Please Help Need Motherly Advice About My Son and His Headaches

Hi J., I am a chiropractor and I specialize in children. I would definitely get your son in to see if chiro care can help him. Chiro adjustments with soft tissue massage does work great to eliminate the headaches depending on what is causing them to begin with. A detailed history and exam which is totally not invasive would help me to determine what is causing the headaches. Is your son very active? How does he sleep? Does he have any allergies? Has he had any injuries to his neck? Any falls? A traumatic birth? These are just some of the things that can cause these headaches. If you want more info or have questions give me a call ###-###-####. I am in Villa Park.

Susie B

My son also gets headaches like this and our doctor thinks they are migraines too. They are scary, he gets so pale and clammy, and is in such pain you can tell. We have had luck with otc meds, cool washcloths and rest. Dehydration can bring them on, so keep that in mind too. We had the color coded ct scans done when he was young at a neurologist at Loyola in Maywood for a different reason - megacephalis, he has a huge head he does! Although he was not a pediatric neurologist, he was understanding of our needs and concerns for our little boy. He's not there anymore, but the point I'm trying to say is, the right kind of doctor is important, even if they are not a child centered care doctor. Ask you pediatrician for a referral and they will send you to a good one. Not to say the doctor you will be seeing Monday won't be able to get you answers too, they will lead you on a good path. Good luck, keep us updated.

I am so sorry you and your son is going through this. I have suffered from migraines for long time and it is awful. I usually get sick with mine too. If it were me, I would bring him to the neurologist. You might as well get him all checked out. Five is pretty young to start with migraines. I was 16 and my doctor had me go to a neurologist too. Good luck with everything and I will keep you both in my prayers.

Have you monitored his diet for allergies?
I get headaches that dont respond to OTC products like Tylenol from eating anything with MSG. Drinking extra water helps clear it from my system. Unfortunately children are even more sensitive so you may have to develop your detective skills to find out what triggers his headaches. He may eventually outgrow the sensitivity.
Wishing you & your son wellness.

These sound to me like classic migraines. I would seriously consider finding a GOOD chiropractor to relieve some pressure from his brain stem and upper neck bones.

You can get him in as soon as a headache starts to help minimize it, and work on some prevention with regular appointments. Kids heal quickly, and he may not need many appointments at all to get this under wraps.

If you need a referral, let me know. I know some great docs in the area.

Hang in there!

Sounds like migraines. Generally headaches that include vomiting and last more than one day are migraines. Though I have rarely heard about it showing up pre-puberty. Every member of my family has them and they are awful!!! SEE the neurologist whether he has a headache at the time or not. The tests are not as invasive as the headaches and it's better to be safe than sorry. There are a lot of things that can be done to help with migraine treatment, many of which don't include meds. The neorologist can point you in the right direction. When mine first started happening they would come often for a while, then none for a few months. It doesn't mean it's getting better, and still can be a problem. If you are seeing a behavior doctor, this may be a cause of many behavioral issues. I get really nasty with migraines and it really effects my entire world. See the neurologist!!!!! It is very important you start treatment of this fast.