Headaches

[Kaitybugsmom]

Since our daugher had her tonic clonic a week ago she has had a pretty constant headache. Does this happen to anybody else? Her Dr doesnt think its related to her seizure however he said if it continues through the weekend he is going to consider and MRI on Monday.

[epileric]

A neurologist of mine once told me that neurological headaches have a constant pressure instead of a throbbing pain.

[Nakamova]

Tonic-clonics can put a lot of physical stress on the body -- including the neck and head -- which could be contributing to the headache.

Other possible factors:
-- If she hasn't been eating or drinking normally since the seizure, dehydration and low blood sugar could be causing the headache or making itworse.
-- Did your daughter go to the ER? Did they do a spinal tap/lumbar puncture there? Those can cause a lingering headache.
-- Was she put on any meds? Those can also have headaches as side effects.

Has she tried all the OTC pain relievers? I found that for certain seizure-related headaches, Tylenol worked better than the ibuprofen that I ordinarily use for pain.

[Aaleayha]

I have consistent and constant headaches. But mine is due to the bone spurs pressing against the spinal cord and my stenosis. I can't really do anything but take Tylenol.

Though lately that hasn't been working and I sleep whole days away to avoid feeling it.

[Endless]

How bad is the headache?

Seizures and migraines are highly comorbid. Comorbid = if you have one you are much more likely to have the other. Many people get post-ictal headaches, for example.

Migraines can last days, even weeks. I once had one that lasted almost a month. (ugh) Migraines can also be throbbing or constant. Something that works for me is to pack my head and neck in ice/gel packs. It doesn't always take the pain away but it seems to make it a little better.

Your neurologist is right to do an MRI to rule out anything else. Ask for a diagnosis on what type of headache it is. There are dozens of types. If it's a migraine you might want to ask him about migraine preventatives. What is her seizure medication? Many of them have two effects - prevent seizures and prevent migraines. I think Depakote and Topamax are the only ones with FDA approval for that purpose. But lots of them seem to work.

Researchers are studying other types of anti-seizure drugs for migraine prevention. These include levetiracetam (Keppra), gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), zonisamide (Zonegran), and tiagabine (Gabitril).

http://www.umm.edu/patiented/article...s_000097_8.htm

I'd add Lamictal to the list of things that might work, too.

[Kaitybugsmom]

Thanks for all the responses!

In the beginning no she wasnt. After the seizure she became pretty ill (vomiting/nausia) I would say by Tuesday she was back to eating/drinking normally. She was seen in the ER and no they didnt do a spinal tap. Seizure was on a Sat and her we were in to see her DR on Monday. We havent tried the whole range of OTC remedies, however what seems to lessen them is a piggyback of tylenol and advil. Up until the seizure she very rarely had a headache. As of yet she is not on any medications as this was her first seizure. Her primary Dr. and the neurologist do not want to put her on any medications untill she has another seizure OR the EEG shows abnormal results. Her EEG was on Thursday so we are hoping to hear something the beginning of this week. Its amazing the number of people who are appauled that they didnt put her on anything. Personally, I am glad that they are not jumping the gun. I don't really want her on something with horrible side effects if she doesnt need them, or doesnt need them right now.

What had me worried is that the morning of her seizure she had been complaining of a headache prior and *BAM* So now, the worry wart in me comes out when she says she has a headache that is lasting all day and night with what seems little relief.

[Nakamova]

I agree -- no need to start medicating ,as long you and the doctor are keeping an eye on things. I hope the EEG is helpful.

[Kaitybugsmom]

Dr's office called and wants an MRI this week. Also asked us to keep a headache log. After I read Endless' comment I searched out info on migrains. Im not sure she is suffering from them. She doesnt seem to have any of the other things associated with a migrain. No nausia to speak of, not light sensative etc. However, yesterday she had a headache attack with nausia that kept her in the bathroom from 3rd period - 6th period. She said she felt the same way yesterday that she did the night/morning she had her seizure. Maybe this is her aura? I was reading a post earlier about aura but no seizure. Just extremely frustrated at the moment and I'm not even sure why. Maybe I should have posted this in the padded room.

[Endless]

Migraines can happen with no aura and just a headache, or just the aura and no headache (a silent migraine). People can have one or more of the many types of aura, all, some, or none. A headache attack with nausea really does sound like a migraine. She could have both migraines and seizures, or just one of them. That's why a good neurologist is so important. They can sort out what's happening, or at least take a good guess at it. Just my amateur opinion, I bet she has both seizures and migraines.

[Aaleayha]

I get aura's with no following seizures at times. I also get awful headaches where all i can do is just lay down in the dark. My mom thinks the headaches are a signal sometimes because most of the time afterwards, i would have a seizure.

[Kaitybugsmom]

Kait had her MRI today. Dr. ordered STAT results due to the fact that she still (almost 2 weeks now) has a headache. Results were normal. No abnormalities found. *sigh* relief on one hand, defeat on another. Relief that there is nothing major going on in the brain. So for now I am going to say they are migraines or perhaps maybe during her seizure she knocked something out of whack and it just needs to be given time.

Thank you all for the support. You have no idea how much this forum is helping me.

[Aaleayha]

You can try going to a chiropractor. Usually when your neck or shoulders have a pinch nerve, you can get some really bad headaches. I know the chiropractor can at least make sure all her bones are correctly aligned.