8
8'Duece
Guest
I've been a severe migrain sufferer for years after recieving major head trauma due to a severe automobile crash in 2000. The usual course of treatment for aborting a severe migraine can be anything from oral medications, intramuscular injections, IV therapy with meds etc. Migraine sufferers generally have severe pain, photophobia, nausea and vomiting and numbness in the upper cervical area to include the shoulders (sometimes, but not all)
I've experienced just about every method of treatment during ER visits and I have not responded well to injections such as Toradol, an anti-inflammatory medication that is used to relieve the inflammation of the blood vessels through out the brain. Some patients respond well to this medication, however the vast majority of migraine sufferers do not. I am one of those patients. Forget the oral medications. Nothing has worked for abortive treatment with these medications, unless you've got a headache not true migraine. Some medications for prophylactic treatment do work very well. These include Propanalol (Beta Blocker) and other oral medications sometimes for depression. Studies have shown that even an oral vitamin daily dose of B-2 has prophylactic effects. To which I have been prescribed both for daily use.
Tonight I had one of the most severe migrains I've ever had. I attempted to abort the migrain with Zomig and over the counter pain relievers to no avail. I was extremely photophobic and vomiting and dry heaving about twice an hour. I went to the ER and my BP was 135/108. Obviously pain raises the BP and is a sign to the nursing staff that pain is truely present. (if I where within normal limits it's possible that I'm a drug seeker per ER non-standard protocols)
In the past I was alway's given 2mg Dilaudid, 20-40mg of Phenagan and a second injection of Toradol. Doping the patient is common practice with this routine type of migraine. All ER docs and nurses are aware of drug seeking behaviors and I am not one of them so I've had this course of treatment many times by many doctors in the ER.
Tonight was different. I didn't want to be doped up. I've got too much to get accomplished this week and I can't stay in bed all morning and afternoon high as a kite on Dilaudid. Once the physician came into the room he asked "What works for you" I told him my past with narcotics and anti inflammatory injections but that I would rather give a non-narcotic approach to aborting this particular migraine.
He tells me of a rather new procedure called Cervical Injections. My first thought was that it would be much like a spinal tap but in the cervical region of the spine. :eek:
In short they injected something similar to Lidocaine into the lower cervical region of the back of the neck into the ganglia of the lower cranial nerves. Within about 7 minutes I was completley pain free and then was given an injection of Phenagan for the nausea.
Here is a great article about this treatment option. It may not work for everybody and you may have to stick with a narco approach to abortive relief of the pain, but it has worked for me and up typing and reading and able to drive myself without being under the influence of strong narcotics. It has a long lasting effect so unlike narcotic medications it has a longer half life to it's treatment. Many migraine sufferers go to sleep after narcotic injections/IV only to wake to a rebound of the migraine.
Just some good info for docs, and the like if you have migraine sufferers in the field and you need them on their feet and 100% alert. The medication used in both sides of the lower cervical region was Buvicaine.
HERE: http://www.neurologist-doctor.com/images/Mellick_Headache_injections.pdf
I've experienced just about every method of treatment during ER visits and I have not responded well to injections such as Toradol, an anti-inflammatory medication that is used to relieve the inflammation of the blood vessels through out the brain. Some patients respond well to this medication, however the vast majority of migraine sufferers do not. I am one of those patients. Forget the oral medications. Nothing has worked for abortive treatment with these medications, unless you've got a headache not true migraine. Some medications for prophylactic treatment do work very well. These include Propanalol (Beta Blocker) and other oral medications sometimes for depression. Studies have shown that even an oral vitamin daily dose of B-2 has prophylactic effects. To which I have been prescribed both for daily use.
Tonight I had one of the most severe migrains I've ever had. I attempted to abort the migrain with Zomig and over the counter pain relievers to no avail. I was extremely photophobic and vomiting and dry heaving about twice an hour. I went to the ER and my BP was 135/108. Obviously pain raises the BP and is a sign to the nursing staff that pain is truely present. (if I where within normal limits it's possible that I'm a drug seeker per ER non-standard protocols)
In the past I was alway's given 2mg Dilaudid, 20-40mg of Phenagan and a second injection of Toradol. Doping the patient is common practice with this routine type of migraine. All ER docs and nurses are aware of drug seeking behaviors and I am not one of them so I've had this course of treatment many times by many doctors in the ER.
Tonight was different. I didn't want to be doped up. I've got too much to get accomplished this week and I can't stay in bed all morning and afternoon high as a kite on Dilaudid. Once the physician came into the room he asked "What works for you" I told him my past with narcotics and anti inflammatory injections but that I would rather give a non-narcotic approach to aborting this particular migraine.
He tells me of a rather new procedure called Cervical Injections. My first thought was that it would be much like a spinal tap but in the cervical region of the spine. :eek:
In short they injected something similar to Lidocaine into the lower cervical region of the back of the neck into the ganglia of the lower cranial nerves. Within about 7 minutes I was completley pain free and then was given an injection of Phenagan for the nausea.
Here is a great article about this treatment option. It may not work for everybody and you may have to stick with a narco approach to abortive relief of the pain, but it has worked for me and up typing and reading and able to drive myself without being under the influence of strong narcotics. It has a long lasting effect so unlike narcotic medications it has a longer half life to it's treatment. Many migraine sufferers go to sleep after narcotic injections/IV only to wake to a rebound of the migraine.
Just some good info for docs, and the like if you have migraine sufferers in the field and you need them on their feet and 100% alert. The medication used in both sides of the lower cervical region was Buvicaine.
HERE: http://www.neurologist-doctor.com/images/Mellick_Headache_injections.pdf