I'm sorry to hear about your migraines. I started having them in my early 20's and they continue through today over the past 20 years. I've tried everything including your meds with no success. My migraine level type headaches have lasted over 4 weeks in one continuous attack. The only thing that I can take is Maxalt (similiar to Imitrex) that reduces the pain but I feel bad side affects like weakness, constipation, naseau, etc. The pill is sometimes worse than the migraine but I can't afford the shot from the ER which is the only thing that gives temporary relief. I eventually couldn't work after dealing with migraines for so long. I also was told about TMJ and had a mouth piece made but it made no difference. It impacted my personal life (I'm married) and depressed me. I also tried a Neurotomy which is when the burn out your nerves around the part of your head that has the pain. The DR believed that if your head is numb at that location of pain, you wouldn't feel it. Wrong! The pain got worse and when the nerve grew back it caused my migraines to be more severe. I went on disability because of my migraines and I had over 10 years of medical evidence proving that I had done everything possible to fix the problem. Today, I take pain meds like percocet and an extended release medicine for pain. Unfortunately, people don't understand that people can have migraines all the time and it can ruin your life. I hope you can find some meds that will help you live more comfortably. You are not alone with this problem. I would try for disability if you can because it's hard to work with migraines. After being a manager for 15 years, I just couldn't work anymore and missing days means getting fired. Good luck to you!

i am already on disability due to a car wreak i was in 7 years ago. in a nutshell; hit by a drunk driver, the driver seat broke sending my head through the rear passenger window severely injuring my neck and head.( increasing the headaches i had already been dealing with for 13 years.) the headache specialist that put me on the topamax and nadolol didnt give me anything for when i do get headaches and i cant get in to see her again until april. i am already on oxycodone, cymbalta and flexeril but nothing touches the migraines unless i go to the E.R. and get the heavy hitting "cocktail" shots. but if i go more than like twice a YEAR they treat me like im a drug seeking junky. i am supposed to see a new pain management doctor on the 9th so i'm hoping he can help. as i'm sure you all know it can really get to you and i am going through a depressed stage right now over it all.


Question: when any of you go through the days (weeks) long headaches do you have a muscle at the base of your skull/top of your neck that is not there when you dont have the headaches???

Hello, fellow Washingtonian! I have had the most relief in 47 years of trying to get Migraine relief. I have an assortment of medical problems, including Fibromyalgia. I go to a pain specialist MD in Poulsbo . She has me on Heparin, a blood thinner, taken under my tongue twice daily. I am now having maybe 1 headache that I can susccessfully treatr with Axert every 2 or 3 MONTHS, yes MONTHS! I previously was in bed about 2 or 3 days a week with trips to the ER about every 4 to 6 months. ER's don't reallly have any solutions, but we get desparate. I don't understand why they can't just knock us out with strong sedatives. Anyone out there ever tried that?
Contact me, personally for the Doc's name if you are interested.
Good Luck,
Ali