Grounded by incredible twenty years of 24/7 major headache - HELP!!

[RetiredTooEarly]

Preview http://static.pprune.org/images/infopop/icons/icon13.gif Grounded by incredible twenty years of 24/7 major headache - HELP!!

With some 20,000 hours in RPT I developed a major headache in 1989. It reached the stage that in 1997 I was forced to retire at the tender age of 53 - way too early as my nic suggests!

OK, I am past the flying employment at 65 but am now wondering if anybody in the forum - or anywhere - can think what could have caused this that might be aviation related??

Don't even bother suggesting scans, MRI's X'Rays, blood sampling or any of the ten thusand pills, potions and alternative medications I have been on.

There would not be one arm of the medical or alternate medicine profession that has not analyzed me from top to bottem and absolutelty nothing has ever been remotely observed that could cause this pain.

The only outstanding symptom that has been with me from day one is that if I rapidly brake my car and then immediately accelerate away I pass out totally and completely. One would think this was like waving a red flag at a bull in terms of recognition of the problem but every neurological test imaginable has been conducted on my old skull and neck and not a thing is out of the normal.

In fact from top to toe the zillions of tests have proven that I have one good body both inside and out for a old guy! Of course this is the frustrating part. Now fully retired I have to live with this severe pain for possibly another 20-25 years, not a pleasent prospect!

I am on 1 x 80 mg of oxycontin a day and that keeps me sane but have weaned myself off alll the anit depressenats, uppers and downers etc. that I have swallowed over the period for far too many years.

Si here I sit in the pink of health with a monster headache slamming me down 24/7 every day. Go to bed with, wake with, spend the day with it and no cure in sight.

Do a Google on "world's longest headaches" and I am the first hit you will come across - damn sad but true

I am confident that I have been to the best of the best in doctors, specialists and the like and have been on the medical merry go round so many times I will never get on it again as it takes more out of you than the actual condition.

So, I'm done guys and gals - open to anything that might help, particularly related to such illness origination from an aviation cause that might be investigated.

And a reminder, the latest MRI of my brain and neck is what most doctors want to put up on their wall as an indication of how a healthy brain should like, similar with sinus's etc.

The issue of pshycosamatic pain has been long ago discounted and as this severe pain does not react to any type of pain killer other than opiate based, it is undoubtadly some sort of nerve pain causing the problem.

H-E-L-P

[mad_jock]

Have you tried the ciro linked with dentist option?

Funny thing teeth, deferred pain can be a bitch.

Another option is someone that does the Alaxander Technique.

[gingernut]

Hi RTE, it does sound like you are a mystery to modern medical science. (Don't worry too much about that, modern medical science 'aint that good).

Reassuringly, the tests you've undergone, would suggest that this thing 'aint gonna kill you, although the quality of your life seems to be suffering.

This fact doesn't really help you much though. It sounds like you may be suffering from chronic pain (?syndrome), anyone mentioned a referral to a pain clinic?

The results can sometimes be startling.:)

[poina]

you're a good case for medical marijuana.

[Loose rivets]

I'm a retired pilot, not a doctor, but have had an interest in classical migraine for may years, having seen the devastation it causes.

I'm not suggesting your problem is migraine.

Apart from the very real mechanical factor of forward and aft acceleration causing a severer reaction, can you describe where the pain is? 'Global' or back of the eyes, that kind of thing.

Are you sure that it is not emanating from the sinus cavities? This can feel near to 'all over pain' but often leaves the lower back of the head free. Major changes in atmospheric pressure should affect the pain, so I'm sure by now you would have some correlation in the timing.

The most important question is perhaps whether it lessens under certain circumstances. i.e. As you are falling asleep, or upon waking...does it wind up as you come to?

What I'm getting at is that many headaches are caused by muscular spasm. It might be no more than a subconscious process tightening things up because of a perceived danger/worry.

Go to bed with, wake with, Edit, I did take this on-board, but even the slightest modification with relaxation might be significant.

This might ease during the drifting off phase of sleep - giving a clue to the cause. A sudden easing of pain after a shock of some sort, is a major clue.

The muscles might be a 'global' network of linked but discrete units in the walls of blood vessels. Constriction is blamed for a lot of headaches.

The very physical nature of yours seems to suggest that there may have been something that triggered the process. This may have healed years ago, but left enough...damage is a too strong a word, but something, that is perceived as wrong.

While coping with this, have you ever been prescribed Valium? Or any other benzodiazepines? This is quite important.


It really does sound like a heavy burden and I hope that progress in medicine finds an answer for you so that you can have some years free of this problem. For now, let us know a bit more of the details.

I may be away from my computer after Sunday, but not for too long. LR

[poina]

RTE,

I'm not blowing smoke up your butt here. I don't use it either, but 5000 years of history in human pain relief may want to make a guy take a look. 1/3 of the states in the US have legalized marijuana for migraines and cancer pain to name a few. Now is being looked at for anti viral properties (can you say H1N1). It was only criminalized so the government can add more multi billion dollar layers of federal employment and citizen control. :mad: em!

[Mac the Knife]

Google for Botox and Migraine

As a piece of serendipity, Bahman Guruyon had a couple of Botox patients who spontaneously remarked that their migraines were better - he started investigating and there are currently trials running. Seems to have something to do with muscle spasm which doesn't sound like your problem but hey, what have you got to loose?

Botox and Migraine (http://www.anythingbutwork.com/health/migraine-botox.htm)

:ok:

Mac

[7120]

In recent years this is now recognised as a major cause of headahe. I don't know your past and present drug history but it may be worth looking further in to this area:

Headache caused by medication overuse - Healthcare Republic News (http://www.healthcarerepublic.com//news/index.cfm?fuseaction=HCR.News.GP.Article&nNewsID=766672&sHashCode=#AddComment)

Cheers

[Adamh707]

I would tend to lean towards what your lifestyle and diet is like?

When your headaches started, were you living somewhere new, doing somethingout of the ordinary, change jobs?

What does your average days diet look like. Do you drink "Diet" drinks, eat highly processed foods, do you get enough natural sources of minerals and vitamins.

Sometimes it may be one little thing in your body that isn't meant to be there, and your whole system will go haywire.

I am no doctor, but the benefits of eating whole healthy foods cannot be discounted.

[pulse1]

I would tend to lean towards what your lifestyle and diet is like?



A friend of mine was suffering almost continuous headaches and was advised that it could be due to diet.

He went on to a diet of rice and lamb, the only two foods known not to produce allergies. His headaches stopped and then he slowly introduced other foods until he discovered what he was allergic to. He ended up with very few restrictions to his diet and no headaches.

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

My sister has had migraines about every couple of weeks for most of her life, she's 53 now. She has just started craniosacral therapy and has been two months without a headache. She was very cynical at first but now says the only problem is that without being so sick with migraine so often she is putting on weight!

Might be worth a try?

[Pace]

Retired too early

Could a facelift put an end to your migraines? One-hour surgery offers hope to millions | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1203355/Could-facelift-end-migraines-One-hour-surgery-offers-hope-millions.html)

Dont know if this will help but maybe worth exploring. At worst you will look years younger :)

Pace

[Gassucker]

There is one test you should consider that has become fairly standard with people with severe headaches where no other cause can be found, and that is a detailed cardiac ultrasound to look for holes which communicate right to left side of the heart. These holes are very common and in some people allow blood which has been through the intestines and picked up digested chemicals and instead of 100% going to the liver to be processed and the chemicals degraded, some can then cross over into the left side of the heart and be sent to the brain. The result is severe headaches. If found the holes are closed via a catheter procedure and headaches instantly dissapear.
If all else has failed it is worth an exploration.

[Re-Heat]

Thyroid function failure caused some dizzy, washed out and headache feelings when I first undertook treatment (now all fine).

Considering that hormone levels are extremely difficult to analyse correctly, and hard to detect problems with, do you know if you T3/T4/TSH have ever been tested?

[crippen]

Have you tried ergotamine based products? Had migraines for 45 years and found 1/2 mg of ergotamine gets rid of them completely for up to 48 hrs.(see wikepedia.)

[onetrack]

RTE - CFI's mention of the craniosacral therapy is worth a try - with a careful therapist. The headache cause is usually a calciferous growth on a neck vertebrae that puts pressure on a spinal column nerve - which can create incredible pain, in many strange places. Headaches are a common result of this condition. It takes an extremely dedicated and peculiarly investigative doc to find this condition - as it rarely shows clearly on any X-rays, MRI scans, or other form of investigation. If the doc doesn't know what he's looking for, it doesn't help either.
The fact that you are experiencing blackouts under the conditions of heavy braking followed by acceleration, all point to the above condition.
The effect of heavy braking followed by acceleration, results in great pressure being applied to the neck region, as the head is effectively being whipped back and forth, due to the G's applied. Thus we have the common "whiplash" injury caused by being rear-ended whilst stopped. Despite the many false claims related to whiplash injuries, it is a real and painful complaint. Maybe you're a victim of an old whiplash injury that you've ignored for 20 years?

[Hawk]

You do not report a specific injury.

Nevertheless, intuitevely I think it might be worthwhile looking up Post Concussional Syndrome. Your dates of original symptoms should elimate that after two years. Since the condition is not offically a "diagnosis" you have probably come up against the frustrating run-around. However, your reported symptoms including issues with "blacking out" during car acceleration is usually associated with an acute non-defined, neurological injury. In terms of ACS it usually clears up. Why they have persisted so long? Well, there is some theories about that but who knows. Might be a new avenue of enquiry for your personal research.

The posters' that refer to "whip-lash" injuries point to past and current areas of research into the above syndrome. I suspect though, in terms of current diagnosis and treatment you are falling between the conservative medical cracks in the floor.

Best wishes.

[RetiredTooEarly]

OK, taking them one by one:

I had an extensive and intensive series of tests and examinations on my whole dental system including the bite, jaw alignment, xrays etc. and nothing could be found. I finished up with a top (and damn expensive) dental surgeon/orthodontist who cleared me of any possibility of the headache coming from this area.

CPS or Chronic Pain Sydndrome? Yep have been to two pain clinics over the years who, other than jabbing my head and neck full of needles had nothing to offer. I am presently in line for yet another pain clinic at the Royal brisbane Hospital in Brisbane to start in July.

Medical maiijuana? Damn right, unfortunately Australia is many years behind the times in this field and it ain't gunna happen!

To "Loose Rivets", the pain has always been located centrally in the centre of my forehead where sinus pain is commonly found. As a consequence I have been to three ENT guys over the years and the last one wanted to keep by CAT scans as an example of how healthy sinus's should look - they were that good! I had some pretty extensive tests and examinations in this area including MRI's and "things" jammed up my nose but everything got the all clear. Strangely enough, I sleep pretty well, wake up in good shape though the headache is there instantly. As I said it is 24/7 and relaxation, stress, diet, nothing has any effect on it's presence or intensity. I've been down the Valium/Morphine/Serapax/Anti depressant path and though chirping me up a bit have never been all that successful.

Botox? Yep been there dun that! Hurt like hell but no luck!

Medication overuse. Yep, I have weaned myself off many of the drugs that have been prescribed, particularly pain killers, and never once did I feel like it was making any difference. I went through eight weeks of being totally tablet free and though a very unpleasant period, had no success yet again.

My diet is great as my wife is the Manager of the local fitness club and we eat only the good stuff. Cholestoral, blood pressure are great and hundreds of blood tests all come back well below average. Gets lots of exercise, am only a few k's overweight and walk a minimum of 30 k's a week at a reasonable clip. Nuffing!

Food allergies. Had the usual tests for them and also for any other allergies but zilch! Not a sign of any allergy to anything. Gave up caffeine and alchohol but nothing!

Craniosacral therapy? Sounds interesting this one and might be worth investigation. I did go to some guy who did some work on my neck and spine but no success. Have had innumerable deep therapy massages, chiropractors, sports injury specialists, acupuncture all to no avail.

Facelift? Yep strangely enough I did have a brow lift as the surgeon said the worry lines on my forehead could be the result of muscle tension. Cost me four grand but other than making me look a bit better, nothing!

Cardiac ultrasound? Nope, never done this one so will run it past my Doc and see what he thinks, certainly sounds interesting though!

Thyroid. Yep, all checked out fine.

Ergotamine. Doc said he felt the side effects of this drug were far too risky and wasn't prepared to run with them. I nonetheless did try them for a very short period of two weeks but no joy!

Whip lash/injury. No, never a thing my entire life.

Think I have covered all the much appreciated replies folks and apologies if I missed some. I still feel there is a blood flow/drainage issue here as the fainting effect I get with the start/stop is directly in the centre of my forehead where the pain is. Feels like my brain is "loose" and moving back and forth when this happens and whilst I have heard that air force pilots do get this condition from years of pulling high G forces, in my younger general aviation days the most I would have suffered would be a max of 3G for only a matter of seconds, really doubt this is the problem.

So, I'm stuffed Guys! Twenty one years on the medical merry go round and never once has the smallest condition been identified that points in the right direction!

Gertting pretty hard to live with I fear! :\:bored::{:(

[heavy.airbourne]

Wiesbaden in Germany has a clinic dedicated to handle pain problems which others can neither diagnose nor cure. Don't know the name as I never was there but it would be my first choice. Only place I know that specialized in pain. Good luck!

[notanastronaut]

Have you been tested for micro deposit of calcium in your inner ear?
Just a guess I am not a Doctor, but a friend of mine suffered of a similar issue. Finally (2 years into the ordeal) he went to the Mayo Clinic for a week and...voila'!
All the best.
NAA

[F.A.TAlbert]

RetiredTooEarly:
The only outstanding symptom that has been with me from day one is that if I rapidly brake my car and then immediately accelerate away I pass out totally and completely.

I have a gut feeling that this is no coincidence, it is an unusual event and if you can repeat it time after time then even if not directly connected with your headache, it certainly needs to be investigated.

I think notanastronaut might just be onto something...............

Good luck

[bbrunton]

I had an uncle who suddenly develpoed a headache one night. He went to bed and the next morning all was fine again. But, that night the headache came back. Again the next morning it was gone. That senario continued for several days. Finally, one night he decided to forego his usuall couple of drinks after dinner. No headache. He laid off alcohol for a few nights. No headache. Then he tried returning to his usual routine of a couple of drinks after dinner, headache. He eventually determined that alcohol was the cause. He gave up drinking and all was fine. After that all he needed to do to bring on a headache was take a few drinks.

Seriously, I highly recommend the Mayo clinic. I have flown several people there for diagnosis and treatment and have found the skills available there to be just awesome.

Good luck


Bill

[ikezu87]

I just read this post and would be nice to hear how you feel nowadays!

- Igor