chronic migraine condition after spinal surgery

I had cervical fusion c4 c5 c6 with c5 being removed(broken into 4 pieces in a semi rollover)and replaced.That was in 11-2010.Now in 6-2014-still have migrines on a daily basies....nothing helps for more than a brief period.Using a hot pad on my neck dulls the pain,makes it bearable.Have tried everything your husband has,plus pain blocks,trigger piont injections,electro therapy.......the pain is not always debilitating,tho always there.If anyone figures out how to help,I would be greatful to know.God Bless.

sephiam I have same. I find pyshical therapy exercise helpful.I do it at home a little every morning.5reps of ea.To Much is not good for this. Just enough to build up each week.No pain

i stumbled upon this while trying to research this in hopes to help my mom. she is in the same situation. and we have tried EVERYTHING. medications. acupuncture. nerve blocks. botox. at home hydration therapy. you name it. has anyone come across anything to relieve the pain? I know this post is old but im looking for hope everywhere and I am scared.
stay strong everyone

I have yet to find anything that helps,sorry.

God, I pray you find some relief. My son's scoliosis has worsened recently. He is being braced tomorrow to try to avoid surgery. He already suffers from severe migraines. They started to abate over the summer but now that schools backs they are returning. I'm terrified that the stressed of being braced 22 hours a day will make things worse. Wondering if surgery would be better..? But reading these blogs terrifies me, even though his surgeon is one of the top hospitals in the nation. Praying we make the right decision......

Try treximet. It will take the worst migraine away in 20 min.

I HAVE FOUND A PARTIAL SOLUTION!

I had spinal surgery in 1988, and also have bulging disc in my neck. Symptoms include Severe Migraine, Nausea, Dizziness, Need for Darkness, Need for No Sound, and No Ability to Function as I was bed ridden in searing pain! When I get better, I want to go to the Golden Gate and jump off because I never want to go through it again.

I saw countless doctors, none of which offered a solution.

Finally I came across Dr Robert Fox of San Pablo CA, who is a Neurologists.

The solution in short was this.

0) When the symptoms starts to occur take Sumatriptan, which needs a prescription.

I am in IT, and am no expert, but from what Doctor Fox said, the blood cells get inflamed from my back and neck injury, and then travel to my brain setting off the synapses and cause a migraine,

The Sumitripan reduces and prevents the blood cells from getting inflamed, reducing the effects of or eliminating the migraine.

1) Whether the symptoms come or not, every night before I go to best I take a warm shower and stretch my neck in the shower, rolling the shoulders, gently swiveling the head clockwise and counter clockwise, and raise my arms back and forth over my head. Again I do this every night, regardless of how I feel.

2) If I feel a migraine coming on, I STOP what I am doing immediacy, and do steps 1 and 2.

3) I try not to turn my neck or back to far right or left or an extended period of time as a general practice.

4) Be vigilant when a Storm Fronts are coming through, or you Know when Stressful Situations are coming up.
(Try to stretch, breath and be prepared to use the Sumatriptan).

Of note, drinking red wine and oversleeping has also caused me migraines.

I also use Real Time Pain Relief, lotion to rub on neck and back, during the onset and in pain.

Now, I still get a migraines from time to time. However, they are not nearly as severe, and pass a lot faster.
Where the migraine used to last 8 to 10 hours, they now last about 3 hours. Where I would miss an entire day of work, and feel like hell the following day, I now miss about a half of day of work.

I hope this helps, as I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

Regards, Stuart Damon

In the late 1980's I broke my neck body surfing in Southern California. The Drs acted like I was crazy, this last for 18 years. Luckily my wife stood by me, saw me physically fall to the ground if someone called my name and I turned to look to fast. When we went to move to the Mid-West my Allergist asked what was the plan for my neck. That's when we found out C5, C6 were broken I had headaches, migraines 24/7. I had bone graft with donor bones woke with no headaches or migraines except a few a year. Now they are back 24/7 I have stroke like symptoms, over 1 eye also. Seeing a new neurologist trying to get answers now. Good luck to all & God Bless!

Thank you for your advice. I will use it wisely. I can't take any meds for migraines I've suffered a stroke so that's my down fall for me, but recommended it for all others. Also use to route from different types of migraine meds too. The Dr said it helped so the body didn't get use to just one type.

I too had a spinal fusion done 4 months ago. 1 week after surgery my eyes began swelling and now if my eyes aren't swollen, I get excruciating headaches. It is so frustrating. I'm going to see a neurologist , I need answers. This was my 3rd back surgery.

I am in the same boat as you, very frustrating and its 24/7. Can't drink , eat rich foods or have good sex without worrying I may have an episode. Have you found any relief ?

none as of yet. Looking as more surgery is needed(with no promises).

I know this sounds simple but please try. Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water. So if your 130 lbs, you should drink 65 ounces of water but def drink half of your body weight. You may still get them but I get headaches so bad I get headache hangovers, but pls, pls, pls try that, I promise you'll notice a difference!!

I have migraine along with vertigo. 1 year out from L3,4,5 fusion. Trying a blood patch next week.

I have had symptoms like motion sickness since spinal fusion (L3,4,5) and lamendectiomy. Classic spinal leak....but after 4 MRI's no leak and no answers. Please help.