Physical disabilities that trigger headaches

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The neurologist has given Chloe many different tools use a to figure what these headaches  are and possible ways to treat them. So far there are 3 types auditory, visual and overheated head with ice cold hands.

Tool that has given us more details is icing the head for 15 minutes every morning seems to lessen the intensity of these headaches so Chloe can more accurately describe details of each type of headache.

1.  In this picture you see her with a vision headache hard to open her eyes. When she is asked what hurts she will point to the left side of her fore head just above the eyebrow most of the time but occasionally it is right side forehead . She uses topical analgesic on her forehead which helps this one.
2.  Her auditory headache is usually helped by playing instrumental CD's as a warm up in the morning and wearing earplugs to help not trigger a headache when  she goes out  and does errands or outings.
3. Vascular headache is when her forehead gets very warm but her hands feel ice cold or lukewarm. This one maybe from exercising or carrying groceries from the front door into the kitchen are a couple of examples. Tens unit on her back 20-30 min. once or twice a day, pain patch on her back and forehead and over the counter migraine medication are some of the tools for this type  

We are beginning to hear Chloe's opinions and fears. Her favorite line is, "I can't handle this or that!"on some outing. If she brings up something we address it one issue at a time.

We will see the Neurologist at the end of this month. I have typed up a log of symptoms and Chloe's activities daily for the past month. The Neurologist wanted more information and it appears I will give her that.

Understanding not all physical disabilities fit the sterotype!

                                                    Physical disability
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 Physical disabilities is described as the inability to use arms, or trunk because of paralysis, stiffness, pain or other impairments. Chloe issue is nerve which she has been dealing with since birth.

Chloe's size and T-shape body type all played into the severity of her diagnosis. When we went to SSI and produced a Neurological evaluation from when she was 13 months old it was approved so fast it was amazing. Compliments from the SSI worker to Chloe as to how she over came a lot to get to this point and she should of got Disability since birth. We just never got around to it.

I hope you notice in this picture above the  left shoulder is slightly higher then the right shoulder. She saw 3 different  physical therapist at different times who worked with clients who have  headaches  that were due to upper back issues. The headaches were different types but did include Vascular Headaches  all having different severity of pain when she gets them.

So  Chloe has real good days and then headache days. We are working on strengthening her up to get a part time job and see if all her Neurologist interventions will help her make that happen.

Physical disabilities have good days and bad. Please do not judge a person with a "Physical Disability"by the way they look from day to day and realize there are many factors involved to get her to this point.

Stabilizing Vascular Headaches

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This is what Chloe could do before she willed herself to walk at 2 years old. She sat and scooted around in a sitting position or just sat and played and had random behavior outbursts that was normal for her age or there were other incidents that had us scratching our heads.

The neurologist questioned vascular headaches and asked us to check the temperature of her forehead and her hands and feet We found her head to be unusual hot where her feet and hand lukewarm to cool. One of the treatments was to ice her head. She started using an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes before she got out of bed in the morning. So far we can report back to the neurologist the icing the head is a better preventative treatment then if she had one of these headaches using it as an intervention.

Chloe also switched using the Tens unit to the afternoon which also seem to help with pain issues most effective at this time. The 4 probes are also 2 between her scapula and 2 on her back at the base of the neck. Now she is able to use an over the counter pain medication  or a topical Analgesic to deal with less intense headaches.

We are working on the issue that if Chloe gets a headache as she goes in a place she thinks it will happen again at the same place so we are challenging this idea that her headache is not blamed on the place

As a former social worker, I have decided to chart in a log of Chloe's activities, symptoms and treatments tried daily for our next visit with the neurologist. So she can get the big picture of what we are dealing and see if she can suggest anything else. So far icing the head before Chloe gets up has proven to be the biggest help to stabilize something!