Would you try a treatment that you think is just a doctors band-aid?

[anonymous]

I took low dose nortryptiline for migraines and it worked quite well. Unfortunately, it made me very sleepy. It did control the headache pain like nothing else had done though.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

So my question is would you try to go in with an open mind, would you be skeptical or would you just simply say i am not putting myself through this?

Depends. Is this my only option?

"we don't prescribe narcotics for headaches so if that is why you are here you might as well leave.

I have been told that as well. When I first started to get migraines, about age 20, I was prescribed Lortab 5mg. Today Lortabs do nothing. Then they went to Viccodine and that's when narcotic pain meds stopped working for migraines for me. I noticed that ibuprofen, if I took enough (say, 12 in a day - over the counter) would work. So did that for a while. Today I am on very high levels of liquid morphine in an internal pain pump due to an accident, along with 2 other medications, and I take 800mg prescription ibuprophen 3 times a day for mild to severe arthrities in all my joints and still today, even with very high levels of morphine on a constant drip directly in my spine, I get migranes. I have some left over morphine sulfate as well as fentyal patches from before the pump and they do nothing for migraines. The 800mg ibuprofen, however, does. It may take 2 or 3 but it does work for me. So, if you are taking hydrocodone or oxycodone, it is most likely the acetaminophen in it that is helping, as in my experience, even directly oxycodone (without any acetaminophen) doesn't help a migraine. Unless of course if it's migraine medication which is specific. I never went so far as to ask for migrane specific medications as I found something that worked for me.

Icing my head helped too. Headaches are caused by blood vessels opening too much allowing too much blood to flow through. Restrict those blood vessels and it helps the headache some. Also, light blocking sunglasses (foam on the inside to not allow any light through) helps if you are light sensitive. Helps to look at a computer screen as well. I have had to call out due to migraines as i couldn't even get out of bed but many times I could function by making some adjustments. I also would lower the brightness on the computer screen. I still had a migraine but it helped a lot.

But that's why many Drs won't prescibe those sorts of narcotics to those with heaches/migraines. And most people that are addicts lying to get narcotics wouldn't know oxycodone (by itself), morphine sulfate, fental doesn't help migraines, in my experience anyway, and so will drug seek that way as how do you tell someone is lying about migraines when the reason isn't something they can see? So they tend to weed out the addicts this way. Though, I am a chronic pain sufferer and know very well that most Drs and nurses treat the actual pain patients like they are addicts when they aren't. I do, naturally, have a physical dependance on medication as its impossible not to but I have never taken extra unless I have saved to take that extra (like after surgery). I very much dislike the opioid high and I really hate medication. I would never go out and seek it. But yet I am still labeled a drug seeker if I advise I am in more pain or whatever. It sucks but it is the opioid loving world we live in now.

In Florida, there is now a centeralized prescription database. Every single pharamcy and doctor knows what you filled, when, and who the prescribing Dr is, so you can't fill something earlier then the allowed 28 days.

 

[FauxLiz]

@joeylittle I am not sure how but I missed your question about the amitryptaline. Yes I have tried it, and more individual and combinations of medications than I could even imagine listing.

 

[FauxLiz]

@lostforgottensoul I have used literally every migraine specific meds on the market some in multiple forms such as pill, injection, nasal spray and skin patch, anti-depressants (tricylics are said to help with migraines), I have taken preventatives and abortives including anti-seizure meds such as various forms of Topomax, Depakote, DHE, Keppra, Neurotonin, Gabapentin, Visteral, Candestarten, Periactin, Benadryl, Magnesium, B-2. I have undergone multiple rounds of Botox, Trochlear nerve blocks, SPG nerve block, Occipital Nerve Block, Trigeminal nerve block and facet nerve blocks. I underwent brain surgery after an MRI showed hydrocephalus and here I am still 2 1/2 years later searching for an answer that will keep me from having to quit working. I do headache diaries tracking the onset, the pain intensity, the med or action I attempt to reduce the pain the result and track everything that goes in or on my body from food, to lotion to body wash, shampoo and conditioner even hair products. As for going to an ER for the pain I ruled that out the day a resident suggested that the best treatment option he could recommend was amputation.

I live in Michigan and the state here also has a centralized database for medications which also is connected to several other state's databases as well. I am not seeking drugs if I was I would have long since saved my money on all the different treatments and doctor appointments and medications and turned to street drugs if that was my intent. My intent is to get my life back from the pain.

 

[joeylittle]

@FauxLiz - if I were in your position, having tried all the options you have, I'd 100% try anything new, even speculative, so long as the action is unique.

I'd recommend following clinicaltrials.gov as well. And, not limiting searches on it to the US.

I'm very sorry to read about how much you've gone through. I can't even imagine. I really hope something works out for you.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

As for going to an ER for the pain I ruled that out the day a resident suggested that the best treatment option he could recommend was amputation.

Amputation? What? Crazy!! Did they explain why they said it would work? I'd loved to hear that!

I have used literally every migraine specific meds on the market

Goodness! It sounds like you have tried everything out there.

My intent is to get my life back from the pain.

Yeah, mine too! I was lucky enough that my pain dr is the head of directors for pain medicine or something and advised the Metronics internal medication Infusion pump. It is the thing that helped the most. I don't think that would help migraines but you never know I guess.

I'm sorry you are struggling! I hope you find something that helps you soon!

 

[Deleted member 541]

Have you tried the Triptans for migraines? I take Sumatriptan 100 mg, which is actually the generic for Imitrex. I also take Butalb-Acetamin-Caff 50/325/40which is Fieoricet.

Both work really well for me.

 

[FauxLiz]

@She Cat i have tried every triptan on the market including all four delivery methods for imetrex. I tried both fiorinal and fioricet early on in my search for relief as those have always been my parents go to meds for migraines.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@FauxLiz I'm sorry that you are suffering with these migraines/headaches. I hope that someone in the medical field will be able to figure it out and that you will find relief soon.

 

[FauxLiz]

@joeylittle, @lostforgottensoul and @She Cat thank you for your support.