Posted by Jerry on November 03, 1998 at 14:46:20:
In Reply to: New Doctor posted by Abby on November 03, 1998 at 08:07:13:
Hi Abby!
Sorry to hear about your suffering.I need to know a lot more about your pain in order to give an opinion whether it is a cluster attack or not. If you go back a week or so on the message board, you will find diagnostic questions I posted under "Bonnie - I think I found the right place". You are welcome to post your responses to those questions on the message board, or e.mail me with them. In the mean time, I am worried that you have your neurologist appointment before we can talk again, so I'd like to give you the following pointers regarding other possibilities which you can request your doctor to evaluate:
1) Trigeminal neuralgia:
Because you describe your pains as "ice picks", you need to consider this option as well.
Treatment suggested by the literature is: carbamazepine or phenytoin. Baclofen, clonazepam, and valproic acid might even be used in combination.
2) Chronic or episodic Paroxysmal Hemicrania.
In this case, treatment (according to the literature)is:indomethacin, 150 mg per day or less.
Hear from you soon. Painless times for you!!!
Kindest of regards
Jerry