Need good doctor to treat migraine. (Pittsburgh: 2009, home, school)

[gfr437]

HELP!

Can anyone recommend a good doctor (M.D....not a chiropractor, not a physical therapist, not an acupuncturist, not a holistic medicine guru-unless they also have an M.D.) to treat migraines?

My 10 year old son has had a headache for two months now, continually. He's missed two months of school! I couldn't get my general practitioner to do anything. First it was an allergy: I took him to an allergist, had scratch tests done--no allergies. Then it was sinusses, I took him to an ENT specialist, and after a CT scan of his sinusses, we were told his Ears, Nose and Throat are normal. After a month and several visits to the g.p. my *husband* was able to get a referral to a neurologist for our son.

The neurologist said: ' Migraine, give him topamax daily and imitrex when he feels his headache coming on.' Well, he always has a headache, so we give him the imitrex when it is at its worst. The neurologist agreed to order an MRI, and it took 3 more weeks to get that done. After 5 days we are *still* waiting for someone to call with the results. The topamax and the imitrex aren't helping at all. The receptionist says the neurologist doesn't have another opening for an appointment until FEBRUARY!!!

No adult would have to put up with a constant headache for two months...does anyone know of a doctor who will take this seriously and actively work on aggressively ridding my son of his persistent headache?

I am at my wit's end, and would be willing to see a good doctor within 100 miles of Pittsburgh. I am rapidly losing faith in Pittsburgh being such an excellent medical center.

[mr.davon24]

It sounds like he may possible have cluster headaches. UPMC has a couple of headache clinics. I will get some numbers tomorrow. If you don't know what a cluster headache is google it or use youtube. I hope the little guy gets better.

[FeelGood]

Was he tested for the 3 bacterias of Lyme disease? Dental related? Was a full blood chem done? Blood pH done?

Spear head the place where the MRI was taken for a copy of the report.

A holistic health practitioner should be an option.

When someone has an ill they get a pill from most doctors. That's not helpful in most cases. There's poison, a little poison and no poison. Which would you prefer?

For your son, caffeine beverages are a big no, no. Caffeine is a toxin, causes stress on our system.

It appears that you're looking for the cause and not treating the symptoms. That's good to hear.

It is true that Niacin, Vitamin B3 helps migraine headaches. However, its large doses can cause dilation of the blood vessels and flushing of the skin. You can use a non-flushing form ( inositol hexaniacinate) if you are sensitive to regular niacin. Time-released niacin products may result in liver damage (James F. Balch, M.D. & Mark Stengler, N.D.)[1].

If you have your diet is high in corn and corn products then you need an increased amount of vitamin B3 and also if you consume refined sugar or alcohol, you have to increase vitamin B3 [2].

[1] Balch, James F., M.D. & Stengler, Mark, N.D. "Prescription for Natural Cures", John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2004.
[2] www/anewlife.co.uk/vitamin_b3.html.

Hope your son gets better, sooner vs later!

[Bong477]

Call 1-800-492-5538 and ask for an appointment at the headache center. I'm a doctor and I don't impress easily, but the UPMC headache center is really spectacular at least with adults (I don't have firsthand experience with children there). Make a little (polite) noise if they don't schedule you in a timely fashion. UPMC has some policy about scheduling new patients with acute complaints in a timely fashion that the clinics should adhere to, I don't work there anymore and I don't remember the exact specifics.

Realize that chronic headaches are a difficult, frustrating problem for patients of all ages and can be hard to get to the bottom of and resolve.

[mr.davon24]

Originally Posted by Bong477

Call 1-800-492-5538 and ask for an appointment at the headache center. I'm a doctor and I don't impress easily, but the UPMC headache center is really spectacular at least with adults (I don't have firsthand experience with children there). Make a little (polite) noise if they don't schedule you in a timely fashion. UPMC has some policy about scheduling new patients with acute complaints in a timely fashion that the clinics should adhere to, I don't work there anymore and I don't remember the exact specifics.

Realize that chronic headaches are a difficult, frustrating problem for patients of all ages and can be hard to get to the bottom of and resolve.

It's 48 to 72 hours.

[gfr437]

Thanks for all the information to all who have posted so far.

My son's general practitioner said that his blood test ruled out anything like Lyme's disease or MRSA.

I'm already taking him to the Birch Center for acupuncture. He at least sleeps very deeply and soundly for two nights after the treatment. It doesn't seem to be doing anything for the pain though.

I have him taking various migraine recommended over the counter stuff: magnesium, an amino acid, etc. None of that has helped either. Tylenol, Aleve and Motrin don't relieve the pain either.
Topamax and Imitrex aren't helping either.

His general practitioner's office is going to run blood tests for food allergies and celiac's disease.
I'm taking him to a chiropractor that advertises as providing help for migraines and fibromyalgia.

Then I guess I'll try a rheumatologist to see if it could be fibromyalgia.

We've already ruled out dental problems...well maybe not alignment, so I should set an appointment with a orthodontist. We just had his eyes checked, and his eye glass prescription updated for a slight change in his vision.

My husband feels that we need my income, and I just started a new job. It's hard to impress the boss when you are running out to take your kid to doctor's appointments all the time. So far they've been great about it. But at the end of my contract, I worry if they'll offer me more. At this point if I lose the job its ok, I guess.

Sign me,
At wit's end.

[gfr437]

Originally Posted by Bong477

Call 1-800-492-5538 and ask for an appointment at the headache center. I'm a doctor and I don't impress easily, but the UPMC headache center is really spectacular at least with adults (I don't have firsthand experience with children there). Make a little (polite) noise if they don't schedule you in a timely fashion. UPMC has some policy about scheduling new patients with acute complaints in a timely fashion that the clinics should adhere to, I don't work there anymore and I don't remember the exact specifics.

Realize that chronic headaches are a difficult, frustrating problem for patients of all ages and can be hard to get to the bottom of and resolve.

The 1-800-492-5538 number is for the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Is it perhaps the University of Maryland Medical Center that has a rule about scheduling new patients with acute complaints in a timely fashion?

I called the Univerity of Pittsburgh Headache Center and was told the only one who sees 10 year olds is Dr. Kaniecki, and he doesn't have an appointment opening until March 26, 2009.

I politely explained that my son has had a headache for 2 months, acute at times, and the medicine (Topamax & Imitrex) already prescribed isn't helping. I explained that the headache is bad enough that he can't even go to school. The receptionist--possibly a nurse said "we tell all our patients that topamax can take 6 to 8 weeks to have an effect." I asked her what should I do when his headache is really really bad. She said, "I can't give you any advice until he is seen."

So, I set an appointment for March 26 for my son, and he's on the list to be called if anyone happens to cancel an appointment (perhaps due to the fact that they died of an exploding cranial aneurysm or brain tumor...) I didn't have the heart to ask how long their stupid list is.

I want to SSSSCCCRRRREEEEEAAAAAAMMMMM!!!!!!

So as much as I know I shouldn't invade the Doctor's privacy, I'm going to write to him, possibly his boss (if I can figure out who that is,) the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Editorial's Page, The Pittsburgh Tribune Review Editorial Page, and anyone else I can possibly think of and thoroughly shame them for putting a 10 year old kid off with a two month old headache off for another 3 months!!!

I want to scream because it just isn't right that my son has had headaches off-and-on all last summer, such that it ruined his summer. Now he has a constant headache and all he can do is lay on the couch in our dimly lit living room and watch tv. He used to play soccer, and go work out at the gym with me, and go swimming, and play ultimate frisbee.

The nurse at Children's Hospital pediatric neurology said the neurologist has no openings until February. She suggested that if his headache gets really bad to take him to an Emergency Room. Given how things usually go at Emergency Rooms...I'm not at all sure he'll get any real help there either. But that's what I'm going to do...and I'm going to try to find the ER that feeds into the same hospital as the stupid UPMC headache center.

[lifepgh2op]

Maybe see if you can get anything sooner with Cleveland Clinic?

[*Danielle*]

I would take him to the ER and then they will have to see him. What did his MRI say? Did you ever hear??

[Lonirae]

I to went through a long period of constant headaches. I was on every medicine imaginable until finally my GP tried an injection of Toradol. I STRONGLY suggest you get someone to try that. Your PCP should be able to. Down side is its an IM shot so they typically dont allow you to give it at home but they trained me and I tested in front of 3 doctors and was allowed to do it. This is the difference in a $6 injection at home vs a $500+ ER bill for every headache! I have suggested this for many other and they too found relief with it. There is a pill form but that doesnt work for me. Sometimes I need a compazine supposatory too if I let it go to long (upset stomach med).

Hope this helps!!