Migraine

Hello all,

Sometimes when I have my migraines, the pain radiates further than my head, neck and shoulder. My migraines are always right-sided, and this pain is always on my right side. It usually stays in my arm, but sometimes affects my whole right side. It usually is just achy, with more pain concentrating in the joints, like sciatica, if anyone has ever had that. The reason I've finally associated it with the migraines is that now it usually occurs with migraine symptoms, and all of the apin symptoms I've described stop at my midline. I can draw a line staight down the middle of my body to show where the pain stops. It's like I'm two different people glued together. I have only talked to a physician about it once, because I only made the connection once. When I was on Prednisone to stop the migraines, instead of pain, I was all tingly and "dull" (not really numb) down my right side. I wasn't seeing a neurologist yet and my regular PCP was out of town at the time, so I had to see someone else in the practice. She made me think I was out of my mind. Eventually she just told me it was probably a reaction between the topamax and prednisone, but she ran every blood test known to man, "just to make sure". Sure of what, I still don't know.

Anyway, I know we don't give medical advice, I was just curious to know if anyone else has had similar symptoms, or if they know anything about this in general.

Hi Melissa,

After multiple checks topamax and prednisone don't seem to have any contraindications, from what I can find. That sounds like the doctor reaching to me.

If you are concerned, and symptoms continue, please find a new doctor who will listen and work with you towards better health care. That may mean a Migraine specialist. We have a patient recommended list you can see HERE.


This quiz may help Is Your Doctor Right For You?

Nancy,

Thanks so much for the info. I really trust my PCP, the prednisone-topamax thing was another dr in the practice. I have a neurologist, but I'm still reservung judgement. I've only seen him twice, and he's still sort of "following procedure" with the meds, but he is seeing me often, and actually talks to me on the phone, doesn't have a nurse do it.

I see my PCP tomorrow and I'm going to talk to him about the right-sided pain. I'll let you know what happens.

Ok then, I look forward to your report!

Melissa,

Have a great visit with your PCP today and please keep us posted, k?

Hello all,

Well, I had my big visit with my PCP today, and I feel better mentally, but of course, the same physically. We all know there are no miracle cures here.

My doctor was happy to fill out my disability forms. (Well, who’s actually happy to fill out paperwork? Extremely cooperative is a better word.) We sat together and did it. It was only two pages. I told him I was surprised by the brevity. He said he doubted that would be the end of it. He was sure there would be more of it. He basically stated that I have vertigo and intractable migraine with scintillations and scotoma that affect my ability perform my job. (I use a microscope and computer for eight hours a day and I have to make diagnostic decisions.) He also mentioned the white matter changes on the MRI. We’ll see what happens.

The thing that really lightened my load today was when I mentioned my right-sided pain. As soon as I said that sometimes the whole right side of my body hurts, he said, “Boy, you really have some bad migraines, don’t you?” So I asked him if the pain was all migraine related, and he said yes, sometimes more than just the trigeminal nerve can be affected. Sometimes neurons in the brain get so irritated that they just start sending out all kinds of signals. It made me feel so much better to know that my doctor didn’t think I was crazy or it was all in my head. Physically I don’t feel any better, but that’s okay for now. Mentally I feel relieved.
As far as my meds go, right now I’m stepping up to 200 mg of topamax a day. He said we’ll get there and try that for a few weeks and see if it works, then see if I need something else. He’s not sure if I need something on top of the topamax or instead of the topamax. I think he’ll let the neuro decide, or make that decision with him. Like I said in my other post, I really trust my PCP. He sent me to this neuro, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

I had a moderate migraine this afternoon, probably from stress, and then I had the worst vertigo attack I’ve ever had. All I did was go to look at the caller ID on the phone and I almost bit the dust. Thank goodness hubby was there and saw what was going on and got me to a chair. Never a dull moment!
So that’s the report for the day, friends. I will, of course, keep you posted. Thank you for all of the support, information and well wishes.

Hi Melissa,

We know you are not crazy!

Have you seen all our information on Topamax? It is important make increases in small amounts with this medication as you will see in the article. Click HERE for that information.

A word of stress as a Migraine trigger if I may. Stress itself is not a trigger, but may make us more susceptible to our triggers. This podcast will help explain things very nicely! Is Stress a Migraine Trigger?

One last link and then I'll let you be! Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?

When you're up to it let us know how you are.

Melissa,

Sounds like you had a productive appointment! I'm glad it went so well. Please keep us posted on how you're feeling, k?

Thank you all again for all of your support and information!

I haven't had another big spill since that last vertigo spell when I came home from the dr's on Tuesday. So good news there. A few bad migraines interspersed with my little ones, but overall, things are okay here. The right-sided pain is still pretty constant. The large muscles in my thigh and upper arm start to burn now any time I try to do anything (like cook dinner or wash dishes). My neurologist wants to wait until September to do another brain MRI. I had white matter lesions on one in March. I worry about MS. I am really clumsy, but I've never had any definitive symptoms of MS otherwise, so he won't push the diagnosis. I don't want the diagnosis (migraine is plenty, thank you) I just don't want to miss something if its there and should be treated.

So anyway, the good news is no new news. Happy long weekend to all those celebrating!

I'm glad to hear your doctor is keeping a close eye on things with you. You're totally right - no news is good news.

Thanks for the update and please keep us posted, k?