I've been suffering from headaches almost daily for a long time. They do not seem to be migraines, more like tension type. My primary care doctor casually mentioned seeing a neurologist; but others have mentioned pain specialists. Is there any consensus about what is the best type of specialist to see for this problem?
Don Marco wrote: > I've been suffering from headaches almost daily for a long time. They > do not seem to be migraines, more like tension type. My primary care > doctor casually mentioned seeing a neurologist; but others have > mentioned pain specialists. Is there any consensus about what is the > best type of specialist to see for this problem?
Perhaps you are suffering from rebound headaches? Have you been taking OTC medicines for the headaches? Maybe you just need to take a break from them and suffer through a week or so of bad headaches so that your brain chemistry has a chance to rebalance itself.
I suffer from daily headaches as well and if it's a choice between neurologist or pain specialist, I'll always take a neurologist. But I prefer a GP who is comfortable with prescribing opiates and triptans because unlike neurologists and pain specialists, GPs are much less likely to treat patients as guinea pigs.
If you determine that your headaches are not rebound, then you will need an MRI just to make sure you don't have a tumor or something.
Juba wrote: > Don Marco wrote: >> I've been suffering from headaches almost daily for a long time. They >> do not seem to be migraines, more like tension type. My primary care >> doctor casually mentioned seeing a neurologist; but others have >> mentioned pain specialists. Is there any consensus about what is the >> best type of specialist to see for this problem?
> Perhaps you are suffering from rebound headaches? Have you been taking > OTC medicines for the headaches? Maybe you just need to take a break > from them and suffer through a week or so of bad headaches so that your > brain chemistry has a chance to rebalance itself.
> I suffer from daily headaches as well and if it's a choice between > neurologist or pain specialist, I'll always take a neurologist. But I > prefer a GP who is comfortable with prescribing opiates and triptans > because unlike neurologists and pain specialists, GPs are much less > likely to treat patients as guinea pigs.
> If you determine that your headaches are not rebound, then you will need > an MRI just to make sure you don't have a tumor or something.
Thanks to all for your thoughtful replies to my query. I probably should try tapering off my pain meds (Ultracet and OTCs) before going to a specialist, since that's something they'll suggest anyway, though I think I've tried this before.
In a way, I'm surprised to hear that neurologists aren't worth much in managing pain. OTOH, the ones I've briefly talked to seemed more concerned with organic disorders like Parkinson's. But the pain specialty centers I've contacted seemed more focused on treating disorders like spinal cord injury and arthritis.
On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:43:53 -0500, Don Marco <repl...@usenet.com> wrote:
>I've been suffering from headaches almost daily for a long time. They >do not seem to be migraines, more like tension type. My primary care >doctor casually mentioned seeing a neurologist; but others have >mentioned pain specialists. Is there any consensus about what is the >best type of specialist to see for this problem?
Don,
I have a combination of Migraine, chronic daily headache and pain associated with cervical degenerative disc disease. I started by seeing a neurologist. Be forewarned: They will ask you to try anti-seizure medication and/or anti-depressants. The anti-seizure medication will dull your thinking and make you gain weight. The anti- depressant medication will make having an orgasm almost impossible and most will make you gain weight. You can also expect slowed thinking from most of the anti-depressants but not as bad as with the anti-seizure med's. Another favorite is beta blockers. This is a wise choice with the fewest side effects (unless you have asthma).
Are your headaches one sided? How long do they last? What medications have you tried including OTC? Can you describe the pain as the headache progresses? Do you experience pounding?
Mike Berkowitz wrote: > On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:43:53 -0500, Don Marco <repl...@usenet.com> > wrote:
>> I've been suffering from headaches almost daily for a long time. They >> do not seem to be migraines, more like tension type. My primary care >> doctor casually mentioned seeing a neurologist; but others have >> mentioned pain specialists. Is there any consensus about what is the >> best type of specialist to see for this problem?
> Don,
> I have a combination of Migraine, chronic daily headache and pain > associated with cervical degenerative disc disease. I started by > seeing a neurologist. Be forewarned: They will ask you to try > anti-seizure medication and/or anti-depressants. The anti-seizure > medication will dull your thinking and make you gain weight. The anti- > depressant medication will make having an orgasm almost impossible and > most will make you gain weight. You can also expect slowed thinking > from most of the anti-depressants but not as bad as with the > anti-seizure med's. Another favorite is beta blockers. This is a wise > choice with the fewest side effects (unless you have asthma).
> Are your headaches one sided? > How long do they last? > What medications have you tried including OTC? > Can you describe the pain as the headache progresses? > Do you experience pounding?
> Best regards,
> Michael H Berkowitz
Thanks for the tips. I figured any doctor would ask questions like that because I've got them before. My headaches are bilateral, practically continuous, not pounding (just differing in severity), no auras or nausea, so I don't think they're migraine but tension-type. OTOH, the veins in my forehead are swollen, so maybe there is a vascular part.
I'm already on beta-blockers for hypertension, and have tried all OTC meds and herbals like cordylis and skullcap. I've found that naproxen works best, but like most analgesics, you can't take it too often or you get tolerance or rebound.
That's why I thought these anti-seizure or anti-psychotic meds in low doses sounded promising when I recently read of them--if you can take them daily. I don't mind feeling a little sleepy or gaining weight as long as the meds stop this damn pain. Did you find anything that worked well for you?
> Mike Berkowitz wrote: >> On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:43:53 -0500, Don Marco <repl...@usenet.com> >> wrote:
>>> I've been suffering from headaches almost daily for a long time. They >>> do not seem to be migraines, more like tension type. My primary care >>> doctor casually mentioned seeing a neurologist; but others have >>> mentioned pain specialists. Is there any consensus about what is the >>> best type of specialist to see for this problem?
>> Don,
>> I have a combination of Migraine, chronic daily headache and pain >> associated with cervical degenerative disc disease. I started by >> seeing a neurologist. Be forewarned: They will ask you to try >> anti-seizure medication and/or anti-depressants. The anti-seizure >> medication will dull your thinking and make you gain weight. The anti- >> depressant medication will make having an orgasm almost impossible and >> most will make you gain weight. You can also expect slowed thinking >> from most of the anti-depressants but not as bad as with the >> anti-seizure med's. Another favorite is beta blockers. This is a wise >> choice with the fewest side effects (unless you have asthma).
>> Are your headaches one sided? >> How long do they last? >> What medications have you tried including OTC? >> Can you describe the pain as the headache progresses? >> Do you experience pounding?
>> Best regards,
>> Michael H Berkowitz
> Thanks for the tips. I figured any doctor would ask questions like that > because I've got them before. My headaches are bilateral, practically > continuous, not pounding (just differing in severity), no auras or nausea, > so I don't think they're migraine but tension-type. OTOH, the veins in my > forehead are swollen, so maybe there is a vascular part.
> I'm already on beta-blockers for hypertension, and have tried all OTC meds > and herbals like cordylis and skullcap. I've found that naproxen works > best, but like most analgesics, you can't take it too often or you get > tolerance or rebound.
> That's why I thought these anti-seizure or anti-psychotic meds in low > doses sounded promising when I recently read of them--if you can take them > daily. I don't mind feeling a little sleepy or gaining weight as long as > the meds stop this damn pain. Did you find anything that worked well for > you?
For me, and based on reading here for quite a long time I seem to be in the minority - maybe a minority of one!, I have had success with topamax, 100 mg daily. I have taken it for a little over 4 yrs. it's available in generic form now. I suffer from migraines and had gotten up to 2 to sometimes 3 per week. Now I have only 4 per year that require additional intervention, and the maybe 6 others are so mild that OTC meds are adequate. The only side effect for me was weight loss, result of the loss of appetite - however I already have daily nausea with my chronic pain condition so this is not a big deal for me. Adding the supplement ensure to my diet keeps my weight up.
Others have had horrid side effects, resulting in topamax being called dopeamax. I feel lucky, and grateful. So, I may be one of the few who would say its worth a try - for migraines.
> I've been suffering from headaches almost daily for a long time. They > do not seem to be migraines, more like tension type. My primary care > doctor casually mentioned seeing a neurologist; but others have > mentioned pain specialists. Is there any consensus about what is the > best type of specialist to see for this problem?
