Severe headaches
Smt S (30 years) – NRI from U.S.
Medical history
For about five years the patient has suffered from persistent 24*7 headaches.
All interventions, including very drastic measures, for relief failed.
The patient used to have a pain in her right side accompanied by coldness of
her arm. This problem had persisted for many years, and she had started
finding even writing difficult. In Nov 2006 she had a surgery to remove an
extra rib on her right side. A similar surgery on the left side was advised, but
was postponed because of the two month bed rest needed. A year later she
caught a cold and developed a headache. She was treated for sinus. But the
headache stayed. It became a 24*7 headache.
She was referred to a neurologist who gave medicines for migraine,
depression and BP, none of which had any effect. Finally he gave her an
injection at the top of her head directly onto the occipital nerve. Her
headaches increased after that. She tried many alternative therapies– allergy
treatment, physiotherapy and acupuncture. She consulted eye specialists and
dentists.
Then another neurologist was consulted who diagnosed neck inflammation
and gave two sets of steroid injections in the neck. Each set consisted of 6
injections, given with general anesthesia. Her headaches worsened after that.
Then she went to an ayurvedic centre in Chennai which did treatments like
sirodhara. With that and yoga there was some improvement. But when she
got her wisdom tooth extracted, again the pain shot back to earlier levels.
She also went for marma chikitsa to Thanjavur. But there she was told that
only migraines are curable, and not her kind of headache.
For a few months she gave up medicines. Then she went to a Headache
Clinic. There it was diagnosed as 'New Daily Chronic Headache', which
meant headaches which have no cure. Various combinations of medicines
could be tried, with the hope that something works. Nothing worked. In
November 2009, she had a series of painkillers through IV. This was a
course of 5 days, with two 40 minute sittings daily. This brought on throat
problems and leg cramping. But the severity of her headaches only increased
further.
The headaches would increase if she skipped meals, and become unbearable
during her menstrual periods. A gynecologist gave her medication which
would space her periods apart so that the severe headaches of periods would
be more infrequent !
Treatment
Patient came on 9th June 2010, with a history of severe headaches which
lasted for 24 hours every day. Painkillers were ineffective. The patient was
also diabetic, suffered from irregular periods, and was also anaemic. At
Sanjeevani she was advised to correct her diet. Medicines such as
Shaddharam, Dasamoolakatutrayadi Kashayam, Ashta Churnam and
Ayaskriti were prescribed for her numerous complaints. After this she was
prepared for cleansing treatments (vamanam, virechanam, vasti and
nasyam). As there was time constraint, and the patient had to return to U.S,
virechanam was dropped. Post treatments there was only a 10% residual
pain, near the temples and ears. Earlier her whole head used to pain
unbearably.
She left for U.S.A. with a prescription for Sudarsan and Pathyadi Shadanga
Kwatham. General medicines Ashwagandhadhi Churnam, Anu Tailam and
Dasamoolarishtam were also advised. Nochi Tailam was given for
application on the head. She was finally completely free of the headaches.
Smt G, aged 37
Medical History For the past one year, patient has been suffering from very
severe headaches. These would come on suddenly any time, even in the
middle of the night. Initially she managed with painkiller injections. ENT
specialists were not able to diagnose the problem. According to the patient, a
neurosurgeon at Apollo did a scan which revealed “fluid accumulation” in
the head. The medicines given were ineffective and fluid removal every
two months was suggested. The other option she was given was to have a
stent put from the head to the bladder so that the fluid would drain. But she
was also told that this process could cause infection, and that she may need
to be on antibiotics for life. Her father’s brother used to have similar
headaches, and he had undergone an operation to remove a brain clot.
Treatment
At the outset the patient’s food habits were corrected. Her daily intake of
curd was restricted.
The patient was given Dasamoola Katutrayadi Kashayam, Sudarshanam,
Shaddharanam, followed by Guggulu Tikta Gritham. She then underwent
vamanam, a panchakarma treatment involving induced vomiting. Then the
patient was prescribed Dasamoola Katutrayadi Kashayam, Sudarsanam,
Nochi Tailam and Anu Tailam. All this treatment was all completed within
16 days. After another 10 days, all medicines were stopped, and a daily
routine of Anu Tailam nasal drops and external application of Dhanvantara
Tailam was prescribed.
Note
Problem completely addressed in 2 months, and patient off all ayurvedic
medications also. The one year when she was looking for allopathic options
cost her 1 lakh. The scan itself cost twenty five thousand rupees. Then there
were the specialist consultations and medicine bills. The ayurvedic
treatment cost her less than five thousand rupees. Patient has been
completely well, and off all medicines within 2 months of treatment.