Migraine

Nice site. Your answer to Catharine on 04/01/2008 re: triggers and sneezing and coughing was interesting. One of you referred her to look at a site that said something about increased intracranial pressure causing the unique head pain. Is that considered a migraine?

I appear to have two different types of migraines - one comes packaged with an aura, a beautiful, colorful and shiny backward C, and I know that if I don't take some type of medicine at that time (it can even be just Advil) I am really in for it.

The other type of headache comes with a pain always in the left back of my neck, and once that pain hits the nausea, photophobia, need for silence comes quick and leaves slow. Since I can't take Imitrex for the migraine and can't afford the other, I take Fioricet and either Advil or Tylenol for a quicker relief, Fioricet only if I can handle the pain.

There are other times, though, that I get the exact same pain in the exact same location - left back of my neck by laying down - either to sleep or watch TV. If I sit up straight, hold my head and back straight, and stay that way for awhile, the headache goes away, sometimes...but sometimes it comes back once I lay back down, and then hits bad like described in the middle paragraph.

So - is the pain an aura? especially since it goes away some times without really feeling the nausea, etc.? Or is it a bulging disk in my cervical vertebra?

I thank you for your site - some of what you said on here made me feel saner than I have ever felt, I can't wait to dig even deeper....pat

First off, hello and welcome, Pat! We're glad you like the site and that it's been offering you some peace of mind and comfort in the fact that you're not alone.

Here are some general links for you. The first one, I *think* links to all of the various Basics articles. The second and third links are specifically to the articles on migraine, both with and without aura.


Types of Headaches and Migraine

Migraine With Aura ~ The Basics

Migraine Without Aura ~ The Basics

I don't tend to think that pain is every really an aura symptom. Generally, once the pain sets in, it's part of the migraine component, unless it isn't migraine pain at all. It's possible, for instance, for a person to develop a tension-type headache, which in turn triggers and segues into a separate migraine attack. If I was in your place, I'd be considering whether my angle or position for watching TV was somehow leading to tension that was in turn triggering migraine.

Keep in mind that these are all things to ask your doctor about. We aren't medical professionals, and we don't have the qualifications or authorization to be able to diagnose whether or not what you are experiencing is migraine, and if so, which type it is. The same is true of a cervical bulging. You really need a firm diagnosis from your doctor. We can give you some food for thought, based on our own experiences, but ultimately, you need your doctor's help to sort this out.

Again, welcome to the forum family. If you have any questions, feel free to ask away.

Hi Pat -

Welcome to the forum! There's tons of info here and a very supportive group of people - I hope you find lots of answers! I agree with you that having this group to talk to, and learn from, makes me feel much less alone,

quote:

made me feel saner than I have ever felt

- as you said.

I can't answer all your questions, but I'm going to give you a few links to look at and our hosts should come along soon with some more info. Everything you're describing sounds consistent with migraine to me, and for each of us, all migraines we get are not the same. I will say, though, Advil and other analgesics will mask the pain, but not actually abort the migraine.

Migraine Basics including different stages of the migraine and different types.

Migraine Medications

Of course, none of us can tell you if you have a bulging disk - you need a doctor to diagnose that for you. Some of us get neck pain and stiffness as part of pro-drome - the pre-headache phase, and it can be a sign that the migraine is coming. I see a chiropractor and have sometimes ended a headache by getting an adjustment on my neck. others times that has not helped at all. And there are doctors who will tell you never to adjust the neck - so you see there are many different opinions.

Welcome to the forum, glad you found us. I'll see you around!

- Megs

Hi Pat and welcome to the forum family

I'm so happy you found us although I'm sorry you have the need to be here.

You've gotten some great links already so I'm going to add one of my favorites:

Learning About Migraines-Where to Start

Again, a very warm welcome and if you have any other questions, just ask away!

I look forward to seeing you around the forum

The suggested sites/reading is great...it may take awhile to read and absorb it all, but it is good to have handy. Once again, thank you very much for having this site out here.....pat

Welcome to the forum, pat. We're glad you found us. No need to thank us; you will have your own contribution to make to this site, I have no doubt.

Take care of yourself. I hope we'll see you around the forum often.

We're happy to be here for you, and we're glad you found us when you needed info and folks who understand.

quote:

Originally posted by pat s:
The suggested sites/reading is great...it may take awhile to read and absorb it all, but it is good to have handy. Once again, thank you very much for having this site out here.....pat