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Best way to manage my daily tension headaches?

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Posted 9/14/2012 7:11 AM (GMT 0)
I have had daily tension headaches and anxiety for the last year or so progressively getting worse. I have been trying to make it to the gym at least a few days a week, have been getting medical massage and occasionally vising my physical therapist for head and neck pain. I also take 2mg xanax xr daily for my anxiety. I have taken many different medications used for the prevention of neurological pain and anti seizure meds but have either had no relief even at the maximum doses or have had VERY negative side effects. I have Had mri's cat scans, and even a spinal tap skull . so far the only relief I have had is from the xanax but that is even still minimal and my psychiatrist is talking about taking me off it within a few months. I was able to deal with the pain during the summer but this meant living a very sedentary lifestyle. Now that I am back in school the headaches are bad as ever again. I recently contacted my neurologist and primary care doctor to see if there is anything they can do but they will not prescribe any substance that have abuse properties or tolerance. I understand their hesitation but I haven't been able to find any other relief then opioid or muscle relaxers. I am afraid I am running out of options which is not helping my anxiety anymore. (edited). I feel like there is no hope at the moment and none of my doctors are being very supportive. dose anyone have any other suggestions on meds I could ask my doctors about that might benefit me or other holistic approaches i could take to bring my pain level down?

Post Edited By Moderator (Momto8kids) : 9/14/2012 10:35:20 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/14/2012 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there...Wanted to welcome you to the boards..

I guess the good news is that with all the tests you have had that they haven't found something terribly serious. But I know that it comes with frustration when you don't know what is going on.

I'm sure others can come on to give more suggestions for chronic tension/stress headaches as you don't mention them being diagnosed as migraines.

What do you parents think about all of this? When you say you are a minor...may I ask how old?

I will ask that you read the Forum Rules for being on this board as talk of any illegal drug use is prohibited (you mention already trying mj without having a prescription for it).

Using that is never good as it can only cause problems in the future...

May I ask if you smoke cigarettes or anyone in your family does?

When I was in my late teens I had stress headaches all the time and had many of the same tests you had. It turns out it really was caused by stress/anxiety about things going on with me at the time. And since yours went away over the summer and are back again when school starts...it seems to correlate more with this so that at least is good in the way that there is a partial explanation.

I know you mention a Psychiatrist.....do you feel comfortable with this person as far as weekly (or a few times a week) going to them for counseling and trying to figure out what is going on emotionally? If not, then I would suggest finding someone who you feel you can really open up to and look more at what is causing all your stress and anxiety.

Again, welcome to the boards...I hope you will stick around and share more about your journey.
Posted 9/14/2012 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 16 and I've never smoked a cigaret and neither dose any of my family. The headaches were not diagnosed as migraines just chronic tension headaches. My parents just want to find a med or a other method to relive them. I am pretty comfortable with my psychiatrist but not so much with my therapist who hasn't really helped me in any significant ways. My headaches where only partially lessened over the summer but that wast until I finally saw a psychiatrist. Before then I felt like I was going crazy from the daily panic attacks and the headaches with no help from anything.
Posted 9/14/2012 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
The main reason I asked about the cigarettes is that when my mom smoked when I was a kid, this would also cause severe headaches.

It seems like finding another therapist is something that may be good for you.

Also, I know that many teenagers drink thinks like Red Bull or all those type of energy drinks....same thing for lots of sodas...All of these can have negative effects to cause rebound type headaches.

So, one natural way to help is to make sure you drink plenty of water (8-10) glasses a day. Cut back to one or even stop all together those type of drinks if applicable.

As well as look at diet and exercise overall. Eating things with low salt and low to no sugar is important. Keeping carbs to only complex ones.

And then making sure you actually get outside to get fresh air. I combine this with my exercise as I walk 7 days a week for 1.2 miles (a loop in my neighborhood)..

Just some thoughts...Hopefully as I mentioned, your parents will help you in any way they can to figure out the cause.
Posted 9/14/2012 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
HI Rip,

Sorry to see your suffering from headaches. They are terrible miserable things to deal with. I've had mine daily for over 7 years now. I truly understand how frustrating it can be to not just make them go away.

I know you said you have a neurologist, however is that neurologist a specialists with headaches? Most of them are not. If he/she isn't you may want to get a refferal to a neuro that specializes in headaches. And/or a referal to a teaching hospital.

I know docs don't like to prescribe narcotics for headaches. Narcotics and ibuprofen can cause rebound headaches.

Has your doctor recommended trying PT or seeing a pain mangament doc for possible Botox. And have you looked into prossibly accupuncture?
Posted 9/15/2012 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
My neurologist just prescribed my some drug called Indocin. Not sure how this is any different from the alive that I sometimes take (doesn't do much) but ill give it a try.
Posted 9/15/2012 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hey RIPZed,

SB made a good point in her post to you.... my son suffers from chronic headaches... and he found that all the "Rock Stars" and other energy drinks were a huge trigger for him (he was probably getting some type of caffeine withdrawal HA's). He's now stopped drinking them and has found improvement.

Indocin and Aleve are both NSAIDS - I don't know how they are different.... but it's probably worth giving it a try.

Somebody mentioned botox - I'm in the process of starting that for my HA's... but there are certain requirements in order for your insurance to cover it. I think it's 15 or more HA's per month... and some other things.

The only other thing I can think of is perhaps asking your doctor about Fiorinal. It's a great medication for tension headaches. That being said.... it has to be used in a certain way... as to not cause rebound headaches. But it does work well for some people (me included, a long time ago).

Take care.... Hope you find something that works for you. --Tina
Posted 9/15/2012 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the ideas I don't drink energy drinks but I do drink a coke every day or two so maybe cutting that out might make an improvement. I have also seen a lot of people saying that acetaminophen and Butalbital work well so I'll have to look into that. I think I might have had that prescribed to me for something else a long time ago.
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