cantilena -> RE: why does the pain from myy headache move from spot to spot? (7/7/2008 8:05:03 PM)
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ORIGINAL: mistoferin Because I have heard so many people say "Oh, I have a terrible migraine" while they are at work, laughing and joking, working on their computer, talking on the phone or even doing manual labor. A migraine is a very specific type of headache with very specific symptoms that is debilitating and incapacitating. The work up, history and testing required to diagnose them is very intensive and costly. X-rays, CT Scans, MRI's, Lumbar punctures to rule out other possible conditions. Hours pouring over medical histories, headache logs, special diets, trial and error to see what medications are effective. It's not as simple as walking in to a Dr's office and saying "I get these headaches" and walking out with an accurate diagnosis. I had Lyme disease for a very long time that went undiagnosed. One of the ways that it affected me was chronic migraine/cluster headaches that would last anywhere from a few hours to weeks at a time. I was literally hospitalized for over a year in a hospital that was dedicated to the treatment of head pain because of them. Those headaches entirely dominated my life. Laughing, joking, socializing, talking on the phone or typing on the computer were not options. The only things that I could manage to do during one were hide in the dark, pack myself in ice/hot packs, cry, puke and wonder if I was going to die.....sometimes even praying that I would do just that. I remember attending a presentation at the hospital that gave that 20%. estimate. They said that "I have a migraine" has become a catch-all phrase to indicate one has a headache, but in reality it is more often not the case. Ah, I see. Thanks for explaining. :) I've never heard that from anyone. Sure, people saying they have headaches, but not migraine. I do know what you mean by the pain, though, and the inability to do anything whatsoever besides pray for deliverance while laying on the bathroom floor. I'm among the lucky ones that does get quite substantial advance warning at onset. I understand others aren't so fortunate. I never went so far, or I should say my doctor never went so far, as to order a spinal. (Thanking goodness for that.) I did get a CT and MRI though - they were emphasising my neck as well as my head for some strange reason. The results, together with the symptoms were enough for her to diagnose what goes on with me. Thanks again for explaining what you meant. I've never heard people say that.
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