Navigating Migraine Relief After Surgery: A Personal Journey

After undergoing major surgery for a complex tibial plateau break, a patient faced the challenge of managing a prolonged migraine that lasted 19 days. This situation exposed significant gaps in the understanding and treatment of migraines within hospital settings, particularly among staff who are unfamiliar with the condition.

Major Surgery Leads to Complications

The ordeal began on December 17, 2024, when a fall resulted in severe injuries requiring surgical intervention. Following the surgery, the patient was placed on a strict recovery regimen that included 12 weeks of non-weight bearing and an extended healing period. Complications arose when bone healing ceased after four months, necessitating a second surgery to replace the rod and hardware initially inserted to aid recovery.

Just four days post-surgery, while transitioning to a rehabilitation facility, the patient experienced the onset of a migraine. Research indicates that both general anesthesia and opioids can trigger postoperative migraine headaches, complicating recovery further. Unfortunately, the rehabilitation staff were largely untrained in managing migraine conditions, leaving the patient in a position where they had to advocate for their own medication.

Advocacy and Support Challenges

Initially, the rehabilitation team did not administer the patient’s migraine medications, citing a lack of familiarity with the required protocols. As the days progressed, the patient realized the risk of “rebound” headaches from overuse of pain medications. They requested intervention from the attending physician, who reached out to a headache specialist for guidance.

“Few physicians receive adequate training to effectively diagnose and treat migraine,” according to a report by Olivia Begasse de Dhaem MD and colleagues.

The headache specialist recommended a Medrol dose pack, but the attending physician hesitated, citing concerns that steroids could impede the healing of the leg. Faced with a difficult decision, the patient opted to endure the migraine rather than risk further complications in their leg recovery.

Over time, the patient’s condition was misunderstood by staff, who often labeled their severe symptoms merely as a “bad headache.” Despite good intentions from the medical staff, their limited understanding of migraine management hindered effective treatment. The patient noted that many days, moving from the bed to a wheelchair was nearly impossible due to the intensity of the migraine.

After enduring 16 days of debilitating pain, the patient finally managed to secure transportation to their headache specialist for intravenous treatments. This visit provided much-needed relief, as the specialist administered a combination of medications and nerve blocks that alleviated the migraine symptoms significantly.

Within two days, the migraine subsided, allowing the patient to engage more actively in physical and occupational therapy. Although there remained an underlying fear of recurrence, the patient was able to make rapid progress in their rehabilitation.

Raising Awareness and Educating Healthcare Providers

Throughout this challenging experience, the patient took the opportunity to educate hospital staff about the complexities of migraine. They shared insights on effective treatment options and the importance of recognizing migraine as a significant medical condition rather than a simple headache.

This personal journey underscores the need for improved training in headache management within medical curricula, as many healthcare professionals lack the necessary knowledge to support patients effectively. As highlighted in the literature, the U.S. healthcare workforce faces significant gaps in headache medicine training, impacting patient care.

Ultimately, while the patient faced considerable challenges, the experience also served as a catalyst for raising awareness about migraines among healthcare providers, paving the way for better understanding and treatment of this often-misunderstood condition.