I have had a headache for the last 49 1/2 years that has NRVER quit hurting.I have been to all kinds of Doctors and had all kinds of test run and all they can tell me is that it could be strees. I ask "how can it be stress 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for that many years?" The first Doctor I went to back in 1964 was a neurologist and he told me that there was nothing wrong with my head, that it was something in my system. I would love to know what it is!!! It hurts in my temples, across my forehead, down the back of my neck and when I have one of my real bad headaches, my neck thobs. I know it is my heart beat, but it really, really hurts bad. I sit around holding my hands on each side of my throat. I would love to go to the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic or some special headache clinic and just be their guinia pig. And they would just take whatever my insurance payed.
Do you have any suggestions as to what my problem might be??
Thanks,
Judy
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hello Just wanted to let you know that I have sufford from headaches for the last 4 years so I know your pain my Dr just recently sent me to a headache specialist and though i have been put on a numerouse amount of meds before . She started with simple test like blood work , mri , eeg, and a vision check.... She has found that my vision has changed drastically in the past 2 years and that my vitamin D levels were really low also vitamin b12 was low. Two weeks ago she put me on a womans one a day vitamin , b12 , D , and a b complex.. that being said I have gone from being in bed 4 to 5 days a week with my headaches to 2 days a week so She is on the right path. This may be something you might want to have checked if they didn't do so already It has helped me some .. Hope they get better for you soon
best wishes
March 14, 2013 - 11:38amDeanne
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Hi Judy,
I'm so sorry to hear that you've had to suffer with headaches for almost 50 years. When they're as chronic as you're describing those, they may not even be just headaches anymore, but more like migraines.
Although much about the cause of migraines isn't understood, genetics and environmental factors seem to both play a role.
Migraines may be caused by changes in the brainstem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway. Imbalances in brain chemicals, including serotonin — which helps regulate pain in your nervous system — also may be involved.
Serotonin levels drop during migraine attacks. This may trigger your trigeminal system to release substances called neuropeptides, which travel to your brain's outer covering (meninges). The result is headache pain.
Migraine headache triggers
Whatever the exact mechanism of the headaches, a number of things may trigger them. Common migraine triggers include:
A variety of drugs have been specifically designed to treat migraines. In addition, some drugs commonly used to treat other conditions also may help relieve or prevent migraines. Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad categories:
Choosing a strategy to manage your migraines depends on the frequency and severity of your headaches, the degree of disability your headaches cause, and your other medical conditions.
Some medications aren't recommended if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. Some aren't used for children. Your doctor can help find the right medication for you.
Pain-relieving medications
For best results, take pain-relieving drugs as soon as you experience signs or symptoms of a migraine. It may help if you rest or sleep in a dark room after taking them:
Preventive medications
You may be a candidate for preventive therapy if you have two or more debilitating attacks a month, if pain-relieving medications aren't helping, or if your migraine signs and symptoms include a prolonged aura or numbness and weakness.
Preventive medications can reduce the frequency, severity and length of migraines and may increase the effectiveness of symptom-relieving medicines used during migraine attacks. Your doctor may recommend that you take preventive medications daily, or only when a predictable trigger, such as menstruation, is approaching.
In most cases, preventive medications don't eliminate headaches completely, and some cause serious side effects. If you have had good results from preventive medicine and have been migraine-free for six months to a year, your doctor may recommend tapering off the medication to see if your migraines return without it.
For best results, take these medications as your doctor recommends:
I know this information is long, but it is from the Mayo Clinic and hopefully you will find some of it helpful.
Best.
Rosa
March 3, 2013 - 3:04pmThis Comment