Migraine: Are You On The Rebound?

Rebound! I’m not talking basketball or relationships. I’m talking headaches. I know that the consequences of using analgesics is the possible occurrence of medication overuse headache (MOH), but when one headache lasts for nearly a week, it is very difficult to go that long without taking something for the pain. It is very hard to break the cycle when you have chronic headache and the very medication you need can cause chronic headache.

I went years taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like they were candy. I was on a constant roller coaster from one headache to another, till the pain was too great and I would require a trip to the emergency department. I finally learned and quit taking any over the counter pain medication. This alleviated the rebounds, but didn’t end my pain. Without the addition of rebound headaches it was much easier to pinpoint some of the triggers in my life.

I had to learn the hard way, to mix it up. Mix the different pain management techniques, so that mind and body do not become dependent on just one specific technique. I stir the pot, by using different things at different times. I encourage others to guard against rebound headaches by mixing up their pain management game plan. Basketball metaphor intended.

 

Shot In The Back

Yesterday, I went for the second time to have a cervical epidural. An epidural injection puts an anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space, the space between the dura membrane and the spine and nerve roots. This is done to decrease the inflammation of the nerve roots and decrease pain. Neck pain can travel to the shoulders and arms as well as upward to the head.

The epidural injection may provide a period of pain relief for several months while the injury/cause of pain is healing or even provide permanent relief in some cases.

During an epidural the physician directs a small needle, using x-ray guidance, into epidural space. A small amount of contrast (dye) is injected to insure the needle is properly positioned in the space. Then, a small mixture of numbing medicine (anesthetic) and anti-inflammatory (cortisone/steroid) is injected. These are sent to pre-targeted areas that have been determined by you and the anesthesiologist prior to the procedure.

My first procedure, performed in October 2010, provided relief of my neck and shoulder pain for a little more than eight weeks, it seemed to also decrease my incidents of migraine pain. I had been suffering nearly daily pain before the procedure and that was reduced to a few pain free weeks tapering (? or increasing up to less than three migraines that lasted 1 to 6 hours each). This was still a great time for me up until the start of February.

Does anyone else have experience with this type of injections? I would be interested in how well they performed for you.

The video below illustrates how the approximately 30 minute procedure is done. If you don't mind seeing the real thing with real needles check out the link below.



Other Youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW4KEunLfuU

 

Just Call Me Droopy

I'm once again, sitting at the keyboard, while doing one of my best Quasimodo impersonations or even the famous Droopy created by Tex Avery in 1943 (NO, I'm not that old).
Left eye swollen shut and shunning the light.  Left side of my face drooping further than that dog droopy in the old cartoons. Right side of my body, arm and leg feel week and don't do exactly what the brain orders.

If you can imagine asking me, "How are you", then you would get the patented "Droopy" voice (If you want to see and hear the Droopy of old, click here). I'm trying to keep on going, but sooner or later, I'm gonna crash. It's been four days straight with no let up. So, I called the doctor this morning and I'm waiting for my 11:30 a.m. appointment, so that I can get a shot of demerol. That will knock me out for another day or two, and hopefully I'll have kicked the migraine by the time I wake.  I'll see you in a few days.

-- Andy

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Migraine: The Use of Botox

Dr. Silberstein is currently my Neurologist. I have been traveling, once or twice a month, from southwest Virginia to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia to see him. I asked him early on about the botox trial, and was told that my migraines were too complicated for that treatment to be used on me.

I guess I have always been complicated. I have had a rhinoplasti, oral surgery, and a crainiotomy in attempts to overcome my migraines. All to no avail. I sometimes get depressed when I see an article or video about a trial that is being conducted in which people are having success, at not only managing their migraines, but eliminating them altogether. I am truly happy for those finding relief, but I struggle with the jealousy in my heart, that they can return to a normal life, and I am still stuck in this nightmare.

I pray each day that not only will God heal me, or help the doctors find a cure, but also to remove the jealousy from my heart. I have confidence that one day I will be totally without pain or the threat of it. But, I know that this may not happen while I live in this body.

--Andy

Migraine: Hit Me With Your Best Shot!

I was thinking of naming this post “Stick me with you best shot”, but I decided to “stick” with the original Pat Benatar song title. I am sitting in my hospital room, suddenly asking myself “What is it you wanted to say”? I have a “point”, but I’m not sure how I want to make it. So, I’ll just fire away...

I wanted to travel a different path than what normal or abnormal, I don’t know, would think about the use of the word “shot”. I like the context of the lyrics of this song, even though it has anti-love overtones. I like to look at another way. For me this 1980’s hit is in the same stratus sphere with the Theme From Rocky.

I recognize that my opponent is tough, and there may be billion reasons why I shouldn’t or couldn’t win the fight. But I put myself out there and see what happens. I may not have won the first 27 rounds (the number of years that I have been plagued by migraines), but I am not going to give up. I am taking the fight to the enemy. I just spent six and a half days in the headache ward at Jefferson University Methodist Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.

I live in Southwest Virginia, and there just aren’t any really migraine knowledgeable medical practitioners any where near me. No offense to anyone I may have overlooked. Over the years, I have been to Duke University, UVA Medical Center, The Medical College of Virginia, and all without resolution. I took a bold step and reached out to Dr. Silberstein, with JU, as he either is or was the president of the American Headache Association. After a few months of out-patient care, we jointly decided to give in-patient care whirl.

I returned (not quite home, as I am staying with very good friends just north of Baltimore) yesterday, having been without that Gorilla sitting on my back for almost 3 days. To me, this is near the miraculous, since I haven’t had three good days with no pain in almost a year. Much less three in a row!

I have hope today, that I haven’t had in a really long time. I’m not blind to the possibility of having a headache any moment, but I not living in fear of that moment. I know that I am strong enough to take the blows and to continue to come out swinging. Well, I’m a real tough cookie myself.

...You come on with a come on, you dont fight fair
But thats o.k., see if I care!
Knock me down, its all in vain
Ill get right back on my feet again!

Come on hit me with your best shot!

P.S. I will spend some more time real soon, documenting my treatment at the hospital. I want to give a shout out to all the Doctors, patients, and especially the men and women nurses and assistants working the floor. I really appreciate the care you gave to me.