Headaches

Dancing Paws started this discussion · 4/19/2011

Doe anyone else suffer from chronic debilitating headaches? I get horrioble headache about once a week where the muscles in my neck, face, and even the top and back of my head are so tight I start throwing up. I seriously feel like I have tried everything to get rid of them. i've done massage, accupuncture, chiropractics, physical therapy, botox injections, and tried a bunch of meds including vicodin, muscle relaxers, seizure drugs, anti-depressants, etc. I have tried multi-vitamins too and coffee. I need help! I can't think of what else to do. These headaches put me out for an entire day or 2 and make it hard to live a normal life.

41 replies

chemgoddess1 · 4/19/2011
Have they ever found a cause of these? That is the only way you will ever find relief.
Runemist34 · 4/19/2011
I suspect what you're talking about is a migraine, and those are difficult to deal with. I have them, often around certain times of the month, but I used to get them far more often. So, first of all, what does your doctor think of them? Have you managed to go to the doctor while having one? Does he say "tension headache" or "migraine"? They're similar for some people, and very different for others! Do you get sensitive to light or sound during your headaches? Otherwise, I know that for me, my migraines were caused by caffeine, especially since I used to drink so much of it. Seriously, I'd go through 2 litres in half a day. Pop was all I drank, and I was told I had to stop. It sucked, but I did...I'm now very careful about how much, what kind, and when I have caffeinated drinks! Have you noticed any patterns, such as time of month (or, time of your girly cycle), what you may have eaten or drank within the last day, or stress levels? Sometimes the body will react to things we aren't aware of. I have hope that, if nothing I've mentioned is helpful, someone here can help!
branquinha · 4/19/2011
I have had those too. I started getting them when I was a child but they have gotten better and there were differences in how they manifested -- supper strong headaches or migraines. I have had to learn to deal with them and I get them a lot less frequently nowadays. Some things that have helped me: seeing an eye doctor - I needed glasses, and that alone helped. I also discovered some of them were food related, so heavy stuff like cream and chocolate can be damaging to me if I have loads of them or every day... I also was prescribed some migraine drugs, but you have to take them when you feel they a migraine is coming, otherwise they do not work so well. I am also very sensitive to smells and am allergic to some of the,, strong perfumes can trigger horrible headaches, so I have learned to stay away from people who wear scents that don't go well with me and I avoid the perfume corners in duty free shops etc. I used to have them connected to my menstrual cycle when I was younger, but luckily they stopped. Some herbal teas and essencial oils help too. I am particularly fond of mint and one called "boldo" that I have never seen in the northern hemisphere. Try to see the patterns in your headaches, they will probably help you physician in diagnosing possible triggers. Good luck!
LoneStarDiva · 4/19/2011
My youngest son (now 21) had weekly migraines (for lack of a better word) much like you describe. He too took all the docs had to offer including even an injectable one. Crazy as it sounds: What WORKED for HIM... An all orgainic diet. Yep. He was 16 or so at the time While waiting for my diet supplies to come in, I switched to all orgainic foods, so that's what he got too. After about ten days, I LOST 11 LBS, as well!! :) He did not have another headache for a year or more. There is likely something in processed food you are allergic to.
chemgoddess1 · 4/19/2011
Lone Star...I was also thinking allergic reaction. Branquinha also had a really good suggestion of logging when you get the headaches, this way you can see patterns and possible causes.
SashaMae · 4/19/2011
I agree with what these ladies said. Watch your salt/caffeine/processed foods intake and stay hydrated! I know you mentioned you tried massage- was it relaxation or local therapeutic? When people come to me with that same group of symptoms I try to stay in the problematic areas. Sinus cativities, the crown, scalenes and SCM (anterior/posterior neck) are usually the culprits. I would try to find an LMT that specializes in migraines. If not, just tell the therapist to work these areas to find some relief. I know it can be really hard to find a knowledgable LMT in some areas (I can't find anyone I like to work on me! :( ) Also, I find that sitting (slumping) on my couch is a MAJOR issue for my neck/back. Sit on a folding chair or lay flat on the ground when watching t.v. Hope you find some relief lady!
verucablue · 4/19/2011
Have you checked your blood sugar? It could be low and it could be causing the headaches as well...are you eating regularly throughout the day. The idea about the journal is really good. It might help you identify what the "trigger" is.
Dancing Paws · 4/19/2011
I've dropped caffeine before, I drink a lot of water, and I have tried this crazy migraine diet. Nothing helped. I literally get these headaches almost the same day every week, plus or minus a day. They fluctuate between Tuesdays and Thursdays. They used to be every Saturday. I've been eating a mostly vegan diet lately for weight purposes, but I haven't had any change. My eyes are 20/15, so that can't be the cause. The muscles in my neck are literally always contracted (involuntarily) and one day a week they just go into overdrive for 24 hours. It's usually the left side of my neck, but sometime it shifts to the other side. You can literally see that my left shoulder is pulled in closer to my body than the right shoulder. When I stretch my neck, I can feel a tightness deep in my neck that I can never quite pinpoint, and it never releases. I stretch frequently, I try to exercise (when my body will LET me), I put heat on my neck when I start to feel it tensing. Sometimes that keeps it from escalating, but other times it doesn't. I take tylenol like it's food, not that it does anything anyways. I've been diagnosed with tension headaches, myofascial pain, and cervical dystonia (all for the same issue.)
Samantha B · 4/19/2011
I get A typical rapid cycle cluster migranes. They typicaly last for about 30 days. The most common trigger aparently is wheat. I went wheat free, headaches went away. Other culprits are red & yellow food colouring, weather and hormones. Good luck, it took me 10 years to determine my triggers now that I know them all I'm headache free.
Dancing Paws · 4/19/2011
Wheat huh? Does oatmeal count as wheat? I did have some whole wheat lasagne on Monday. I'll have to look into that one. I doubt it's weather since I live in Oregon where it rains, adn these were occurring is So. Cal with the sun out all the time.
Samantha B · 4/19/2011
Oats are not wheat. Wheat is a species of grain, oats are a different one. However most oats are contaminated with wheat but you have to be very sensitive for that to bother you. Wheat is not the same as rye, spelt, barley, oats, and many other common cereal grains. Any of them could bug you but it's usualy just wheat, like white flour, enriched white flour, pastry flour, whole wheat. Pasta, begals, toast/bread, doughnuts, pastries, cake etc, most baked goods. Try cutting it out for a few weeks and see how you feel. I noticed a difference after about a week, took 3 months to really tell the difference. I can still cheat every so offten but it always gives me a mild headach when I do.
Veena · 4/19/2011
My sister suffers from headaches like this. The doctors told her it was hormonal. She is on a birth control pill now for it. I am not sure if it helped though I would need to ask her. ❤️
Samantha B · 4/19/2011
The doc told me hormonal too, put me on pills, the headaches lessened but were still preasent. Only thing that made them go away completly was diet. I only get headaches when I am at that time of the month AND it's a thunderstorm/blizzard at the same time, and even then they aren't so bad by comparison.
Dancing Paws · 4/19/2011
I've been on birth control since I was 15 or 16, so at least 10 years. If it's the birth control, then I'm screwed 🙁. How long does it take for your body to become sensitive to caffeine again? I haven't gotten to where I can drink an energy drink and not shake, where I used to shake like I was on crack.
Samantha B · 4/19/2011
Caffeine starts to bother me (withdrawl if I don't have a cup of coffee in the morning) after about a week of drinking it daily. So it must build up the 'need' quickly. It takes about twice as long to get off it again for me. The shakes are no fun either the had caffeen shakes or the didn't have caffeen shakes... both bad. Good luck.
Runemist34 · 4/19/2011
To create a caffeine addiction takes a very short amount of time; often one or two days, depending on how much you have, and your body chemistry. To come off it also depends on how much you are dependant. It took me two weeks to feel normal again after quitting caffeine (lol, sounds like smoking, doesn't it?) Since it sounds like your headaches are quite regular, it could either be something in your system that builds up quickly, or that you do at least once a week that causes it to get worse. Has this happened to you for your whole life? Did it start when you hit puberty? I usually try to figure these things out by asking lots of questions. If your normal doctor is unable to help, find a new one. Go to a specialist. Anything you have to do! I hate to see people live with pain!
XLauraX · 4/19/2011
I went through a period about 6 months ago of having constant migraines, I would have about 4-5 a week, my doctor couldnt find a cause but suspected work related stress (I work as a carer) I was put on codeine for it, but that only took away some of the pain, but now I have switched shifts in work I have only had about 2 in the last 4 months. I do suffer from bad headaches though, have done since I was a child, again Doctors could never figure out why, I am a pain killer junkie, I always make sure i have some form of pain killers on me at all times.
Dancing Paws · 4/19/2011
I think they started in high school, but they haven't gotten worse over the years. I don't work right now, so work stress isn't the trigger. I've seen 2 neuros, an ENT (resulting in surgery), and several GP's. They all say different things. I might have to get an allergy test done for foods.
senrysa · 4/19/2011
Oh man I feel for you I have other medical but they could never out why.the headaches. So they called if complicated complex headaches which leads to migraine/cluster headaches which may last a few hours or a few weeks. They put me on disability not so much for the h/a AZ other things. They put me on 4 anti-depressants, migraine meds for an attack and pain meds when nothing else works. If pain ed don't kick its off to ER where I try to explained I'm not there to get high but If they don't help me basically I'm going g to throw myself under the next passing bus. Sometimes they call my Dr who promptly explains the situation. After that I go home and sleep 24 hrs and if I'm really lucky when I wake up the headache is gone. If not I start the cycle over again.. The meds I take used to try and prevent the headaches by skiing something to the seratonin in my brain. They put me on disability almost 20 yes ago. People think I'm so lucky but they have no idea how bad you have to get disaster ility at that age and what it does to your life when your immune system is so compromised so much you can't go to.a job everyday. a month ago I had to stay in hospital a week get IV antibiotics I had a headache for a week before that si I was lucky they gave me strong pain meds so when I came home it was gobe A good headache doctor helps because you dont have to explain it again and again they know about how they can destroy life as most people know it. It can destroy marriages cost friends who don't get just because you look OK doesn't mean your are. Some of the things you might consider somebody the triggers besides stress....diet, caffeine, additives in food, rebound headaches cache even be caused by taking the same otc medications like aspirin, tylenol., ibuprofen anything you take every day. It will stop working after a while and can actually cause your headaches, smoking (or not smoking.if you are trying to quit), and unfortunately chocolate which I adore. :-( I am prescribed maxalt which usually works but wont work on. Any other h/a but a migraine. there ate triggers during allergy season. I almost died when they thought my dogs Ans my horses may have contributes. Oh yes and alcohol...especially red wine. you can look on line for triggers you may not know about. Then keep a headache diary ( a total pain in the ass. But it can really help) when you get a h/a, what you have had to eat or drink, what time you go to sleep and when you wake up. Lots of people get headaches after a night of partying even if they don't drink...why because the slept late the morning after.that always seemed whacky to me but its true for me. I am sorry every time someone tells.me they have chronic headaches because. I.have been in a dark closet, with a bucket to throw up in, an ice pack and a pillow. I hope you can find the source. BTW get yourself some.of those ice pack holders that have like ace bandage/Velcro. You slide an gel pack/ice bag into a sleeve and then you wrap around your head. I always feel dumb but it helps me. I think the pressure of it helps too si I don't mind looking dumb. Hang in there.
Dancing Paws · 4/19/2011
I am all to knowing about being locked up in my apartment, lights out, blinds closed, sunglasses on, with a trash can for barfing. Did that last night. Had my ice pack and heating pad with me. I've done hospital trips before too. The first time I did they gave me dilauded, which made me so unbelievably nauseous. Never again. I had to go to the hospital because it hurt to breathe one day and kaiser thought I might have been having a heart attack or something. Turns out I had such bad acid reflux from all the prescription naproxen I was taking, that my asophagus started freaking out causing the chest pain. I may start a headache journal. Uh, what a pain.
DreamStarr · 4/20/2011
IM not a doctor and the doctors i was seeing wasn't either...lol I suffered from migraines often went to ER got all the good drugs, nothing worked. Found out what was triggering them the movie (Titanic) when the ship went down all the flashing light was triggering my migraines, how did i finally solve it.....EXCEDRIN MIGRAINE low and behold the main ingredient in it is....(hold your breath) CAFFEINE Worked for me and still do....IM not a Dr but i live by it🥂
DreamStarr · 4/20/2011
oh yeah dont forget the extra strength....it helps too
anna2422 · 4/20/2011
I suffer from migraines too. Along with EVERYTHING the others have mentioned. PICKLES can be a trigger too. chocolate too, lots of things really. The food diary mentioned above is a pain, but it can help. I saw an allergists, and while I do have some allergies (blue cheese being one of them, there is a difference between an allergy and just having a reaction to the foods you eat. They are mainly classified as an allergy, intolerance, or just plain old adverse reaction. The body is a very strange and complicated machine. Hope you find relief soon. Huggles to ya...
danzn16 · 4/20/2011
i've had migraines since i was 3 years old. recently they've become worse. i have about 2 a week. it's horrible. i've taken medication when i get them, which usually makes me feel worse before i get better. i am now taking topamax everyday as a preventative measure. i've only been taking it for about a month and a half now so i'm really hoping it will work but as of now no luck. i'm really interested in the food allergy aspect of it. i dont know how to get tested or if my insurance will even cover it but i am interested in seeing if am allergic to gluten or something like that. i know that some foods like, pickles, bananas, certain cheeses, lunch meats, are triggers for me. but i avoid those and still get random migraines 2x a week and still get headaches multiples times a week. i would love to get rid of these! i'm starting medical school in august and am on a mission to at least decrease them before then!!
Dancing Paws · 4/20/2011
Topamax didn't help me. I was on it for epilepsy actually, but I had headaches at the time. It made me super thin though. Lost all interest in food.

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