My daughter started getting headaches roughly 2 years ago with them coming about every other week or so and at this point we have progressed to everyday. She gets nausea with them sometimes and comes very close to throwing up but never does. I started with the primary care doctor who gave her some muscle relaxers because at the same time she had injured her shoulder and it was very sore playing volleyball. We followed up with him and I can't remember now all the avenues we took but they were not working. One day she was crying and begging me to take her to the ER because it was so bad. I took her and they gave her a CT and they found nothing. They did say she had a sinus infection and gave us an antibiotic. The headaches continued. Someone suggested that we take her to a chiropractor and that seemed to help for a short time and the headaches continued. The doctor then suggested physical therapy and they thought it could be posture. She had several visits and they were unable to really address the problem in her shoulder because it would trigger a horrible headache. Physical therapy ended with some excersizes and the headaches continued. Went back to the doctor and he suggested a nuerologist. She determined they were not migranes but chronic headaches and there is no known cause for them and put her on Topiramate(sp) with a pain pill. The pain pill didn't work and she then gave her another pain pill Tramadol. She has yet to try those. The neuro then ordered an MRI and that came back with a white spot on the right side of the pain that is the cortex or something that should be on the outside but would not cause headaches and said that it was abnormally normal. She assured us that if everyone had an MRI alot of people would find some sort of abnormality and that this is not concerning. Later I get a call that they forgot to tell me that she also has a sinus infection. She has no symptoms of having a sinus infection but told us to see our doctor. I called the doctor and let him know that I'm concerned with her having another sinus infection and could this be causing the headaches. Off to the ENT doc. He looks down her nose and gives her the exam and says her adnoids are not large enough to be concerning(CT scan said they were alittle large) and he gave us an antibiotic and said to refill it if the headaches seemed to get better along with Nasonex and to come back in a month. The headaches are coming almost everyday and today in gym she was running and felt light headed and said she thought she was going to pass out. I am at a complete loss on what to do. I have seen every doctor I can think of to fix this for her but everyone keeps telling me that she is fine. She is not fine! She is too young to be on all these medications and I'm going to start having the neuro wean her off the Topiramate because it isn't helping anyway. Any suggestions? Anyone deal with anything similiar? I've seen on another post that environments for example school but she has been at 2 school during this time. She has not been allergy tested and I'm not sure that shouldn't be done considering she has had 2 sinus infections we knew nothing about but can apparently be stagnant with no symptoms. I don't know just looking for some advice.
Thank you
:)
**I'll try and answer the questions that were asked and thank you for all the responses. I'm not sure how to even reply on this group and not sure about adding it to the What Happened box because I don't know if that will come back after I do find something.
. My son suffered from mirgraines and although I know they can represent differently, the doctors have all said these are not migraines.
. Her eyes were checked recently and wears glasses.
. She has her period and is on birth control but she was suffering from this before being placed on the pill. She has a very hard time during that time and had no choice to help her in that area.
. She was not given the HPV vaccines.
. She has seen a chiroprator and we have moved within the time of the headaches. She has had an MRI.
. We did see an ENT and they did put the tube in and said nothing that would cause the headaches with the adenoids but gave antibiotics for the infection.
. No deviated septum
. The headache is everyone thru the head, no specific area. She is not a soda drinker and will usually only drink water. She will have a specialty coffee here and there but didn't see a pattern there and we do keep a journal. At this point I enter somethign everyday and today she had 2. She told me that it was not a constant headche tonight but one that kept coming and going.
. No blood tests have been done.
A friend told me today that maybe its a focal seizure? I looked it up and it didn't appear that was it with the symptoms that came up but she suggested I tell the neuro that I want an EEG. Its hard because they always want us there when she is having one. Of course that is never the case.
I'm just at a loss :(
We are going through this right now. My daughter s also 14 and complains of headaches that won't go away. OTC meds don't work. Her pain is clustered in the top of her head. This time around she has swollen nasal membranes, so she is being treated for the sinus issue. The verdict is out on whether or not this will help. I suffer from migraines and that's what I think she has, docs don't think so. It is frustrating.
My son is almost 14 and has been suffering with headaches almost daily. Says he feels sick most of the time. He does not take any medicine for them. I read a couple of answers and have some ideas to help him. I have no advise but will be keeping up on this to see if anything can help him. I understand how frustrating it is. I hope you find a solution for her.
Shot in the dark, but have you checked your home for mold?
Wow, what a loose caboose...I'm so sorry for all that you have gone through..
I will ask my husband but he will need some additional info. I will PM you, so please check there.
On a personal note, sinus infections cause horrible headaches. Believe me, I know. I am a chronic sinus infection sufferer, and it's usually how I know I've started one. The infection causes horrible pain behind the eyes, in the temporal lobe, back of the neck, etc.
I have had headaches for 30 years and they were diagnosed as chronic daily headaches. I go thru periods of daily headache for awhile and then none for months. I am originally from your area and now live in Illinois. I would take her to a headache clinic and have been to 3 myself: dr Larry Robbins in north brook il, Diamond headache clinic in Chicago and one in eastern Michigan. Sadly, most regular doctors don't know how to treat headaches so go to someone that can suggest other modalities or meds. There are many things to try but it takes time and patience and a good doc. Good luck!!
Wow, I am so sorry you are going through this. See an ENT. A different one that you saw or the same if you liked him. Your daughter may be suffering from swelling and compression of the ethmoid nerve. The ENT will have to put a cottle elevator (an instrument they are familiar with) up her nose to check. The correct terminology for what she may suffer from is ANTERIOR ETHMOID NEUROVASCULAR COMPLEX. It is hard to diagnose if you are not aware of this possible condition.
Give a read:
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/davidkao-clinic/article?mid=19...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007...
Good luck to you. Hope this helps.
I'm so sorry your daughter is going through this. I started having migraines when I was 14, and I'm now 42. I've tried just about everything. It's a very long story, so I'll just let you know what may be helpful to you. Currently I'm taking a very high dose of Topamax (same as Topiramate). It does help me some, but I still have frequent migraines. For years now, I've been having migraines about 17 days each month. With Topamax, I can function most of the time. Without Topamax, I end up crying on the bathroom floor, throwing up for hours. The pain was honestly unbearable. With Topamax, it's still awful, but I can function.
Last spring I started getting Botox for my migraines. I have it done every 3 months. It's a ton of shots (I can't remember exactly how many, but I've posted about it before. I think it's 30ish.) all over my forehead, scalp, neck, and shoulders. During the summer I only had 4 migraines during a 3 month period. That's my relaxing time; I'm a high school teacher. Once I was back in school, I had 14 migraines in the first 3 month period, but that was still so much better than 17 migraines a month.
I haven't found anything that helps me a lot, but this is best for me right now. I have switched neurologists three times since I was 14, and they've all been excellent doctors. It's important to have a doctor that really knows your daughter and her medical history, and that will listen to you and your daughter, too.
I hope your daughter finds some relief. I had some really rough years with migraines, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Keep searching for something to help. In Dallas there is a neurological group that specializes in migraines. Perhaps there is something like that near you. I know how frustrating it is to hurt (or watch your child hurt) and not know what to do.
From my teen years until now, I have chronic headaches, migraines. i am now on a bet blocker.. it has helped so much..
Has she seen a neurologist/
A Chiropractor and an acupuncturist could also help her to not have to suffer through this pain..
I hope you all can kind the answers.. They can be debilitating.
Another ent may be willing to surgically drain her sinuses, which may help. has she been evaluated for a chiari malformation??
What is the location of the headache - the back of the head, the forehead, right side, left side etc...
I have chronic headaches and have been to a million doctors and tried too many meds that did not help. What finally helped was yoga
There could be a million causes for headaches, I would take your daughter to another neurologist for a second opinion. I would also insist that the doctor order an MRI.
Daily use of OTC medications such as tylenol or advil can cause rebound headaches, it is a serious problem and quite common - research rebound headache or headache with OTC med use. See if that fits your situation.
Muscle spasms in the shoulder, neck or back could cause headaches.
Does your daughter wear glasses, maybe she needs to have her eyes checked.
Does she clench her teeth at night - this can cause tension headaches, TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or the joints of the jaw) can cause headaches.
a good pillow can help
massage can sometimes help with headaches, especially if related to tension or muscle injury, spasms.
Poor posture definately can cause headaches - physical therapy can help with this but it will take a while and she will need to continue the exercises after PT ends. exercise that strengthen the neck and shoulders are best
constant looking down at a phone texting or using the computer can cause headaches at the back of the head
Keep a headache diary, include date, time, situation when headache occurred ie: hungry, weather, stress, etc... how bad the headache is on 1-10 pain scale, what makes headache worse and better. Also include any visual symptoms that may accompany the headache. You may discover a pattern You can google headache diary and print one out
Of course, headaches can be a sign of something more serious, so if you disagree with the doctors, go to another and another until you feel that you are getting the answers that you deserve.
I would continue to investigate, I agree she is too young to be on all those meds.
PS: my son's headaches got better after he was diagnosed with Celiac disease and we put him on a gluten free diet - just a thought
Let us know how your daughter is doing
Poor girl, I'm so sorry she's going through this. Hopefully some of the advice below will help. Would it be worth seeing even another doctor?
I think that neuro should give you an opinion about that "white spot on the right side of the pain" that makes more sense. It doesn't sound like you understand it, so maybe she should explain it better.
I would want a better answer from the doctor, and a second opinion.
So sorry she is going through this! Headaches are so awful. :(
I am a migraine sufferer since I was in preschool. (yes I remember them at that age). If I were you, I'd get a second opinion. Is she taking any over the counter meds for her headaches? Sometimes when you take too much of a medicine (over the counter or prescription) for a headache, it can actually CREATE a recurring headache. Weird but true.
Try to wean her off all meds, and then try the tramadol. I've taken that before and it works although it does make you drowsy, so don't let her drive. Also, what is her diet like? Is she eating a lot of "trigger" foods - fast food, MSG, chocolate, cheese, dairy? Even bananas can cause migraines in some people. Try getting her on a natural diet - no processed foods for 2 weeks and see if that helps. So many foods can trigger a headache.
Have her vision tested. Sometimes vision problems can contribute to recurring headaches. I'd also get a second opinion from a neurologist, and I would also consider the allergy tests. Yes, sinus infections or sinus issues can create cluster headaches or migraines. Get to the root of why she is having so many sinus issues. Does she have a deviated septum?
Good luck! Ask her doctor if she could have a prescription for phenergen for the nausea. It will make her drowsy, but will help her sleep and get rid of the headache without worrying about getting sick. Hugs to you both.
I didn't read all your letter, but my son started getting headaches at about age 12, and they were migraines. He would throw up and be dizzy, and have strange vision. The doctor said lots of hormones going crazy and that hopefully they would go away. And for the most part they have. He is 16 now, and only gets bad headaches occasionally. You could also take your daughter to the eye doctor in case she needs glasses.
Wow they put her on a seizure med for headaches(topirmate)? That would throw up a red flag for me as well. I believe (having seen hundreds of seizures) that you would know if your daughter had any form of epilepsy.
That being said...I would get her off all those scary meds and start from scratch with an allergist. My allergies have been horrible this past year. No relief all year due to such a mild winter last year. If I don't take my allergy meds I get quite sick and have really bad headaches. I would have her checked out. PS...we found that Flonase gave my daughter horrible anxiety! It worked good for her sinus problems but we stopped using it because the anxiety became totally debilitating. And yes it stopped once we stopped using it.
Maybe try seeing a Naturopath?
As another route of analyzing this?
http://naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=60
Have they done blood tests???
Being she is a Teen and has periods (?), how is her hormonal system?
Did she get the HPV Vaccine?
I would take her to a different neurologist. They sound like migraines to me!!! They could also be what I call hormone head aches. I get them even with taking my migraine meds right before and the first few days of my period.
IF somehow its determined that it is migraines, after all, let me know. I was able to stop my migraines naturally (after trying every prescription available.)
A thought: my neice suffered through a very similar situation. After a year+ and nearly not passing the year in high school, they determined that she was clenching her teeth when she slept. A mouth guard fixed it all !!!!!!
I went through this as a kid and I would never want to relive that time! Is it possible that she is a teeth grinder/jaw clencher at night?? Your dentist would be able to check her teeth for any areas that are worn down. Or could she possibly have TMJ? (I haven't read all your responses, so pardon if this has already been said).
