meds and rebound headache?

[lisajean]

Hi All,
I was wondering if anyone has experienced rebound headaches from pain meds, and if so what they feel like.
I ask because my daughters neuro has decided this is why she has 24/7 head pain and that she will recover if she stops all pain meds.
My gut tells me this is not the case but I don't want to miss any chance for a pain free existence for her.
Hannah has a vp shunt, post brain tumor. Five years ago she had her first shunt revision and suffered a massive bleed. She has had some degree of pain ever since and for the past two plus years has suffered from constant retro-orbital head pain that she rates an 8-9. she has tried just about every med out there, migraine meds, neuroleptics, narcotics etc......
She has also tried accupunture, biofeedback, massage, pt.etc.....
Currently she is back on Diluadid as that is one of the few meds she tolerates. She is super sensitive to most meds, foods, environment (although she wasn't always like this).
Anyway, Hannahs head pain is always in the same place (retro-orbital), never goes lower than a "7" despite many different meds.
The "rebound headache" therory is driving me nuts because I don't see any "rebound".
Thoughts??
hugs,
Lisa

[Kira]

I don't know about rebound but I do know that dilaudid actually GIVES me a headache, especially when I am given high doses of it in the hospital. But that is just me.

Hope you get some answers and she gets some relief soon...

[curiousforever]

I've had a few rebound headaches. My migraines are always on the right side of my head.

Rebound headaches for me involved my entire head.

Which of the meds that she takes actually can cause a headache? Can she take something like excedrin without causing a problem with her meds or her medical condition?

Sometimes caffeine itself can help.

I used to have daily headaches. Daily migraines thru my last 2 pregnancies. I had stadol nasal spray for those. Can she/has she tried that?

[DiMarie]

I had a rebound situation once and it was one sided too. I don;t think that is her problem and really time to move on to new doctors. Do you live near Johns Hopkins?

I think it can be a few other things, the eye pain reminded me of my sone tumors on his pituary gland. Did they check her porlactin levels and do a MRi of the pituatary glands?

THe other is too much cerebal spinal fluid bild up, fluid behind the eyes. How about a opthamologist?
Dianne

[Mark N]

I can add anything to helping with your daughter's pain. I just wanted to say that I hope you find an answer soon and that she soon has days of little or no pain.

[Kathi49]

Lisa,

I had rebound headaches and really didn't know that is what they were. But the doctors had me on all kinds of meds. They were given to me for occipital neuralgia and cervicogenic headaches. Now, a fusion fixed the headaches. But a Neurosurgeon did tell me I was experiencing rebound headaches. I had him take me off all meds and start over! And, yes, caffeine can help sometimes.

[lisajean]

Thanks for your replies.
Hannahs pain is just behind her eyes. She describes it as a pressure feeling. She is completely disabled by it. Her pain doc is willing to prescribe dilaudid which helps only a little but at least she is able to get up and take a shower with it.
Her Neuro says her head pain is all rebound and wants her off ALL pain meds, including over the counter such as Advil.
What I am trying to find out is just how rebound headache presents. What is the criteria. It seems to me that one must have pain free moments to have a "rebound" of pain.
I am so frustrated by the doctors bickering about who's right. It seems Hannah gets lost in their ego games and sits suffering in horrible pain.
Anyway, thanks.
hugs,
Lisa


PS. Caffeine does not help. Her optho said eyes look good. Will look into prolactin levels and pituitary scan. Makes sense due to her past neuro history.
We live in Oregon, not much help here. We are going to University of Washington next week for a neurosurgical consult and shunt work-up. Still hoping to find someone who cares :( .

[BrokenBladder]

Lisa~~~
I'm so sorry for your daughter's pain. I don't have anything to add about rebound headaches but I wanted to send you guys a cyper(((((HUG)))))