied by pain in the eyes, causing me to be sometimes afraid of light, and I cannot stand noise too. the pain also leaves an aching pain for the rest of the day, making me feel terrible the whole day. It is painful to the extent that touching the scalp hurts, and I cannot bend my neck too much.

When the pain comes, I also have nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Luckily for me amitriptyline is a drug that works for both conditions.

I am glad they worked for you. I took it before at night, it made me sleep, but when I wake up, the pain is back. The doc has now put me on Imipramine daily and Vioxx when necessary.

Thanks so much for the links, I will look up on them!

Ling

[Guest guest]

Hi Ling,

"The neurologist said that I have occiptal neuralgia."

In which case have you tried any medications that work on nerves such as Tegretol or epilim (epilim is also a migraine med) or clonzaepam? There are heaps more of them but I don't know them off the top of my head. I have a friend who is an ex-neurosurgeon so I could ask him his opinion if you'd like?

"However, when I talked to my pain doc, he mentioned that it could be migraine, you see. He also that more than one thing could be causing my headaches."

Also possible... don't ya hate that!!

"I often have this sharp pain starting from my neck, and is often accompanied by pain in the eyes, causing me to be sometimes afraid of light, and I cannot stand noise too. the pain also leaves an aching pain for the rest of the day, making me feel terrible the whole day. It is painful to the extent that touching the scalp hurts, and I cannot bend my neck too much. When the pain comes, I also have nausea and sometimes vomiting."

That sounds to me like a classic migraine. They are truly horrible. Have you had your allergies done? Foods like eggs or oranges often trigger migraines. Just another random thought. But to me that sounds like a classic migraine. They really are *that* bad.

Hope they find a med that takes the pain away for you. Perhaps a combination of neuro meds and migraine meds would be a good idea. Have you tried metoprolol?

Just let me know if you want me to send on your email to my neurosurgeon friend for his opinion.

Love and hugs,

Aisha.

[Guest guest]

Hi Aisha,

In which case have you tried any medications that work on nerves such as Tegretol or epilim (epilim is also a migraine med) or clonzaepam?

I have tried Tegretol, Synflex, Amitriptyline, Valporate, Codeine, Baclofen, Indomethacin,Propanolol, Neurontin, Ketoprofen, Tramadol,etc, all with not much help. Tegretol helped a little when its dose was increased, but I was giddy and could not get off my bed, that the doc stopped it. The only thing that really helped me was the occipital nerve blocks.

I have a friend who is an ex-neurosurgeon so I could ask him his opinion if you'd like?

I will be glad to hear his opinion! However, is it convenient to? I will like very much to hear a second opinion, but if that is too much trouble, then it is alright, I used to see a neurosurgeon too.

Here is my info... [A long one, hope you can bear with it]

My headaches started when I was about 13, and these are normally stress related. then when I was about 19, in 1997 the headaches started getting worse and more frequent. I started seeing a neurologist. One of the blood tests did was that I was positive for ANA [1-400 nucleolar], so I was referred to a rhemy, but he could not find anything.

Anyway in 1998 the pain was so bad that I went to my neuro in tears, and was admitted, and an MRI was done.The pain was sharp, and often my eyes will hurt, and this is accompanied by nausea. Started to hate bright lights and noise. The scalp neck hurts when pressed. The MRI result showed that I have cervical spondylosis, which the neuro explained to me as a 'slipped disk'. I then saw a neurosurgeon, who said that this spondylosis was very mild, and many people have that without knowing it. It is unlikely to be the cause of my headaches. Went for physiotherapy, which did not help much, and also tried acupuncture, which helped initially, but not much later.

Finally, my neuro recommended me to go for an occiptal nerve block. I went, and really am grateful for it. It stopped the pain for a month. I started to see this pain specialist who did my first nerve block. He had tried many other blocks for me, such as the cervical epidural injection, facet blocks and the sphenopalatine block. The only one that helped me was the occipital block, but now it only stops the pain for about 2 weeks,[i mean pain free]. The facet block helped for only about 2 days.He was also the person who found out that I have diabetes, but my endo said that diabetes should not cause such serious headaches.

The pain specialist said that these headaches may just 'burn themselves out' after a few years. He also did not want to always inject me, like a 'pin cushion', so he is trying out meds again. Presently taking Imipramine daily and Vioxx when nececessary.

So, here's my story...... Sorry for putting you to the 'tourture' of reading my mail!

Hugs, Ling

[Guest guest]

Hi Ling,

I forwarded your entire email (the one with all the stuff you have tried and your history) to my ex-neurosurgeon friend. He will get back to me on it I am sure. I have just asked him for suggestions. He is happy to help so dont worry about convience. He's a sweetie.

" One of the blood tests did was that I was positive for ANA [1-400 nucleolar], so I was referred to a rhemy, but he could not find anything. "

Anyone refer you to an immunologist? Rheumy's are limitied - immunologists tend to know alot more (just an observation.).

If you have abnormalities in your blood tests (Like ANA etc) then perhaps seeing an immunologist may help? Cant hurt, other then the hassel of seeing yet another Dr.

I'll send you the reply from my friend when I get it.

Love and hugs,

Aisha.

[Guest guest]

Hi Aisha,

I forwarded your entire email (the one with all the stuff you have tried and your history) to my ex-neurosurgeon friend.

Thanks so much for your help!! Really touched... You are really a helpful person, I'm glad I got to know you.

Anyone refer you to an immunologist? Rheumy's are limitied - immunologists tend to know alot more (just an observation.).

I think the rheumy I saw also specialises in immunology.

Sorry, I think I forgot to tell you, the recent ANA result I got is now 1/40.

Hugs, Ling

[Guest guest]

I have to admit im a bit embarassed. I dont know alot of the terminology here on the list so please excuse my ignorance of some of the words you guys use. Im sure Ill get it all figured out by the end of the month. hehe.

Melinda

Re: Migraine/Neuralgia

Hi Ling,

I forwarded your entire email (the one with all the stuff you have tried and your history) to my ex-neurosurgeon friend. He will get back to me on it I am sure. I have just asked him for suggestions. He is happy to help so dont worry about convience. He's a sweetie.

" One of the blood tests did was that I was positive for ANA [1-400 nucleolar], so I was referred to a rhemy, but he could not find anything. "

Anyone refer you to an immunologist? Rheumy's are limitied - immunologists tend to know alot more (just an observation.).

If you have abnormalities in your blood tests (Like ANA etc) then perhaps seeing an immunologist may help? Cant hurt, other then the hassel of seeing yet another Dr.

I'll send you the reply from my friend when I get it.

Love and hugs,

Aisha.The Being Sick CommunityChat RoomDaily Chat at # on IRC DALnethttp://www.elderwyn.com/members/chat.htmlMemorial Pagehttp://www.elderwyn.com/members/inlovingmemory.htmlMembers Lounge*FREE counselling via email*Daily Horoscopes*FREE psychic/tarot readings via email*Daily cartoons*Medical Resources and more....http://www.elderwyn.com/members Members Profiles, locations and birthdaysMessage Archivesmessages/Upload your PictureTo subscribe or unsubscribesubscribe/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“Hold on to what is good, even if it's a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it's a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do even, if it's a long way from here. Hold on to your life, even if it's easier to let go. " - Pueblo Prayer