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Suggest Treatment For Headaches
Posted on
Tue, 13 Jan 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 13 Jan 2015
Answered on
Thu, 29 Jan 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello Dear,How else can I get rid of headaches?? I do have hydrocephalus... Though I had a CT SCAN several times in the last 60 days.... No shunt problems... Only things that normally work are codiene, Tylenol 3, phentanyl.... Dilaudid.... I cannot use benedryl... Not to mention it didn't help either... What else may I try that may treat headaches?? I get really bad head ache's daily
Brief Answer:
Can be due to shunt malfunction or migraine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Daily headache with a history of hydrocephalus can be due to periodic shunt malfunction. The raised intracranial pressure can happen even with normal sized ventricles on CT scan.
Intracranial pressure monitoring will help in finding out if the shunt needs to be changed. Migraine also needs to be ruled out that is a common cause of such recurrent headaches.
You can try these lifestyle modifications:
1) Go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day.
2) Exercise regularly (daily if possible) and limit stress through regular exercise and relaxation techniques.
3) Avoid bright or flashing lights and wear sunglasses if sunlight is a trigger
4) Identify and avoid foods that trigger headaches by keeping a headache and food diary and limit caffeine consumption to less than two caffeine-containing beverages a day.
5) If still the symptoms persist, then please consult a Neurosurgeon for specific therapy (triptans and ergot preparations) and other investigations.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Can be due to shunt malfunction or migraine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Daily headache with a history of hydrocephalus can be due to periodic shunt malfunction. The raised intracranial pressure can happen even with normal sized ventricles on CT scan.
Intracranial pressure monitoring will help in finding out if the shunt needs to be changed. Migraine also needs to be ruled out that is a common cause of such recurrent headaches.
You can try these lifestyle modifications:
1) Go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day.
2) Exercise regularly (daily if possible) and limit stress through regular exercise and relaxation techniques.
3) Avoid bright or flashing lights and wear sunglasses if sunlight is a trigger
4) Identify and avoid foods that trigger headaches by keeping a headache and food diary and limit caffeine consumption to less than two caffeine-containing beverages a day.
5) If still the symptoms persist, then please consult a Neurosurgeon for specific therapy (triptans and ergot preparations) and other investigations.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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