Wednesday, November 22, 2006
it's a bust
the physical therapy was a bust. i went in, and she poked me and prodded me and 'massaged' the trigger points (this sounds like it would feel good, don't be deceived). it was painful, but obviously i'm still pretty gung ho while she's working. then she's done, and asks how my headache is. 'worse', i tell her.this was not the right answer, sadly.
she says most people feel better after this. hmm. so sad.
sooo she says there's nothing she can do for me in physical therapy.
and once again my doubts of there being a muscular basis for these headaches increase. i think the whole idea is bupkis. not only does it not make sense with most all of my symptoms, but on a deeper level, it just doesn't sit right with me. and now this? what's up guys?
also while she was reading my charts she noticed that my docs were referring to my headaches as 'trigeminal neuralgia'. WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?!? you'd think they'd mention this if they thought it was a possibility, much less a diagnosis! i'm steamed.
but there's always some good news, right? she gave me some ideas for getting some cardio exercise. this makes me happy, i know a lot of people find relief for migraines through a regular exercise program. so for a couple of weeks, i'm going to try using a recumbent bicycle, and see how that goes. so far, it's just the same as walking (in that it makes my headache worse, and it stays worse for 2 or 3 hours).
Labels: exercise, headaches, pain clinic, physical therapy
link | posted by Emily at 10:38 AM
Monday, November 20, 2006
the pain clinic appt. today
i met with my doc this morning - the end result of the appointment is that i'm switching back to prozac (from cymbalta). i've been on the cymbalta for 2 or 3 months now, and any benefits i've found (slightly more energy) are overruled by the baffling cost. soooo back to prozac i go.additionally, i'm starting physical therapy TOMORROW. this doc seems convinced that there is a significant muscular component to my headaches, and so - physical therapy it is.
he also said that he doesn't believe there is going to be a magic pill or treatment that just fixes this. he thinks we're going to have to whittle away at it. which doesn't sound too bad, except for the fact that in the past 2 years of a headache every day, we've only found one thing i can take everyday that helps at all. and so -- we keep looking and working, but it is depressing to hear him say that. i am always hoping for the end of this, of course, and sometimes get discouraged.
Labels: headaches pain clinic, physical therapy
link | posted by Emily at 5:48 PM
