Major Surgery Triggers Migraine: A Patient’s Struggle for Relief

After a significant surgery, one patient faced the daunting challenge of managing a prolonged migraine, highlighting the need for better awareness and treatment of this debilitating condition within medical settings. Following a complex tibial plateau fracture surgery, which included a lengthy recovery period, the patient experienced a migraine that lasted for an astonishing 19 days.

From Accident to Surgery

The incident occurred on December 17, 2024, when the patient took her puppy for a hike. In a sudden turn of events, as she coaxed her dog down a staircase, she misjudged her footing and fell twelve steps, resulting in a severe injury to her leg. After being rushed to the hospital, she underwent her first major surgery, which necessitated being non-weight-bearing for twelve weeks and an extended healing period of six months.

Complications arose when the bones failed to heal properly after four months, prompting a second surgery to replace the hardware intended to aid recovery. It was during the transition to a rehabilitation facility, merely four days after the second surgery, that she began to experience severe migraine symptoms. Research indicates that postoperative migraines can occur, especially with general anesthesia and opioid use, as suggested by various case studies.

Struggles for Effective Treatment

Initially, the rehabilitation staff were not familiar with the patient’s migraine medications, which complicated her recovery. As she took the initiative to manage her medications, the situation became increasingly precarious. She found herself at a crossroads: risk further complications to her healing process or endure the relentless migraine.

“Few physicians receive adequate training to effectively diagnose and treat migraine,” noted the authors of a study addressing the U.S. workforce gap in headache medicine.

Despite her pleas for assistance, many medical professionals viewed her condition as merely a “bad headache,” lacking the necessary understanding to provide appropriate care. This lack of knowledge left the patient feeling isolated and in pain, as she struggled between physical therapy and the debilitating effects of the migraine.

On the sixteenth day of her ordeal, she successfully contacted her headache specialist, who arranged for her to receive IV infusions at the office. This intervention proved to be a turning point. The specialist administered various medications and nerve blocks, and within two days, the migraine subsided significantly.

This relief allowed the patient to resume physical and occupational therapy with remarkable progress, although the threat of the migraine returning lingered. Throughout her experience, she had the opportunity to educate some of the rehabilitation staff about the nature of migraines and the latest treatment methods, underscoring a critical gap in the understanding and management of this condition.

The patient’s journey sheds light on the broader issue of inadequate training in headache medicine, which affects both patients and healthcare providers. As the field continues to evolve, greater emphasis on education and awareness is essential to improve outcomes for individuals suffering from migraines, particularly in hospital settings.

While the patient ultimately found relief, her story serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by many who live with chronic migraines, especially in environments where their condition is not fully understood.