I think I have migraines?

Question

I've had a severe headache for almost two days now. I've had headaches before, but they usually don't last this long and I try to ignore it. But every sound I hear just makes me wanna curl up in a ball and die. I've been reading on the internet about medicines you can get, and I think I'm going to go to the doctor in a week or so. But the problem is, my friend has migraines and she has Hydrocodone for them. She says they work great but they probably won't give them to me because people get dependent. How can I convince my doctor to give me those instead of the other stuff? I don't wanna beat around the bush with this, I can't take this anymore.

Also, please don't give me a line about how I should try the other stuff first, that's not going to help me. I've taken Tylenol, aspirin, etc., and nothing seems to work.

Answer 1

I have had migraines for many years and I also specialize in headache management for that reason. Here is what I will tell you...

Headaches are complex problems and there is no easy solution. It is best to find out the source/cause of your recurrent or chronic headaches.

I can see you are resistent to hearing about the routine management of headaches, however, the easy things normally work for the bulk of people Paracetamol/Acetaminophen/Tylenol or aspirin (I prefer Excedrin personally) go to a darkened quiet room and lie down. Avoid bright lights and prolonged computer use. I will tell you that in the Excedrin Migraine there is 250 mg of Aspirin, 250 mg of Tylenol, and 65 mg of caffeine in each tablet. Aspirin has a ceiling effect at 800 mg so taking 1000 mg does not help but does increase the risk of gastric bleeding. Tylenol is generally effective at 650 mg, so if you are going to exceed the bottle directions take no more than 3 tablets at a time, any more just waste your money and risk side effects for no medical benefit. Cold compresses have been found helpful by many migraine sufferers.

If you are having recurrent or chronic headaches you need to see a health care provider. They can pick the proper abortive medication for the acute headache and possibly prescribe a preventive medication if your headaches are too frequent. There are numerous medications out there, but as they are prescription, and as you need to know all about the headaches to select the proper medication, that should be left to the physician, or nurse practitioners, as is the proper diagnosis of your headaches. The most effective abortive medications if this is diagnosed to be a migraine, would be one of the class of triptan medications, the most commonly known being Imitrex. This can be used as an injection, tablet or nasal spray. The next most effective would be ergotamine derivatives. There are also other choices.

There are some cases where patients fail or are unable to take the commonly used treatments for migraines and routine headaches. It is then that an opioid might be considered. Hydrocodone, however, would be a poor choice, and is not considered appopriate therapy by headache or pain management specialists in the management of migraine issues. While hydrocodone, will, in the short term, decrease the perception of the pain sensation, it often causes alagesic rebound, and results in another headache, and eventually a condition called chronic daily headache syndrome. This medication also has significant side effects, and has a problem with conversion and habituation. While a good choice for the short term management of post surgical pain, it is not appropriate for migraines.

I will advise you, as a rule, when patients enter a clinic seeking a medication such as hydrocodone for a condition for which it is not indicated, many health care providers will see them as drug seeking. I am not saying that you are, but this is a perception, and it is common, and could be the what you willl experience if you see your physician and ask for a particular opioid drug for your problem.

If you feel you need to see a doctor, I recommend that you go to the following site prior to your visit:

http://www.headaches.org

In the consumer area, see the educational resources tab.

Print and fill out the headache diary as shown.

People say there are several causes for migraines, and this is not thought to be the case. The actual cause is not proven, but there is a current consensus theory. What people often say are causes are actually called triggers, they do not cause the headaches, but they can trigger the effect. There are activities and foods to be avoided, however, each person's triggers are individual. This is the purpose for the diary noted above. It helps you to discover your triggers so they can be avoided or eliminated.

See the How to talk to your headache doctor page. This will help you know what information is important to report so the doctor can properly diagnose and treat your headaches.

I also recommend the pages on analgesic rebound, and diet.

Do not take Imitrex of any one else’s migraine medication without a health care provider’s approval. I have seen patients with severe hypertensive crisis bordering stroke and cardiac problems due to taking a medication which was inappropriate for them. Also there are some types of migraine which are not recommended for the new migraine wonder drugs, ie. Hemiplegic and basilar artery migraines.

There are many non medication methods which are beneficial also, such as biofeedback, and acupuncture. I also feel that chiropractic can be beneficial for some forms of migraine, but in some forms it can cause permanent disability and possibly death. I advise you have a diagnosis of the type of migraine and be clear to try chiropractic before trying any alternative techniques.

You can try an accupressure technique.

For acute pain find a painful point just over 1/16th of an inch to about 1/4th of an inch behind your thumb nail and press it, the headache should disappear or decrease within 30 seconds. For forehead pain the points are in front of nails on the finger tips or 1/16th of an inch to about 1/4th of an inch below

Seek the assistance of your primary care clinic and if no improvement a specialist in headaches.

As a fellow migraine sufferer, I wish you the best.

Answer 2

I would definitely see a doc to talk about your pain.

I have migraines...this is how they go for me: I have an "aura" a couple hours before it starts....it is like a feeling that one is about to happen. Hard to explain.

Then, I feel terrible tension in the entire right side of my face and neck that gets worse and worse. I can't stand light or sound. When it gets unbearable, I vomit. Then I sleep about 15 hours, and wake up feeling fine.

There are many different symptoms for different people, and this is why for some people tylenol works, and only the heaviest opiates work for others.

I have tried everything, from muscle relaxers to heavy stuff including morphine in the hospital. None of them really worked.

I know you don't want to hear this...I myself got sick of so many people saying: "Oh take an excedrin with caffeine and drink a big bottle of Gatorade....that'll get rid of it." Ugh.

However, I can only tell you the success that I have had. What works on MY migraines is to take 2 ALEVE, and a very very large glass of water, and isolate myself until I feel the medicine work.

I tried Imitrex...a prescription migraine med......yech. What an awful experience. I felt as if someone was tightening a rope around my neck until I thought I was going to die!

So, for me it was the aleve that worked. It isn't the same for some other people. I understand your frustration, trying remedies that other people recommend, only to find that the money was spent and your headache never went away.

I felt that way when I paid for an emergency room visit and spent a day in the hospital, all for nothing.

On the other hand, your doc can rule out other problems:
Sinus....MENINGITIS (severe head, neck, back pain, and sometimes death).....Virus...bacteria....tension.....

Also...do you drink coffee or any drink that has caffeine in it?
Have you recently cut back on the amount of caffeine in the past 3 days? Caffeine withdrawal IS often the cause of migraines.

Also....do you have acid reflux? Sometimes stomach acid can go up into your pharynx and give you a headache just from the inflammation alone.

Do you grind your teeth? Have TMJ? That disorder alone is responsible for many migraines.

So many possibilities. Prescription migraine meds really did NOT work for me, so I can't recommend them....

Sorry you are having so much of a problem finding something that works.

Answer 3

I get migraines, and Excedrin works great for me. But I'm a lucky one. I know other people who it doesn't, and they need prescription migraine medicine. Their doctors didn't offer it, they had to be very straightforward and ask. Start a dialog with your doctor, say that you want a prescription medicine, and the two of you can work together to find the best medicine for your migraines.

Answer 4

You should see your doc and ask them to check it out. Rule out the worry. I get killer headaches and its because when I get minor ones I tend to stop drinking water and sleeping both which cause hydration and makes the headaches more pronounced. Drink water and sleep. Sometimes the pollen count is up or some weird allergy has decided to come visit. Benadryl has been a good work. Instead of treating the pain, maybe it's figuring out the cause. When I do that, not to sound trite or some crap like that, I find that it works out. If it doesnt, I have had headaches to the point where I go down and have to go to the hospital. I've been there. Know your pain, just some suggestions. Take care.

Answer 5

There can be excess of liver fire or acidity which is the main cause of h/a.

Pl try acupressure given below for temp relief.

Alternate systems of medicine can only help you.

There is no medicine for H/A OR MIGRAINE. Not only these but for RA, OA, Back ache and almost all painful diseases. Hence they become chronic.

Acidity, WORRY, sadness, excessive wind, cold , heat, sour food and sinusitis, constipation, intestinal inflammation; drug side effects, stress, bad smell, TV & COMPUTER SOMETIMES,
Blockage in the flow of Vital Energy, BODY CONSTITUTION etc are their causes. None of them can be treated with medicine. Our 100% success in treating migraine &H/A confirms it.

Acupuncture is the only best treatment.

I can treat it with naturopathy and YOG, but how can you manage pl see.

Pain killers don't treat the pain but we loose the sense of pain for some time; in that duration our body itself treats sometime and credit goes to meds.
The useless drugs have tremendous power of side effects like liver/kidney failures, ulcer, inflammation of intestines and lot more.

Avoid late sleeping if possible; worry, spicy foods, sour fruits, stale bakery foods, SMOKING and alcohole.
Sweet foods, COCOANUT WATER,sweet fruits, milk, rice, SPROUTS, SALADS and good sleep will help if cough is not there.

But you try one herbal remedy- two drops of drumstick leaves' juice in opposite nostril if one side pains and both nostrils if full H/A will give you rescue. Betel leaf helps but it is very strong.

If it is acute pl search a painful point 3-6 mm behind your thumb nail and press it, H/A will disappear within 30 seconds.

For forehead pain the points are in front of nails on the finger tips or 3-7 mm below.

It may disappear naturally too.

Source(s):
SHREE SWASTHYAYOG TREATMENT, TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
R.H. 19, Jhulelal Society, Sector 2/E, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, INDIA.

Answer 6

You do not want to take hydrocodone as it is very addicting. Try Advil for Migranes. Physicians don't like to be told by patients what to prescribe. Listen to what your doctor has to say.