DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 40-year-old woman and suffer from headaches. I have seen several doctors who diagnosed me with a migraine or stress headache. I have seen my general physician several times over the years but he has not ordered any testing. He told me I have migraines and gave me a narcotic medication to take as needed.
I was wondering if there is a possibility that the headaches were caused by head trauma? During a previous marriage my husband was abusive and beat my head against concrete. I was also in a car accident a few years later where my head went through the windshield. I was never tested with an MRI or CT scan following these injuries. I don’t recall if the headaches started after one of the events but I do know that they have been increasing in severity over time.
I am so tired of being in pain because of my headaches. Do you have any suggestions?
DEAR READER:
Chronic headaches can be very difficult to treat. Nearly all people experience a headache at some point in their lifetimes, often because of stress. There are some individuals, however, who have headaches on a regular basis for a variety of reasons or no reason at all. Migraine sufferers know all too well what it is like to feel perfectly fine and then all of a sudden have the beginnings of a headache which can escalate to a debilitating state rapidly.
There are several types of headaches including tension (caused by stress), cluster (caused by blood vessel abnormalities) and migraine (caused by abnormal levels of serotonin and blood vessel abnormalities). Migraines can cause blurred vision, stiff neck, lightheadedness, sensitivity to light or noise, and more. Tension headaches can cause neck and shoulder stiffness or soreness and head pain. Cluster headaches generally cause only head pain but occur in clusters over several days, weeks or even months. Because you do not say what symptoms you have other than pain, I cannot be sure what type of headache you have. However, you have been repeatedly diagnosed with migraines by several different doctors, so I must assume that the doctors are correct.
Because you have had headaches on a regular basis you should see a neurologist who can order thorough testing to include a CT scan or MRI of your brain to determine if your previous head trauma has caused permanent brain damage which may have led your headaches. If the testing is normal, the neurologist will also be up to date on the latest treatment options or if he or she feels the headaches are not coming from the brain, can refer to you an appropriate specialist.
In the meantime, you need to take steps to prevent the headaches as much as possible by reducing your amount of daily stress and relaxing whenever possible. Let me know what happens.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Headaches”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092.