cervical fusion no headache relief

Hi everyone - I was in an accident and was told based on symptoms I needed a cervical fusion. this was over several months. I also developed frequent and severe headaches since the accident. I recently saw another neurologist who told me that my continued neck pain are in fact the migraine and that many people live with disc herniations and have no problems, I did have symptoms into arm and fingers as well but I was willing to tolerate that pain. it was the severe headaches that I have now been told are post traumatic migraines that have not improved. I was told to not take any pain killers and to increase mograine meds and completely revamp my diet and start from scratch. Has anyone gone through something like this before as a treatment. I want the cylce of headaches to end - never had them before the accident even though I did have neck issues. i was told that the mechanics of the accident along with pain mgt treatments, related stress have lowered the threshhold and this is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. I have taken pain meds but honestly I will put of with pain then to take them as prescribed. I am somewhat sceprtable abou the whole diet thing becasue I always eat healthy anyway and many healthy food are considered migraine triggers. I get the pain killer route but how does someone just keep putting up with pain 24\7. I also have other orthopedic injuries from this accident and have had 2 surgeries

i was in the middle of a long-ish message to you when a friend came to visit.  when i went back to the message i was typing, the site had me sign in again (apparently there is a time limit if no activity) and then the message disappeared.  oh, how i hate when that happens.

it was just a welcome, sorry you have to be here, and sorry about your accident and surgeries.  about 8 years ago i had the neck fusion surgery, high up at C3-4, as my disc was totally disintegrated.  i was very much hoping that this would improve my head pain, but alas, it did not.  like you, i was aware that lots of people walk around with horrible discs and yet, no symptoms.  my fusion (called ACDF) did have to be done, because it could have caused havoc with my spinal cord had i fallen and damaged my neck.

my only advice would be to get another or two more opinions from neurologists.  neurosurgeons tend to want to cut on everyone......that's their business, after all. but maybe it would be good to consult both kinds of docs.

diet.....has helped enormously for a lot of people here.  but your pain is quite obviously a direct result of the trauma.  my 49-year old son has had the same outcome, from 2 accidents in which he was the passenger. killer migraines.  but after a couple of years, things calmed down and the M's are infrequent.  i sincerely hope you have that to look forward to.  let us know what happens, ok? if pain killers help you to go get through life, why not, i say?  and if migraine drugs help, those are much less problematic regarding possible physiological addiction. (i'm assuming you are referencing the triptan drugs, like imitrex and maxalt. personally, i've been on these for over 20 years with no bad effects)  dianne