I have had severe headaches/migraines most of my life. Since about 11 and now I am 46.


In fact, I went to see a new neurologist in Dec because my headaches were worse and I was having visual problems, losing my balance as well as numbness and tingling in arms and legs. But I told the doctor that the headaches were so bad 2-4 per week.

That's when he did a thorough neuro exam (which was very abnormal) and began all the testing that led to my Dx of RRMS.

I have since read that migraines are more often seen in patients with MS.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216163324.htm

Hope you find help soon. I still do not have mine under control and I have tried most of the preventative as well as the abortives.

Yep. I've had a horrible one today. They are worse now that I have MS. Talk to your neuro. Advil will not cut it. You will be so thankful when you get some meds that actually WORK!

There is an MS symptom, as with all other MS symptoms, it can be caused by othet things...TN trigeminal neuralgia and I had Optic neuritis with pain and it was just a headache for about a month until the visual issues kicked in, then I understood what was happening. I did some steroids the headaches went away and my vision issues improved in a few months. Sometimes, for me, my MS symptoms take some time to evolve like that so I understand them.

TN websites:
http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/trigeminalneuralgia.html

http://www.umanitoba.ca/cranial_nerves/trigeminal_neuralgia/tutorial.html

No advise, only be alert. I have no idea how I could have handled it better :( and I think if I went tio the doc with head ache, I would have had to have waited for the visual issues to start more distinctly. I didn't realize they were happening until I had a fender bender and went to get my eyes checked because of THAT, found my vision had gotten worse and wondered if that was what was causing the headaches. Did steroids and the headaches improved too. So probably the ON cause my headaches.

thank you all for the replies. i really appreciate your input. thanks again, hugs, kelly

Actually it wasn't a fender bender some accused me af scraping his car in a tight parking garage. I did not think I had done it & went to get my eyes checked to be certain. I declined to accept responsibility because when I measured the scoughs from both cars from the ground they were at different heights. I think it was someone trying to get some insurance money....but I've got to tell you with MS vision issues, memory and cognitive issues a person really distrust themself!

I did find out my vision had taken a drop since the last vision test 8 months ago.

I have migrains for years due to MS, tried everything out there, the best thing I have found is Relplax. It is a prescription with outside side effects. It immediatly relieves the tension in the neck muscle and works it way up. With out insurance, it is very expensive. IT WORKS!!!

Could you be having some hormonal changes? I have had migraines since my early teens... still struggle with them significantly. I find that they are worse at monthly intervals... although since my hysterectomy, it is hard to determine when my ovaries are active...Come to think of it, never had them when I was pregnant... Also I get tension headaches, sinus headaches etc. Yay for me. lol
Although I have read that headaches are more prevalent in people with MS, the doc says that there is nothing on the MRI to explain them.

Pay attention to what is going on around the time you get a migraine... maybe you will be able to identify the triggors.

Excedrine really does work better than the other over the counters IF you catch the headache early enough.

Take care of you!

I found this interesting as I didn't know that migraines could be linked to MS...don't know why it would surprise me though, nothing should with this MonSter. Anyway I have had them for a while and I forget the name of the med my neuro gave me for when I am having an awful migraine however I do know it is one that goes under the tongue.

I take Topamax every night though as a preventative and it has done a pretty good job for me so far! Just thought I would share that info. something worth checking into if you haven't tried it yet. Hope you find something that helps as I know how they can be! All the best to you!
Take care.

I have had severe migraines for over 10 yrs now. Originally dx as hemiplegic migraines - hit my right side head & paralyse left side body quick. There are warning signs (now that I know) & so can try to head them off. With ms they got worse.

Tried all sorts of drugs & combinations & in the end have been put on old fashioned remedies - Allegron at night, verapamil in the morning (both can be used for hypertension & other things too) & also periatin (antihistamine) which is a very good migraine tablet but can make you very fatigued. I take it at night.

Neuro or general Dr can prescribe all of these. periactin is available over the counter here too, without a script.

I get them all the time and i now get headaches everyday due to the ms. I have been like this for over 3yrs now. Try Imigran or Naramig they are migraine tablets. If you take them for a normal headache they will not work they only work for migraines. Best of luck as i know how you feel. Headaches are the worst thing especially when you get them almost everyday.

does your neuro seem to think the migraines are related to the MS?

mine treats me for the migraines, but he seems to act as if they are two different enities.

he says, something along the line of...the MS may trigger a migraine.

Does anyone no if migraines are a true symptom of MS?

thank you everybody for the input, advice and your experience. i am waiting to get an appt w/ my neuro. thanks again, hugs, kelly

Reply #11 from the national multiple sclerosis page there is this about symptoms:

Headache is lested as a less common MS symptom:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/symptoms/index.aspx

And if Headaches are selected, this discription comes up:

Although headache is not a common symptom of MS, some reports suggest that people with MS have an increased incidence of certain types of headache.
Learn more about Headaches

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/symptoms/headache/index.aspx

I have had migraines on and off all my life, triggered absolutely by stress. I will say that the stress that causes them is sometimes not the kind I am even really aware of, it that makes sense. And light directly into my eye, especially when it is a little dark and the light is very bright. So loud noises at the wrong time can do it, and when it is hot, I am always more prone.

I have learned to feel them coming, hard to even say what lets me know, but after all these years, it is rare for them to just be there. I take Advil the monute I feel it coming, and i drink 6 ounces of pineapple juice many mornings. Years ago a doctor suggested that since I worked in a restaurant and we kept it stocked, that if I felt one coming on to drink one or two cans. It does help, and there are no side effects, and it tastes good ,which is kind of telling because most of the time when i have one, nothing stays down, let alone tasting good.

Oh, I have decided that it is attached to MS in my case, just my decision. I think that a ceratin part of MS is the inability to process stress, and having alot of it. That is JMO, but I have yet to have a doctor disprove it, LOL.

Pineapple juice. Interesting. I have had migraines on and off most of my life too... first one at age 12. They seemed to have come in clusters throughout my life. Like, pretty common throughout my teens, lessened till I was in my mid twenties, then came on full force again till my thirties. The past several years, the really bad migraines have been less often, but I will have periods of time (like a month long) where I have several very bad headaches.

I will have to give the pineapple juice a try.