I suffer from daily chronic head pain. Maybe transformed migraine but most likely chronic tension headache. Has anyone had this and has been helped by anything.
Responses (42)
Yes.
Still unknown cause but I have had them since I was 5 and im now 18. I get migraines too. Topamax and solpadol with ibuprofen help a bit, but not much.
i had daily headaches and magraines that sent me to the er until i started taking topamax and inderal about 15 to 18 years ago. i started on low doses and now i'm on 300mg of topamax and 160 mg of inderal daily and i can truly say that maybe i'll get a hint of a headache if things get really stressful around me but for the most part i haven't had a migraine in 5 years. hope this has helped you. missy
thanks for answering. I actually tried a course of inderal for 6 months but it did not help. I have also tried propanlol , amitriptilyine, seroquel, tomapax and I have had botox shots to the head but to no avail. None of these meds have actually helped the constant head pain and there were so many side effects that for the last 6 months I just decided to do nothing. This is frustrating to say the least and I have been suffering for almost 4 years. The chronic pain is starting to wear me out. My Neurologist says I have a very stubborn headache and wants to put me in hospital and try running a lot of drugs at once. He claims he can get rid of the headache. Has anyone had this done with success?
I just realized you didn't mention Flexeril, it is my goto med for the raging headaches. If you have tension-based headaches it should be in your cabinet.
Hey Tinyone, I used to have a headache everyday and I feel like it was a couple of things going on. I was on birth control pills for years and I really do feel that contributed to the headaches. I also ate alot of processed food and know that that causes migraines and I work as a hairdresser with my head bent over alot. I did cut down on the processed foods and no longer take birth control as I don't need it. The amitriptyline did help as well, I am sorry it didn't work for you. See if you can find some articles about the foods that trigger migraine and avoid those and it should help at least some. The birth contol pills are another matter, I personally would have rather had the headache than risk a baby I didn't want or need. Best of Luck to you.
For my Chronic Daily hdch. (and migraine) - I was taking Amitriptyline for prevention for 5 years. One day it was found out I have GLAUCOMA even my vision is OK for my age; just use glasses for reading.
I went back to read about that antidepressant and found that is contraindicated for people *PRONE TO GLAUCOMA* !! I wander if the doctor who prescribed it to me (off label for that use in my country) WOULD BE LIABLE ??
sorry that you have been through so much with your headaches since you haven't had meds for 3 months maybe a short hospital stay won't hurt. if you have good benefits, if not i know someone else mentioned a guide of food ect.of migraine triggers ask your neurologist for that guide it also helped me.
The pain of a migraine beats in rhythm with your heartbeat.
It hurts in one specific, narrowly defined area of your head.
It may or may not be preceded or accompanied by auras: flashing lights, strange smells, sensitivities to light & sound, nausea, loss of peripheral vision, etc.
If you're a female, it may accompany your menstrual cycle.
If you're a male, they may be cluster headaches, which also affect only a narrow area of the head, but do not beat in rhythm with your heartbeat, which is how you tell the difference between a cluster headache and a migraine.
Wow Elizabetta thanks for explaining the different types of headaches so clearly. I get headaches atleast once a week and have looked all over for info on them. Thanks again!
i was on topamax for migranes . i had headaces on a weekly basices at least two a week . it would scare my son he was only 5 years old . it would be so back i could not function he would take care of me when i would be sick get me washclothes and water . i am so glad my dr finaly got me on something that helped . i have not had a bad headace like that in a few years . i pray i never have anymore . i pray that god takes your headace away for you .
I can't believe that I forgot to mention Topamax. Bad stuff! I could not function while on this, couldn't read, write, think. It was so scary! I went back to my neurologist and told him about it. He laughed and said "yeah, we call it dope-a-max" Not funny, I had my infant twins to care for. I read lots about it and many have the same problems, but took it for a longer time and suffer from permanent memory loss. I have read few success stories, but I wouldn't have risked it if I would have read beforehand..I would stay far, far away from this!
Fibromyalgia could. not sure how or why? Dr. asked me about my head-aches. when he told me I had othritous.+ Fibermyalia.
I've had chronic tension headaches for about a year. Had an MRI on my cervical spine and it showed it being very straight. The radioligists conclusion was that I was have musle spasms in my back and neck and it was pulling on the muscles under my scalp. It is not painfull, but feels like a tighness/numbness around the top of my head. In the beginning it would turn into burning and moved into my arms. My Dr. has diagnosed it as Tension Headaches related to stress/anxiety and poor posture in front of the computer for 20 years. He prescribed me 1mg Xanax 3 times a day and Zoloft 2mg once a day. It keeps it under control. On weekends, when I'm relaxed, I don't need to take a Xanax in the afternoon. I use to get only 5 to six hours of sleep a night and now I get 7 to 8 when I take a Xanax before bed time. I also dream much more than I did before I started Xanax which tells me I'm getting a good deep sleep. I'm going to massage therapy and chiropractor and I hope eventually it will go away. I'm 46 and never had any headache problems in my past.
I had/have same issue with cervical spine, only my curvature had become completely inverted (mirror image) due to chronic muscle tension. A great masseur returned it to normal curvature in about 18 months with a combination of: contrast (hot/cold), vibration, electrostimulation, trigger point and fascia release, & gentle massage once tissue was hydrated with good blood circulation. You can't go wrong with a good Chiropractor either, imho.
Caution with that Xanax - it's only meant for short term and is addictive and has a rebound effect, especially for anxiety. I've found Xanax works well only to stop a panic attack. But Klonopin has a much longer half-life and has worked better for generalized anxiety and for deepening sleep. Still, only for short-term use though.
I see it's been a while since you posted. Hope you've found some relief.
Hi, I'm new to the site, but I've had Fibro for 10 years and I've been getting migraines since I was 6yo. I'm 38 now. I take topomax 300mg daily, and use Immitrex for the headaches when they occur. I've also had sleep problems, especially related to the fibro, and I take Trazodone to help with that. I mostly wanted to comment here to say that dreams are not an indicator of deep sleep. Dreams take place during REM sleep, which is just below the surface of sleep. Deep, restorative sleep, which many fibro patients have a hard time getting to, is stage 4, or delta sleep.
GHD in response to your question. I have CDH(chronic daily headaches)and perhaps at a later date I will provide a 'cautionary tale' for those of a particular constitutional type which seem prone to overstimulation often leading to migraines and CDH. Here though, I would simply suggest that neither you, or anyone esle suddenly stop any medication without medical advice and support. I am deadly serious about this one fact. You might be taking a single medication or a number of them..the strength, type of..what they are prescribed for..all can lead to a DANGEROUS 'EVENT.' Unless otherwise instructed by a physician(or having a life threatening response to a medication), taper..taper... taper. There are ways of approaching this and a life style change may be required which requires a very attentive and comprehensive look at what you do and think in your daily life. I know. Hard to do when a knitting needle is slowly being pushed through one of your eyes, but as Marcus Aurelius is to have said: 'THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING.' GHD
In mu experience I can say it is overstimulation because of strong reactivity of sympatic part of the (autonomous) nervous system; also heightened sensitivity to pain
I suffer frim headaches over 75% of the month, Relpax works great but its an expensive drug and my prescription plan only covers 7 a month. What can I do the rest of the month? I always wonder how many replax one could take a month? The doctors try topamax the generic didn't work, brand name costs 200.00 a month, too expensive. Now I am on Keppra for a couple of days? Wonder what's going to haqppen next! I will let you know.
I understand. My Dr. gave me Zomig for my severe chronic migraines. 7 pills in a box and this is a months supply? Hello??? Is anyone listening to us? Please let me know about the Keppra. I am going to Shands which is our local teaching Hospital on MondY 4-4-11. I cannot wait
Imitrex now comes in generic, works just like the brand name. Every ins is different on what 'they consider' a months supply. With Zomig I can get six, with Maxalt, 12 and with Imitrex, 18. At a support group I attended last month we were told that taking medication for migraines more than 13 x's can lead to chronic daily migraines. You can take 2 within 24 hours, but that does not count as two, it counts as ONE day. Just an fyi. This man is a migraine specialist here in Dallas and also suffers from migraines. Good luck, I hope you're doing better now.
I had everyday headaches. When MRI with dye was done, they seen a blood clot in a vain that had stopped an just stayed there. has been there for 4 1/2 years. headaches have gotton better so it must be getting smaller.
I suffer from the same thing. I have since I was 15. I tried all kinds of migraine preventatives over the past 11 years with no success. I am now prescribed hydrocodone 10/650's and I would not recommend them at all. They help for a few months, then they start to cause worse headaches, your tolerance builds up, then you become addicted to a medication that really doesn't help much anyway. They also gave me Migranal nasal spray. That does help temporarily but it is very expensive, almost $350 for 6 little vials.
i wake up with a headache everyday and usually keep it all day. i take goody powders. thats it. i know they are bad for you, but it usually works fast to knock it out, it just doesnt last long. i think that my headaches come from the hydrocodone im on. i dont remember having headaches like this before i started the hydro about a year ago. i dont think its migraines... but it is chronic. i rarely get relief... i hope u do.
Rebound headaches are common with the type of narcotic you are taking. I had CDH, too, when I was taking percocet 10/325 for fibro. My fibro provider switched me to straight oxycodone, and the headaches disappeared. I do still get migraines, however.
Yes mam, I do get headaches much too frequently and can not function when they are bad. I have not identified what kind of headaches I get, could be sinus, tension, migrane, could be from my back/scoliosis, my eyes, stress, anxiety, depression, anything. Headaches could come from countless causes, but I was really interested in freedom from pain! Just to stop the pain so I could function, without suffering. They seemed to be getting worse, more frequent, and then I also became very much more sensitive to light, to sound, and to everything, it's pretty miserable. All I could do is lay in my bed, in complete darkness and complete silence and pray for relief. Finally, I believe I have found relief and freedom and would love to share it with you. It is fiorinall with codeine and I am so excited that it works! It is my miracle and I pray that it will work for you. Good luck and GOD BLESS YOU.
God Bless you
I have the headaches daily also. So glad you found a med that helps!
I don't like the way the healthcare system is, and have certainly seen it from different views. I do have insurance and get denied for treatment from the county services. My bills are outrageous and the calls from collectors just keep coming in. Thank God my hubby does have the family ins otherwise we would be bankrupt for sure. I am due for more surgeries and am scared to have anything done, still trying to play catch up on the past debts. :/
I have had chronic headaches most of my life. A little over a month ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The stress of that diagnosis along with some personal family issues have had me so stressed that I had a constant headache for about 4 weeks straight. At first I thought it was a sinus infection because it was always in the same place and the side of my nose also hurt and the area under my eye would swell up. I was tried two different antibiotics, one right after the other, and Flonase. None of which helped so it was obviously not an infection. I take Fioricet for my headaches if I can catch them as they start, if they are in full blown migraine mode then I take Imitrex. Both of these would help for a few hours, but then the headache would come back. I am with you when it comes to Topamax. It was not good for me at all. It made me forget things (like where I lived, etc) it was very hard for me to work and they really didn't help my headaches.

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Topamax is some bad stuff it can cause you to have headaches. Plus causes other problems like kidney problems. I almost died from being on topamax. I suggest to get off of it. There is study's backing up what I juat said.