In the weeks and months since my last visit to see my migraine specialist in Dallas I've begun to feel more and more like I didn't get the answers I wanted and expected from my visit. I noticed I felt that way again after my appointments with the pain specialist my local neurologist referred me to (the doctor who performed my radiofrequency rhizotomy [aka rfa] a few weeks ago).
Even after all this time and all these treatments and knowing what I know about my condition, a little part of me still hopes I'll show up at an appointment and the doctor will have some awesome thing to suggest that will make a humongous difference in my situation. In a way it's kind of astounding and quaint that I can still generate hope like that after all this time.
I'm feeling even more let down since my migraines and occipital neuralgia have returned to their pre-rfa level of frequency and intensity. Some part of me felt so sure this procedure would be the answer I was looking for. Something finally made sense about the pattern and characteristics of my migraines and neck pain when I learned about and was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia. It seemed logical the believe the rfa procedure would have the potential to abort my neck pain, thereby preventing the vast majority of my migraine attacks.
And it did - for two blissful weeks. The problem is that the procedure was supposed to last for at least six months. Two weeks is certainly the most relief I've had since my second round of Botox injections in December 2008 and more than I experienced when I received occiptial nerve blocks and cervical medical branch blocks. But it's still a huge disappointment.
This all begs the scary question of "What now?" I have some ideas of how to cope and move forward (go back to therapy, seek out opinions from all my doctors), but no idea what it would make sense to try next. I truly feel like I've reached the end of the road and that scares me senseless.
Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me
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Content by Diana E. Lee.
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.
Announcing last call for submissions to the July 2009 Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival. There is no theme this time. Instead submit your favorite post from the past month.
Submissions are due by the end of the day today, Friday, July 10th.
Posts may be submitted through the form on the carnival website or directly to me by e-mail.
The carnival will be posted on Monday, July 13th right here at Somebody Heal Me.
Technorati Tags: headache & migraine blog carnival, blog carnival, depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me
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DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.
Although the recent recommendation of an FDA advisory panel to take prescription pain medications containing acetaminophen off the market is worrisome, there is some hopeful news.
On Tuesday the FDA announced it would not adopt a ban on propoxyphene (aka Darvon or Darvocet) at this time despite the advisory panel's recommendation that it do just that. The FDA said that based on the information currently available, the benefits of using propoxyphene as directed outweigh the risks. However, manufacturers will be required to strengthen package warnings and provide patients with a medication guide explaining the importance of taking the medication as directed. The FDA is also initiating a study of the safety of propoxyphene, which could lead to stricter regulation of the product. For now the agency believes providing patients with more information can improve safety without removing the product from the market.
FDA Takes Action on Darvon, Other Pain Medications Containing Propoxyphene
The agency's decision seems to indicate it is not yet convinced that such products are so dangerous they must be banned and is not likely to follow the advisory committee's recommendation to ban other prescription pain medications containing acetaminophen. Anything is possible, of course, but the situation seems much more promising than it did just a few days ago.
If you're interested in learning more, the FDA has provided a list of questions and answers here:
Propoxyphene Questions & Answers
Related Posts:
FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Removing Certain Prescription Painkillers from Market
Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me
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DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.
I don't know any other way to start this update post other than to say that I'm really disappointed.
I had the radiofrequency rhizotomy (aka Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation aka RFA) procedure on Wednesday, June 17. As expected I was sore from the procedure itself, but my typical neck pain was completely gone and I had fewer migraine attacks, too. The pain from the procedure continued for a good week and a half, but then that mostly went away, too.
Unfortunately, last Thursday my neck started hurting again the way it did before the procedure. Along with the neck pain came the resulting migraines in the ram's horn shaped pattern that tends to characterize occipital neuralgia. This hasn't let up as of the writing of this post.
I'm incredibly bummed out. When I had two weeks of relief I really thought this was going to be my answer. I'm scared at what this might mean, but I'm trying to keep a calm and level head until my follow up appointment on July 15th.
Technorati Tags: depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me
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DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.
This site is absolutely hilarious! You just can't beat a good tongue-in-cheek parody.
Healthy Americans Against Reforming Medicine (HAARM)
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DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.
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In the weeks and months since my last visit to see my migraine specialist in Dallas I've begun to feel more and more like I didn't get the answers I wanted and expected from my visit. I noticed I felt that way again after my appointments with the pain specialist my local neurologist referred me to (the doctor who performed my radiofrequency rhizotomy [aka rfa] a few weeks ago).
