Craniotomy Headaches and Heartaches

[aneurysmalex]

I had my ruptured aneurysm over 8 years ago and they performed a craniotomy to stop the bleeding. Every since then, I have had horrible headaches and tried different medications and oxygen to attempt to alleviate them. I contacted the surgeon's office and they would not help.  The neurologist that I had defined them as cluster headaches. The frequency of my headaches was 24/7/365 and they became so severe at times that I have had multiple trips to the ER.  Most of my daily constant pains were about a 4 level and I could deal with those because when one hit, it felt like a constant sucker punch with the feelings of hopelessness.  Those happened about 2 times a day.  Over the years, I have lost hope because I have tried  about 15 or 20 different medications but 2 years ago, a neurologist had a list of every medication that I had tried and pointed me to a pain specialist.  Dr. Gary Reasor put me on Methadone and I went loopy.  He then wanted to try radio frequency ablationing and it changed my world   Now I have 1-2 headaches 24/7 and the most severe headache I have had was about a 6 or 7.  When it reaches 5 months since my last shot, I can feel it coming back and that is very depressing but then I get the shot and am good again. I believe it was Dr. Reasor who told me that the reason I have these headaches is from a damaged nerve when they performed the craniotomy.  The clinic that Dr. Reasor is at is called Metro Pain Associates and it is in Louisville, KY.  I am not saying that everyone needs an Ablation but if somneone has had head trauma and is suffering from Cluster headaches, then they should look into it.

[MoxieGirl]

Hi aneurysmalex, 

 

Welcome.

 

You raise a good point or two. I've heard of many causes for clusters over the years, many involving head trauma. Mine are a result of altering my hormones, which in turn screwed with my hypothalamus which in turn triggered my clusters. 

 

My longest running, non-stop headache lasted 7 months and was punctuated with frequent, and extreme, clusters and migraines. You won't find a single person here who is a stranger to pain, either directly or from supporting a loved one.

 

I think it is important that all of us understand our condition as best as we can, and not just fall in line with the current, popular cure. Yes, there are common threads that all, or most, cluster heads experience, but everyone is different too, and different things work for different people. 

 

Keeping an open mind and trying things is key to pain free days. 

 

Thanks for your post.

 

MG