Afternoon,
I recently posted in the MS section, ER doc suspected MS and did 2 MRI's, one with contrast. I sill await results..
Possible a migraine lasts as long as over 2 weeks? The "brain pain" as I call it isn't severe enough to where I need strong drugs of any kind, I've just been using advil, but the pain is getting more constant. It used to be just electricity like stabs, then longer throbs or stabs in different areas. On two evening occasions I felt tremendous pressure, worse when I lied down. On several occassions when I wake up in the morning it feels as though I have a hangover. I have moments when I feel nothing. But for not one day have I gone without the "brain pain" in over 2 wks.
Possible a migraine could have those characteristics?
I should mention too that nausea comes and goes as well.
Also, I have had tremendous stress my life the last couple of mths?
Thanks,
H~
I just wanted to tell you that YES a headache can last two weeks.
I was motivated to find this forum when I had a headache that lasted 8 days a couple months ago.
I felt like there was something seriously wrong with me. I went to bed with it and even woke up with it (which isn't typical for me).
Then I did some research and found that there are others who have had headaches for that long.
I commonly get tension headahches daily but I did have that horrible constant migraine for 8 days or so recently.
Be patient.
I would definitely suggest you see a doctor so you can start getting on a program to deal with your headaches.
There are several new medications out there and you might just need to get a strong pain reliever/muscle relaxer to knock it out once and for all.
You might have to take a strong dose and go to bed and hopefully you could wake up feeling better....
Let us know how it goes,
Lauren
the med that my doctor gave me during that long headache was midrin. It has some muscle relaxer and pain med in it and I think it helped because a lot of mine was extreme tension in the forehead that I could not for the life of me release.
Hello and welcome,
I'm not a doctor so I can't tell you if a "migraine" can last two weeks. I can tell you I've had headaches that have lasted for two weeks. Unfortunately they can start as a migraine or really bad headache that you take a bunch of over the counter (OTC) medications for and the don't work and you keep taking more and the headache doesn't get better and eventually you get a rebound headache because your body needs the medication. Stress added to that cycle doesn't help. Your body doesn't relax so your muscles and / or blood vessels can't relax / constrict and so pain killers may cover the pain temporarily but don't really get a chance to work.
In that instance you usually need to see a doctor to get something to stop the cycle. Something a lot stronger. Unfortunately if your stress is strong enough and if you don't stop that doesn't always work. I often find I have to stop, stop the worry, stop the concern, relax, let the medications work and let the headache stop.
Good luck, let us know how it goes.
Nicky
Fall seven times, stand up eight.
--Japanese proverb
--Japanese proverb
Yes, Yes and YES!!!
I had one that lasted 33 days!!! I was not sure that I was going to survive the pain that I was in, and then the depression that caused.
Please stop taking the advil or any over the counter pain medications, that MAY be contributing to your headaches. You need a proper diagnosis before taking anything like that.
If it is a migraine that is lasting that long you need to take the right medication to stop the head pain and then figure out if you need something to prevent the headaches. If they are, advil may be causing rebound headaches like Nicky said. If not, you could still be causing more harm than good.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as I am not sure what else to tell you at the moment. Please find out the results and take it from there.
I had a false positive result for MS, with optic nerve swelling...see a good doctor who knows what they are talking about.
Take care and promise to let us know, ok???
Sara
Forum Moderator
Sara-Migraine/Headache Forum Moderator
Thanks for Visiting HealingWell.com
FROM:Nodiagnosisyet
Thanks everyone for your input, it has been really helpful.
Wow, it seems like it's been forever and I still have the "head pain" and still now word regarding my MRI. My GP is on vacay until January 7th and have not been referred to a neuro doc.
I guess I just wait.....I'd hate to go to just any clinic and ask for migraine medicine without really knowing what's wrong??
Any suggestions?
H~
Thanks everyone for your input, it has been really helpful.
Wow, it seems like it's been forever and I still have the "head pain" and still now word regarding my MRI. My GP is on vacay until January 7th and have not been referred to a neuro doc.
I guess I just wait.....I'd hate to go to just any clinic and ask for migraine medicine without really knowing what's wrong??
Any suggestions?
H~
Yes, it can last months even. I've had migraine for 2+ years, now. It sucks. If advil isn't helping, then you should probably discontinue it, because it's not good for the tummy anyway, if you're using it as much as you say you are.
Another thing to consider is that you may be having rebound headaches, which can be migraines and are extremely painful. Have you stopped drinking coffee or have gone on a diet recently? Are you taking a new medication or has something changed in your lifestyle in the past month? Look up Rebound headaches and you'll see that they can even be more painful than migraines. What you'll want to do is add back whatever changed in your life, if possible. Then, if it's something you're trying to cut out, cut it down a tiny bit each day, instead of all at once.
If it's not rebound I'd recommend finding a good pain management doctor, if your neurologist is unable to help you. In my experience, Pain Management doctors are WAAAAAAY better than neurologists for treating migraines of any duration. That's jsut mho, but I've heard the same from alot of other people, too. Good luck and I hope you'll feel better soon.
Jessica
http://migraineforefront.blogspot.com/
Hey,
My longest to date is 43 days of migraine filled fun. Two weeks is not that unusual.
I'm waiting to hear about MS as well. All the best and I hope it's negative for both of us.
Jen
crap..
I have been having migraines and the longest i have had is two days, but normally i loose part of my eyesight and half of my body goes numb...
but lately i have had this sharp ache'y pain 'behind my eyes'... and this is keeping me off school during the 'GCSE period' and i also have a holiday coming up...
anyone help me get rid of it quickly?:/
Hi Maggers,
Welcome to Healing Well, I would respectfully ask that you remember everyone here has a different experience of Migraine and other Headaches and none of us know it all, so a response like 'crap' can be offensive! A Neurologist will confirm to you that a single Migraine attack can last for up to a month or so.
As for your own headache, it sounds to me that you need to see a Neurologist preferable one who specialises in Headache. Especially becuase of your experience of numbness. There are no quick simple answers here as a Doctor needs to ascertain what is happening with you and find the right treatment for you personally.
I feel for you as it can take some time to get this right but hang in there, find a Neurologist who is a Headache Specialist and you won't go wrong. You may have to travel but you won't regret it!
take care
Ann
Co-Moderator of the Migraine/Headache Forum
DX: Hemicrania Continua, Chronic Migraine, IBS, Allergic Rhinitis and Heart Murmur
Meds: Imigran Injections, High Flow Oxygen, Mebeverine, Lansoprazole, Nasonex and Clarityn
Welcome to Healing Well, I would respectfully ask that you remember everyone here has a different experience of Migraine and other Headaches and none of us know it all, so a response like 'crap' can be offensive! A Neurologist will confirm to you that a single Migraine attack can last for up to a month or so.
As for your own headache, it sounds to me that you need to see a Neurologist preferable one who specialises in Headache. Especially becuase of your experience of numbness. There are no quick simple answers here as a Doctor needs to ascertain what is happening with you and find the right treatment for you personally.
I feel for you as it can take some time to get this right but hang in there, find a Neurologist who is a Headache Specialist and you won't go wrong. You may have to travel but you won't regret it!
take care
Ann
Co-Moderator of the Migraine/Headache Forum
DX: Hemicrania Continua, Chronic Migraine, IBS, Allergic Rhinitis and Heart Murmur
Meds: Imigran Injections, High Flow Oxygen, Mebeverine, Lansoprazole, Nasonex and Clarityn
Hi Maggers,
That is rough. I feel for you.
Ann is absolutely right. You NEED to see a Headache Specialist. The reason we are suggesting this is because your symptoms are indicative of one of several rare migraine variants. Some with different treatments than others. With a complete history and a more detailed understanding of your particular symptoms, a Headache Specialist is the one who will be able to give you a proper diagnosis.
It sounds like this is a common/recurring experience for you. But, if you have not been evaluated for this by a neurologist or GP before, you need to go have this checked out ASAP. This is for your safety, to rule out anything more serious (non migraine related). The chances of this being something more serious are small, but being safe is better than being sorry.
Best of Luck!
That is rough. I feel for you.
Ann is absolutely right. You NEED to see a Headache Specialist. The reason we are suggesting this is because your symptoms are indicative of one of several rare migraine variants. Some with different treatments than others. With a complete history and a more detailed understanding of your particular symptoms, a Headache Specialist is the one who will be able to give you a proper diagnosis.
It sounds like this is a common/recurring experience for you. But, if you have not been evaluated for this by a neurologist or GP before, you need to go have this checked out ASAP. This is for your safety, to rule out anything more serious (non migraine related). The chances of this being something more serious are small, but being safe is better than being sorry.
Best of Luck!
Post Edited (EvilFluorescents) : 2/7/2011 10:36:43 AM (GMT-7)
I had a migraine for 3 years!
I have been battling a migraine for several weeks now. The first 3 1/2 weeks were so severe that I would want to gouge my eyes out...felt like cutting my head off. The pain was nothing like I had ever experienced before. I suffered migraines all my like. I had an anterior cervical fusion in May 2010 at levels C5 & C6, with a plate & screws. It stopped the migraines although I still had muscle spasms quite often, which were very intense. I took Diazepam for that, and finally had some relief. It was the only muscle relaxer that did not make me
sleepy. November 2010 I had a lamenectoy at levels L5 & L6. I healed from that surgery. I had not driven since Feb 2010...at which time I fell on the ice, had a concussion, & lost my memory for a couple of months. Yes, you can say that I've kinda had a bad year or so now. about 2 months ago on the first time I started driving again, I got out of my car, turned my head very sharply to look behind me & got a severe pain in my head. I felt very dizzy, nauseated, and thought I was going to pass out. My son, immediately drove me to the closest ER. They did a CT scan, gave me about 4-5 different shots and were not able to relieve the pain. They prescribed some tramadol and a muscle relaxer and sent
me home. That night I was up all night in pain. The kids went to school the next day. That next night I could not take it any more and begged them to take me to the ER again. There they gave me about 3 different shots. Which took away the pain for several hours so I could go home and sleep. During the 3 1/2 weeks, I went to the ER another time and received some Norco....which only dulled the pain for a few hours, but it was nice anyway. I went to my primary care Dr., who referred me to the same neurologist who referred me for surgery in May 2010. They did an MRI and Xrays to make sure the hardware was still in place.
I felt such pain in my neck also, that I thought for sure something went wrong where I had the surgery. The neurologist sent me home with Tylenol 3. I got no relief, so he then prescribed the Norco, which helped. He referred me to Pain Management. So far I have had 2 series of 2 shots in the back of my head,
which they called a nerve black. It did lessen the pain somewhat...but the pain is still constant. I go back in a week 1/2 for the 3rd series of shots in my head. They hurt pretty bad. The doctor was talking about a epidural with the same type of medication they put in the nerve block. I don't understand this. The neurologist diagnosed me with occipital neuralgia. From what my primary care Dr. said, this would last for the rest of my life. When I looked up that diagnosis...it said that the pain would only last 3-4 minutes at a time. That's not my case. The pain management docs prescribed Celebrex and Gabapentin. The Gabapentin went from once a day, to now 3 times a day. If that doesn't
work, they want me to try a muscle relaxer Tizanadine. It does make me sleepy, but right now at this point I welcome sleep!! When I sleep, I don't feel the pain. I want to know if this is a nerve, why can't they just cut me open, and fix it. I am so tired of hurting, being a pin cushion, and taking so many pills. This has been such a long journey. I have been out of work since Feb. First workman's comp and later disability. Which is about half of what I was making. It's been so rough on the family and kids.
Does anyone know anything about this?
sleepy. November 2010 I had a lamenectoy at levels L5 & L6. I healed from that surgery. I had not driven since Feb 2010...at which time I fell on the ice, had a concussion, & lost my memory for a couple of months. Yes, you can say that I've kinda had a bad year or so now. about 2 months ago on the first time I started driving again, I got out of my car, turned my head very sharply to look behind me & got a severe pain in my head. I felt very dizzy, nauseated, and thought I was going to pass out. My son, immediately drove me to the closest ER. They did a CT scan, gave me about 4-5 different shots and were not able to relieve the pain. They prescribed some tramadol and a muscle relaxer and sent
me home. That night I was up all night in pain. The kids went to school the next day. That next night I could not take it any more and begged them to take me to the ER again. There they gave me about 3 different shots. Which took away the pain for several hours so I could go home and sleep. During the 3 1/2 weeks, I went to the ER another time and received some Norco....which only dulled the pain for a few hours, but it was nice anyway. I went to my primary care Dr., who referred me to the same neurologist who referred me for surgery in May 2010. They did an MRI and Xrays to make sure the hardware was still in place.
I felt such pain in my neck also, that I thought for sure something went wrong where I had the surgery. The neurologist sent me home with Tylenol 3. I got no relief, so he then prescribed the Norco, which helped. He referred me to Pain Management. So far I have had 2 series of 2 shots in the back of my head,
which they called a nerve black. It did lessen the pain somewhat...but the pain is still constant. I go back in a week 1/2 for the 3rd series of shots in my head. They hurt pretty bad. The doctor was talking about a epidural with the same type of medication they put in the nerve block. I don't understand this. The neurologist diagnosed me with occipital neuralgia. From what my primary care Dr. said, this would last for the rest of my life. When I looked up that diagnosis...it said that the pain would only last 3-4 minutes at a time. That's not my case. The pain management docs prescribed Celebrex and Gabapentin. The Gabapentin went from once a day, to now 3 times a day. If that doesn't
work, they want me to try a muscle relaxer Tizanadine. It does make me sleepy, but right now at this point I welcome sleep!! When I sleep, I don't feel the pain. I want to know if this is a nerve, why can't they just cut me open, and fix it. I am so tired of hurting, being a pin cushion, and taking so many pills. This has been such a long journey. I have been out of work since Feb. First workman's comp and later disability. Which is about half of what I was making. It's been so rough on the family and kids.
Does anyone know anything about this?
very sorry u had to suffer so much pain, so long. I have to tell u that i suffered for a week and a half of the same horrid migraines u suffered from. I have heard that they are called cluster headaches...which occur constantly. I had to take all of my maxalt pills(only 6 a month) and all 4 imitrex injections. finally i had gotten triggerpoint injections in my neck and top of shoulders. I still had a mild headache the next day when the numbness wore off. But I have heard that cluster migraines exist also....But i need to tell u that if u have severe migraines for 3 days that they recommend u go to the ER, becuz there are risks of migrainal strokes. so next time don't go that many days without any migraine treatment medicine, or else seek treatment.hope u feel better
Danielle
My son suffered from a condition called Chronic Daily Migraine Syndrome where he had a continuous migraine with associated abdominal migraine pain for 5 years, from when he was 11 until he was 16. We took him to 3 different neurologists and 2 different therapists. It was actually my Lyme Disease specialist that realized he also had Lyme Disease. We have both been treated for Chronic Lyme Disease now and his headaches have improved immensely. He only gets them when he is very stressed. While I am no longer getting sicker overall, my migraines are actually getting worse and I now have daily migraines, whereas I used to have them only 15-20 days a month. I have no idea why mine are getting so much worse, but I have recently had a sinus CT scan and am going to see an ENT specialist to see if there is anything they can recommend.
Hello,
I too have been told I have occipital neuralgia... im only 20. I have been told two reasons as to why I have it. One is restless leg syndrome that causes severe lack of sleep. Two is damaged nerves in my spine. When I was fifteen a woman slammed into my mothers car and pinned us between her jeep and a telephone pole. I found out after two years of back problems, I had ruptured two disks in my upper back (t4-t5 I believe ) and by this point they pretty much fused together pinching nerves in between. Every three months I get nerve blocks in these nerves between the disks. But, now the past three years I have had killer migraines that last for months on end. nothing has helped and I am now getting nerve blocks In my head. I have been tested for ms and all that stuff, nothing cane back possitive. Its been 3 years and im still suffering majorly. I dont know what else to do either. I worry for the worst possible scenario that no specialist has found yet.
Let me know if this is similar to your situation.
Thanks
I too have been told I have occipital neuralgia... im only 20. I have been told two reasons as to why I have it. One is restless leg syndrome that causes severe lack of sleep. Two is damaged nerves in my spine. When I was fifteen a woman slammed into my mothers car and pinned us between her jeep and a telephone pole. I found out after two years of back problems, I had ruptured two disks in my upper back (t4-t5 I believe ) and by this point they pretty much fused together pinching nerves in between. Every three months I get nerve blocks in these nerves between the disks. But, now the past three years I have had killer migraines that last for months on end. nothing has helped and I am now getting nerve blocks In my head. I have been tested for ms and all that stuff, nothing cane back possitive. Its been 3 years and im still suffering majorly. I dont know what else to do either. I worry for the worst possible scenario that no specialist has found yet.
Let me know if this is similar to your situation.
Thanks
Hello,
I'm new here since just a few minutes ago. I'm in the eighth day of a migraine. The last one I had was over ten years ago, and have never had one which lasted more than two or three days. I became really alarmed this morning when the headache was still here, so I decided to see if there were others out there who have had long term migraines.
This is off the migraine topic, and it's for babiblueyez 121. My wife has restless leg syndrome. She's on Clonazepam, but that doesn't always work. I would watch her at night when her legs would go out of control. It looked to me that they were short circuiting.
Knowing that we are electrical beings, I got some copper wire and an electrical clamp. I soldiered the other end of the wire to a copper bracelet which I bent so that it was large enough to fit on her ankle. I then clamped the wire to the pipes under the bathroom sink. I grounded her. The leg movement stopped almost immediately. None of her doctors had the slightest interest in this discovery.
babiblueyez 121, you might give this a try. In the meantime I'm going to explore this forum I just joined.
One more thing about my latest migraine, it seems to be related to C2 and C3 in my neck. If I put pressure on the right side of my neck in that area, the pain retreats. I'll keep you posted.
I'm new here since just a few minutes ago. I'm in the eighth day of a migraine. The last one I had was over ten years ago, and have never had one which lasted more than two or three days. I became really alarmed this morning when the headache was still here, so I decided to see if there were others out there who have had long term migraines.
This is off the migraine topic, and it's for babiblueyez 121. My wife has restless leg syndrome. She's on Clonazepam, but that doesn't always work. I would watch her at night when her legs would go out of control. It looked to me that they were short circuiting.
Knowing that we are electrical beings, I got some copper wire and an electrical clamp. I soldiered the other end of the wire to a copper bracelet which I bent so that it was large enough to fit on her ankle. I then clamped the wire to the pipes under the bathroom sink. I grounded her. The leg movement stopped almost immediately. None of her doctors had the slightest interest in this discovery.
babiblueyez 121, you might give this a try. In the meantime I'm going to explore this forum I just joined.
One more thing about my latest migraine, it seems to be related to C2 and C3 in my neck. If I put pressure on the right side of my neck in that area, the pain retreats. I'll keep you posted.
For the past 2 weeks I have been dealing with a really bad headache, nauseuas and disorientation at times. I have no appettite whatsoever. I go to my primary in 2 days but am getting a lil worried.I thought it was my diabetes at first then read up on my thyroid and got really worried. It could really be a lot of serious things. Whats really wierd is my husband has been dealing with just nauseus and headache,his has been going on for about 3 weeks. Any ideas ya'll?
have them order a western blot for lyme
Hello,
i have had a migraine now for 8 days and thought i should look this up to see if anyone else has this problem. turns out this is more common than it should be :(
i have been to the doctor as i was worried that this was the cause of an accident i had in 2011 taht left me with several locations on my brain bleeding but the doctor gave me a CT scan, hooked me up to an IV and pumped me with MEDS.... head pain is still there and the codeine prescription is running low. Should i contact my neurologist from my accident to see if possibly he can help or should i suck it up and wait another week to see if this goes away? i have already missed 1 week of work and even though im in pain im bored more than anything just lying in my bed......
i have had a migraine now for 8 days and thought i should look this up to see if anyone else has this problem. turns out this is more common than it should be :(
i have been to the doctor as i was worried that this was the cause of an accident i had in 2011 taht left me with several locations on my brain bleeding but the doctor gave me a CT scan, hooked me up to an IV and pumped me with MEDS.... head pain is still there and the codeine prescription is running low. Should i contact my neurologist from my accident to see if possibly he can help or should i suck it up and wait another week to see if this goes away? i have already missed 1 week of work and even though im in pain im bored more than anything just lying in my bed......
I have also had a severe headache on the left rear of my head for 2 weeks now and my left side keeps going numb or Tinggley and I have been very dizzy and nausea and any stress makes it lots worse and it is like I can't pay attention to anything for more than 10 minutes it took me a long time to write this I have been to urgent care and they gave me a painkiller that don't do any thing and the next day I went to the e-r and they did cat scan and a Mri and they didn't find anything it refer me to my primary care Dr I went to her and she gave me anti depression pills that only made me very sobby and depressed and I have been off work for 2 weeks now my wife doesn't understand and is trying tribute out how to pay the bills and gets upset at me because I can't understand that I can't work with this and the hr lady hasn't called me back whitch makes the pain increase