Headache and Migraine Group: Let’s connect

I'm having migraine headaches since last almost 15 yrs now. However, what surprised me was this constant throbbing pain behind my right eyebrow and eye on a daily basis from 6.30am to around 12noon continuously for 12 days. Cold compress, coffee shots and painkillers helped to some extent but affected my daily work. It stopped after 12 days and am dreading when it will recur

Please let me know if u ever come across a solution to this problem. I had a very bad episode recently when I had very bad pain behind my right eye and eyebrow daily for almost 5 hrs and 12 consecutive days in a row.

That sounds like classic cluster headache symptoms. My heart goes out to you.

Vasoconstrictors help me but they have their own set of worrisome issues.

There are a lot of newer preventative medications on the market for migraines that may work and I think at least one that's got an approval for cluster headaches. They didn't help me but they may help you.

One thing I'd suggest is to try to find what if anything triggers your episodes and remove those. These could be food, food additives, medications, alcohol etc. in my case, anything with vasodilation properties can trigger or worsen a headache.

Some people seem to have issue with things that elevate serotonin or histamine. Hopefully you can narrow down your triggers.

I hope you feel better soon

I have had headaches for over a year & I had Botox twice so far no help.I takeSpironolactone 25 mg. for B.P. Can this be causing my headaches ?

Botox can take up to a year to start relieving the migraines so hang in there!
Jody

Thanks Jody. Did you go thru this & finally get relief from Botox ?

Yes it took a bit over a year, I think my 5th injection is when it started to work.
I only had relief though but I suffer 24/7 and I was a constant 10 pain and it brought me to about a 7 but I would have occasional 10’s.
This lasted for about a year and then zero relief.
She started injecting into my neck and that gave me a 7 for 2 months and 10 the third month. My last injection she didn’t put as much into my neck and I have been pretty much a 10 for the past 2 weeks.
I’m going to ask her to put it all in my neck next time.
But keep in mind that everyone is different, I just happen to be one that isn’t finding better results. I suggested that my dental hygienist try Botox and she found instant relief and is very thankful for it!
Hang in there and fight the good fight
Jody

I am a 76 year old woman. About 6 years ago (AFTER I retired as a writer), I started experiencing an irritated scalp and tight neck, which gradually got worse. Docs, including a neurologist, wanted me to go on gabapentin immediately, but I wanted to give other solutions a try. I did physical therapy with several different practitioners, but no luck and the pain was getting more constant and waking me up at night. I finally went to a pain specialist who immediately said it was occipital neuralgia. Happy to have a diagnosis, but I seem to be trapped in a 3 month cycle with steroid injections in my neck. I have relief for about 6 weeks, but I can’t have more steroids until 3 months, so about six weeks of pain, up to a 10 at intervals. Treated with Tylenol and ibuprofen, every 3 to 5 hours. I recently stopped the ibuprofen, but my body is on a rebound schedule so I have to take the Tylenol every 5 hours now. I am very fatigued and this is affecting my social and emotional life and energy level. I may try the gabapentin next. Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with a low dose of gaba? Any other suggestions? Sorry for this long post.

Thanks Jody I will hang in there and take it one day at a time. I hope it finally works for you.
Bernie

Well. like most of you I am at my wits end.
Never had migraines in my life until I sustained a concussion in 2019, hitting my head in a fall.
The migraines didn't happen suddenly, took about 10 months when suddenly the right side of my head felt I had "just fallen" it was so sore to the touch. Then a daily migraine for 9 months. Saw neurologists at the best medical centers in the country. Ultimately I ended up sticking with a neurologist at my local medical center. Since I have ischemic heart disease I can not take the triptans for pain control/prevention. I tried every CGRP there is, nothing worked. I have had all kinds of migraines...my eyes and especially disturbing periodic severe spasms in my brain. These only last seconds or else I would have to call 911. I have a severe panic disorder and found the benzos give me rebounds...as well as Tylenol - which seems to be my go to drug. I can not even take any of the NSAID (Aleve, Motrin, etc.) b/c of heart disease. Right take candesartan for prevention and B/P control with minimal results. I have about 7 different kinds of "ice caps" in my freezer.
My MD tells me I have "refractory" migraines...meaning nothing seems to help me.
I have never tried Botox and won't, simply b/c I fear it will be my "luck" to end up with serious side effects.
I fell when I was 64, now 70. The quality of my life changed completely with the onset of migraines.
Most folks think migraines are simply a bad headache. It is a true neurologist disorder with consequences on your overall state of physical, mental and social health...my brain has areas of "hyperintensities" due to repeated horrific migraines. These areas have limited (or none) blood flow in my brain.
That's my migraine story. And who knows what the future will bring.
My deepest understanding and empathy to all who suffer with migraines. Truly debilitating in every way.