Migraine

Hi
I am from Australia and have chronic daily headaches which have been described to me as tension type headaches. I have had them for a very long time.
I have tried some drugs and other treatments over the years to no avail and want to come to the States to see a doctor at a headache clinic.
Does anyone know of any good clinics or doctors?
I have been told to go on topimax but the information I read makes me a little nervous!
Thanks for any help,
TK

Good Morning TK,

Here is the list of Patient Recommended Specialist. While I have not seen this doctor myself, he is the site expert and is seen by many of the forum members, John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD. Dr. K practices out of Dallas, TX. He's is a leading expect in migraine care and if your going to travel to the US for care, I'd look to travel to see Dr. K.

Good Luck!!

Cindy

Hi TK--

I've seen several really good headache specialists as well as some really bad ones. Dr. Krusz is now the specialist I see and he is without doubt the best migraine doc I have EVER gone to. He is also internationally respected. So, if it were me and Dr. K. was in Australia and I could fly there, that's who I'd see. He's in Dallas, TX.

Tracie

Welcome to MyMigraineConnection, TK.

I wish I had good news for you on the doctor front in AU. Currently we do not have any Migraine specialists or clincis there. We are however working on it. Hopefully we will have some soon.

When you get a chance please read the "START HERE" folder for our forum guidelines.

Learning About Migraines and Headaches - Where To Start will get you on the track.

There is a difference between Daily Chronic Headaches and Tension-Type Headache. We have indepth information on them both you can find below:

http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/tools-161923-76.html

Tension-Type Headaches - The Basics

Hi, TK! I see the others beat me to the welcome wagon, but add a few droolie hugs to the pile!

Hello, TK, welcome to the forum.

Hi
Thanks for your help.
I am happy to hear that some headache clinics might start up here - I think it is about time! It would be nice to be treated seriously.

I have been told I have chronic TTH - I have just seen a neurologist who suggested I try Sodium Valproate on a low dose for 3 weeks and then see him.
What is the consensus on this drug?

Is it hard to see Dr Krusz?




Cheers
TK

Hi TK--

Actually Valproate is a common first line preventive medication for headaches so I don't think your neurologist is steering you wrong there. It was the first medication I tried millions of years ago and worked well at that time.

Dr. Krusz is very easy to get in to see. You just call and make an appointment.

Tracie

Valproate Sodium, aka Depacon is used for Migraine prevention, but more common choices for Tension-Type Headache can be found on page 2 in our T-TH article HERE.

And it can take up to three months to adjust to medications, so I'm not sure what a three week trial will do....

Hi Nancy
I think the reason for the 3 weeks was to see if I can tolerate the drug and if not, I was told to stop.
Another neurologist told me to go on topamax and see him in 6 weeks( increasing dosage from 25 mg upwards.
Mind you, time with the neurologist is quite brief and they don't give you a lot of hope especially since mine is longstanding.
What do you think of the TENS unit - I can hire one for a couple of weeks to see how it goes.
Also have you heard of Migrelief?
Regards
TK

Hi, TK!

Three weeks isn't usually quite long enough with most meds to see if you tolerate them well enough. Sometimes side effects ease up the longer you're on the med, and they might take longer than three weeks to settle down. Six weeks as the minimum, unless you have severe side effects you absolutely can't tolerate, is much more common, I think.

I'm not Nancy, but I can tell you that I love my TENS unit, which I use to help with fibro flares. I use my TENS primarily for my shoulders. I don't know about Australia, but here in the US you generally can try a TENS unit on a trial basis. Generally the trial period is around a month, with an option to purchase if you're happy with it.

As for Migralief, we've heard of it. It's a supplement, containing magnesium, vitamin B12, and feverfew. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone having astounding luck with it, particularly over an extended time period. One thing to keep in mind with these kinds of supplements is that it's sometimes a lot cheaper to get the individual components than to get them in combo form. It's also a lot easier to tweak doses to fit you individually if you get the components separately. Magnesium is a huge mileage may vary supplement. I take 400mg. Someone else might take 1000mg or more a day. One size doesn't always fit all, and you might have better luck working with your doctor to find the best combo dose for you if you want to go the supplement route. Whatever route you choose on the supplement front, your doctor needs to be involved through the entire process.

I appreciate the advice.
I didn't realize the dosage for magnesium can vary that much.
My neurologist didn't mention it at all actually - I was reading about the combination from other sources as being useful so I thought I will try it. It is not available here.
I haven't started the drugs yet because I want to try a couple of other therapies first, including the TENS unit.
Drs here tend generally to go the drug route only as far as I can see.
That is why I would like to go to the States and get a more rounded approach.

I understand completely. I asked about a TENS unit because I wanted to try something besides throwing more muscle relaxants and pain meds at my fibro pain, too. I also hated having to take my meds at school and then dealing with the grogginess and icky feelings for the rest of the day. I wanted something that I could do that let me actually think and function without feeling muddled and fuzzy around the edges.

There are plenty of doctors in the States that are content to pull out their prescription pads and throw meds at everything, too. I think you'll find that just about wherever you go. Sometimes it's a lot easier to scribble a med down and hand you a sheet of paper than it is to explore alternative therapies, get them established, and then monitor things to see how it goes, unfortunately.

TK,

-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•*Hello!*•-:¦:-•:*'''''*:•-:¦:-•*Welcome to the family!*•-:¦:- •:*'""*:•.-:¦:-

I use a TENS unit. It really depends on where your TTH starts. If it starts in the back of the neck and/or upper shoulders, it might work well. You can't put the TENS unit anywhere on your head.

On the Topamax -- if you don't want to take it, don't. There are over 100 other options.

welcome again!

quote:

Originally posted by TK:
Hi Nancy
I think the reason for the 3 weeks was to see if I can tolerate the drug and if not, I was told to stop.
Another neurologist told me to go on topamax and see him in 6 weeks( increasing dosage from 25 mg upwards.
Mind you, time with the neurologist is quite brief and they don't give you a lot of hope especially since mine is longstanding.
What do you think of the TENS unit - I can hire one for a couple of weeks to see how it goes.
Also have you heard of Migrelief?
Regards
TK

Thanks guys
I have started the TENS and I am tolerating it quite well.
Tomorrow I will try it for longer periods.
Have you found topamax a 'difficult" drug?
I am not mad about what it does to the brain etc.
Have you heard about botox being good for tension headaches at all?
I have tried it but only in the front of my head and I read that usually it is put in quite a few places in the head, neck and shoulders.
Thanks - it is great to have your support
TK