Recommend a reasonable doctor?

[jkc120]

I've had chronic headaches for years, but over the last few months they've become much more frequent and much worse.

I've tried every OTC pain reliever and the only thing that comes close to touching these headaches is 4-5 advil. Which would be ok if it was once a week, but I've been having 4-5 headaches a week and often they last 4+ hours and I have to take another 4 advil.

I've clearly indicated to my current doctor that they are NOT migraine headaches, but even after trying fioricet (caffeine+tylenol+muscle relaxer) and darvocet (weak pain killer), he wanted me to try something specifically for migraines.

Finally, he decided to do an MRI, but nothing was found and he referred me to a neurologist and prescribed me vicoprofen, which has been the only thing that has really helped the pain, but even then I have to take 2 (the dosage says to take 1). So I'm at a loss here. I need to get to the root cause of this, but my PCP just seems to want to pawn me off on someone else, and must think I'm some sort of drug seeker since it took nearly 2 months for him to prescribe anything that came remotely close to helping.

He's also prescribed two medications that apparently interact ( moderately severely) with another medication I'm taking. So not only is he prescribing things that I shouldn't be taking, he's reluctant to a) help me find the root cause of this and b) must be afraid to prescribe some medications for fear of being reprimanded?

So anyway, I need to make an appointment with a neurologist and was hoping someone might be able to recommend one - especially one with pain management experience - in the Middletown or Wilmington area. I'm nearly 31 years old but look very young, and I think my doctor sees me as some high school kid who's looking to get high. I just want to get to the bottom of this and see if I can prevent these headaches, because I don't want to have to take anything long term, and nothing seems to help with the pain anyway, just kind of dull it. I'm open to alternatives, too. I am thinking of going to a chiroprator and an acupuncturist, just not sure if my insurance will cover those.

Thanks in advance, and hello to all

[witchofthedogs]

I know of one... I have intracranial hypertension (http://www.ihrfoundation.org/intracr...nsion/info/C16) which can cause extreme and debilitating headaches.

I'll drop you a PM.

[jkc120]

Thanks, appreciate it. IH sounds really terrible, sorry to hear that. I'm not sure if that's what's going on with me. I don't usually have any visual symptoms.

I do occasionally have ringing in my ears (well, it's more like someone put a cup over my ear), but it doesn't really correspond to the headaches. My headaches usually start in my neck and go up the back of my head. Sometimes (like tonight) it can cause pain behind my eyes, but usually it's just severe aching pain in my neck (almost always on the right side) and it moves up the back of my head. Sitting still/closing my eyes seems to help.

My doctor just didn't seem interested in helping. I think he's one of those "if you can't see it, it must be psychosomatic" kind of people, and I hate that! If I weren't in pain, I wouldn't be wasting his (and my) time.

Anyway, I appreciate your response!

[Rusty]

Welcome to TD, jkc120, tomorrow, when Naomi's on, she may be able to advise you unless someone else does that first. Meanwhile, if you need any help with the site, please ask...

[jkc120]

Thanks Rusty! boundchaos IM'd me a recommended doctor, so I'm going to give them a call tomorrow. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have more than one recommendation, as I know specialists can be hard to see (quickly).

I had a business trip for 3 weeks so I had to cancel the appointment I had previously, but rather than get another appointment with the same (unknown) neurologist and the appointment was 4 weeks out (my doctor's office just kind of picked them out of a directory listing, no personal relationship. Not that I'd want my doctor's recommendation anyway if they're anything like him).

Thanks for the welcome

[RosaM68]

I had similar symptoms and my pcp recommended a ENT doctor and he ran allergy tests, done an mri and cat scan from my neck and up. The final results were that I have sever migraines (my pains were shooting from the back of my neck to the front of my forehead, like if someone was jabbing me with needles). They prescribed ergotam/caffiene and it seems to work but I still get the bad pains. They even had to put a needle (that had some steroid in it) in my main nerve in the back of my head to see if that worked, it did but only for a week or so. So I'm like you they can't seem to find a cure for me.
I wish you luck with the neurologist.

BTW, welcome to TD!!! Bunch of great people here.

[jkc120]

Thanks Rosa! I'm an original Delaware native, but moved when I was 11 and I'm finally back after nearly 20 years. Good to be back

I appreciate everyone's help. What I'm trying to find is a doctor who's sympathetic to my situation and will help me cope with it while finding a CURE/SOLUTION to my headaches. I don't want to have to take any meds the rest of my life. That to me is reactive and I'm looking for a doctor who will take a proactive approach and find the root cause here so I can fix the problem, not just treat the symptoms. But in the mean time, I need something to help me with the pain, and would appreciate a doctor who doesn't look at me as some sort of drug seeker (I get that feeling when I've gone to my current PCP).

Anyway, thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

[brokenwing]

I can relate i was getting headaches almost everyday sometime they would go away fo awhile and come back later,i had an MRI as well and nada,come to find out it was my pillow soft/firmness,.i changed doctors because he keep wanting to give me vicodin,i didnt need that ,So i found a new doctor Alyssa Smith,she is great she doenst rush you though your appt and listens to everything you have to say ,she got the ball rolling for me and now i get the occcasional headache here and there(prob from work) but not everyday anymore...

[jkc120]

Yeah, I need a very specific pillow or I get a stiff neck and headache. I wish it were that simple, but these aren't daily. I was thinking it was related to my eyes (I work in the computer biz, so I'm staring at a computer screen 8 hours a day hehe), but I get them even when I'm on vacation and not using the computer or sitting at my desk daily.

Thanks for the idea, though. That definitely DOES give me neck pain/headaches if I use a pillow that's not the right firmness/thickness. I have to take my pillow with me when we go to visit my parents or the in-laws

[Naomi]

Welcome to the site jkc120
First have you tried a Chiropractor? Karen Feeney on Naamans road is a Chiropractic neurologist. She is fantastic !!
I go to the U of P in Phila for a brain disorder that I have but Hope is going to one local. I forget his name but we are going this afternoon I will get you his name and number. I will let you guys know the outcome of the latest tests later today.

[jkc120]

Hi Naomi!

Thanks so much, that would be great. I'm definitely open to trying the chiropractic and/or acupuncture route. ANYTHING to make the headaches go away...

[Tr1b4lz4ng3l]

I see a pain management doc that has an office in Middletown. His name is Balu and the office is listed under Pain Management and Rehab. He has been treating me for nearly 4 years for back issues and I love them. You could have something wrong with the disks in your upper back. Good luck