Kimb
I know that yor son is only 16 and the use of long tem narcotics may not have come up or sound like a good idea...but have you or any of your doctors considered a low dose or slow releasing morphine? MS.Contin or Kadian? They come in as little as 10 mgs or as high as 100 mg's. This type of Morphine, if taken correctly, does NOT produce the same "peak" effect that other narcotics do. It slowly releases medication over 12-24 hours to ease pain and increase ones Quality of Life. I by no means think that this would be a "CURE" for your sons problem but if he can not read for more than 5 mins at a time than he must be missing a LOT os school at a very important time in his life. A slow released morphine, in someone who is truly in pain, would NOT or should not, increase his vertigo problems. It may make it easier for him to describe the other symtoms surrounding his plight if the pain factor was taken out of the equation. He may be able to enjoy life for a while as a normal teenager if pain were not an everyday occurance... Just something to think about... I suffer from Complicated Migraines, there have been periods of time when they occur daily. These are "Stroke" like migraines. I did have a stroke at 27, and have had the vertigo you son gets. I take 100 mgs of Kadian daily along with 150 mg of Topamax daily X 5 yrs. This has worked amazingly well for me! I can function like a normal person! Good Luck!