Paralytic Migraines

[bikerbabe]

I have a 14yr old son who has had migraines since he was 4yrs old, but not really severe. In Sept 2007 he had what Nuerologists are calling a paralytical migraine. I can't find any info on line about these. His Pediatrician ordered MANY tests. Dye induced MRI, Cat scan, sleep deprived EEG, x rays. He has also had four concussions (mild). Recently he told me he has back pain, he does not complain and when I asked how long he has had back pain he said almost a yr. He JUST started going to a chiropractor and he is telling me that the top two vertebrae under his skull and some in his back are severely out of line. When he was born he had torticalus (sp ) and the chiropractor said most likely this has been happening since birth. All tests he has had are completely normal, when he has the paralytical migraines we have had to call rescue twice. He had his first Sept 2007, another one March 5th of this year, one in April and another one today. His body is temporarily paralyed when it occurs, the Neurologist explained that the pain is so intense this is the body's way of handling it. He is somewhat combative, appears like he is having a seizure, can hear us, but can't respond. It is apparent he is in severe pain. I am so frustrated and want to help him. He is now on Topomax, but nothing seems to help. Is this form of migraine common? I need direction and if anyone knows how to help me/him PLEASE HELP.

[MG (Admin)]

His body is temporarily paralyed when it occurs

Please explain what you mean by this....is it all his body or part?
Can he talk, walk?

[bikerbabe]

He is able to hear us talking to him, but he is unable to respond. I do not know if he is literally paralyzed, but he is in such excrutiating pain that he appears to be seizing and somewhat combative. He cannot talk or walk during the episode. He does not want anyone to touch him. If he is moved it becomes worse. He always tells me after he has had an episode that he could hear me talking to him, but he can't respond to me because he is hurting. He says it feels as if someone has put a stick of dynamite in his head and sets it off. The Pediatrician and Nuerologist are the ones that told me his body temporarily paralyzes itself to try and deal with the pain. He is laying still, but has body movements. The first one he ever had we were at the lake he was on a tube behind a boat with his sister, he passed out, face down in the water, she jerked him up and they got him in the boat, he was almost fighting and very loud in pain, moaning. When I got to him I cradled him and began talking to him and he calmed down, he was hyperventilating and just in pain. This one lasted for almost 45 minutes. He told me and the Dr he could hear us talking to him the whole time. Now he can recognize when he is going to have one, but by the time he realizes it he can't move or he knows it will be bad. They are shorter episodes now. When I am not there ( if he is at school) they call rescue, because it scares the Nurses. It is awful, he is definitely not having a seizure, but it is very apparent he is in severe pain. I am just so frustrated and want someone out there that has any information on this and can give me direction to help me. I called the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Fl, but they do not have a Pediatric department. One thing I can say is the episode he had yesterday was a lot shorter ( 15 minutes) and after it although he had a headache he talked, laughed and even played playstation. Normally he does nothing the rest of the day, but lay around, looks really bad and just feels bad. I called the Chiropractor at home last night to see if maybe the adjustment he had Friday could have caused this. I have never had a lot of trust in Chiropractors, but am almost willing to try anything for him. After the adjustment he feels a lot better and is even headache free for 24hrs. He has 3 or 4 headaches a week, and one migraine a month. This is only the 4th episode they are calling paralytical migraine, but he has now had one in Mar, April and May. It scares me that they are becoming more common. We have done food diaries, testing, you name it. He is intelligent and thinks outside of the box, I wondered if they were stress induced because he thinks so deep. But he was with friends yesterday and relaxing, I am at my wits end. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you so much for responding to my post.

[bikerbabe]

Also I forgot to mention the four episodes he has had he always passes out, but only for a few seconds then he is in severe pain.

[clinicalguru3]

What dose of topamax is he on?

His Pediatrician ordered MANY tests. Dye induced MRI, Cat scan, sleep deprived EEG, x rays.

What were the results of these?