Frequent Stress Headaches

[burnable]

I've been a full-time dad for 18 months or so, but we just had a second kid, he's 6 weeks old. I get these vicious headaches virtually every single day from the stress of taking care of 2 young kids. Herb alone is not a strong enough analgesic. I've gone to my Dr. before and asked about my headaches at a regular physical. He gave me vicodin once, which created its own headache and made me nauseated. He gave me migraine pill samples, which did nothing.

I really don't want to come across to anyone as a pill-fiend. But I've tried to exercise the headaches away, sleep them off (where allowed). I have a healthy tea that used to get rid of milder headaches but not these ones. I don't like the idea of going back to the dr. and pushing for stronger pills, but this is getting to be a big obstacle in my daily life. Does anyone have any comments?

[silkyblue]

Im sorry about the pain, :(

have you had your blood sugar checked? Diabetes run in the fam?Eyes straining need glasses? High blood pressure?

I get ice pick headaches :beatdeadhorse:

lay down, cool rag on forehead, close yo eyes, sleep in dark cool room, quiet, till rested, with drug of choice.

I hope this helps:)

love the babies~~

;)

[burnable]

thanks, yeah I've gotten my blood checked. Only cholesterol in fam, not diabetes, blood pressure's ok. Yeah laying down with a damp rag on my forehead is really all I can do; just wish I had access to my drug of choice for pain

[Sombrero]

Get some massages to loosen up the muscle tension in your head, neck, and back.

[burnable]

So I just got back from the dr. again. He gave me Lexapro for anxiety and Topamax for headaches. I've never heard of either. He also referred me to massage therapy. I've never really enjoyed massages especially from professionals, and it's going to be hard to go since I have these 2 little ones and regular business hours are when it's hard to find a sitter and I don't want my wife to leave work that often. Whatever, I'm not complaining- k I guess I am. It just seems like doctors overcomplicate things.

[ohkelly]

Are you a coffee drinker? I am, morning and again in the afternoon. I've gone through phases where I'd get regular afternoon headaches, and I've found that giving up that afternoon cup of joe for a couple of weeks made the headaches go away. Sounds like you've got real stress issues, but if you're a coffee drinker you might consider cutting back.

[burnable]

I love coffee, but drink only a small amount per day. It quickens morningly bowel efforts. I sometimes get a small headache from the coffee but it's always superficial and never lasts long. I doubt it's related to these recent intense ones. They're just fundamentally different. The doc indicated that the type of headaches I'm having are a result of tension. I prefer yerba mate tea for alertness; there's no crash afterwards and it has nutrition, and it's the only thing so far that can even touch my headaches.

The anxiety pill helped relieve stress, but it's kind of trippy and makes me dum:i feel stupid:. I take for granted the minimum of side effects that come from herb.

[Sombrero]

There probably isn't any real reason to take the anti-anxiety pill, although I'm certainly not as qualified as your doctor. However, I got some major tension headaches, and massages worked wonders. It's kind of hard to believe, but the pain is really just tense muscles, and that pain seems to cause more anxiety. Once the muscle tension starts to be relieved, you should feel much better, although if you're like me your muscles may be sore for awhile after they get loosened up, while they recover. And it'll take some time for the massages to really relieve your tension, maybe a few visits, maybe a few months worth of visits. And of course there is a learning process for how to remain relatively relaxed and not get tensed up again. I've found that the anti-anxiety pills don't allow you to learn how to prevent stress, so they're just a temporary relief, although I was taking different stuff than you.

[burnable]

Yeah I fully agree, it's my fundamental philosophy about drug use. People who use a drug just to escape or relieve a normal human emotion or condition are cheating themselves out valuable evolution and character growth. The exceptions would be clinical disorders like post traumatic stress syndrome. Right now I have to start from the point of: okay my kids are impressionable and very dependent on my mood for their daily well-being. It would be unhealthy overall for my umbrella good mood to be provided through artificial means in general. I tend to get sick of pills anyway; I miss my normal self too much. They 're getting easier to deal with regularly so I doubt i'll have a long term probelm with stress. Thanks a lot for your sincere and thoughtful post

[birdgirl73]

Look at it this way, though, Burnable. People aren't necessarily alway using a prescribed drug to escape or relieve a normal human emotion or condition. Besides, the statistics tell us that when they are, they're just as likely to be self-medicating with an illicit substance or alcohol.

It's been my experience that people are more frequently using prescribed drugs to help them function better, not simply escape emotions. Issues like fear/anxiety, depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder and heavier psychiatric problems can truly affect people's quality of life, and I don't see the use of medicines to keep those conditions in check as something that shouldn't be considered. For some reason medicines that are used for mental health issues get slammed unnecessarily. But if someone had diabetes or cancer or heart disease, no one would hesitate for a moment to treat those issues medically. I just want people to keep an open mind.

Lexapro is an SARI antidepressant that happens to also be particularly helpful, at least for many, in treating anxiety. Here's some info about it.
Lexapro ( escitalopram oxalate ) data sheet (http://psyweb.com/Drughtm/jsp/lexapro.jsp)

Topamax is an anti-seizure drug that is also beneficial for treating headaches.
Topamax( Topiramate ) data sheet (http://psyweb.com/Drughtm/jsp/topamax.jsp)

When I was a young stay-at-home mom--and I only had one baby for whom I was responsible--I had a phase of bad headaches. As it turned out, I wasn't getting enough rest and wasn't exercising enough or eating as well as I could. I was also trying to work from home and take care of the baby. It was a rough period. The exercise and balanced diet do a lot for me in helping me manage stress, even now. Fortunately, that phase passed. But that's a decidedly rough time. I think that's lovely that you're a stay-at-home dad.

[Weedywildwoman]

"When I was a young stay-at-home mom--and I only had one baby for whom I was responsible--I had a phase of bad headaches. As it turned out, I wasn't getting enough rest and wasn't exercising enough or eating as well as I could. I was also trying to work from home and take care of the baby. It was a rough period. The exercise and balanced diet do a lot for me in helping me manage stress, even now. Fortunately, that phase passed. But that's a decidedly rough time. I think that's lovely that you're a stay-at-home dad." Quoted from birdgirl...I was going to say the same thing as bird girl! When my son was a baby/toddler I would get so tired from the sleepless nights and having to stay on the go all day I would get very rough headaches from the lack of sleep, energy, and as bad as I feel to admit it, the boredom sometimes. I also wanted to say good for you being a stay-at-home Dad. It can be a very tough job, especially with two under two years.
My field of expertise is psychology and I have concerns over your doc giving you Lexapro for this. Did the doc ask you very many questions about your life situation? Seems like an awful quick jump to start you on such a strong medication that you may not need. Of course I am NOT your Doctor, so this is just an opinion.
I hope you find the root cause of this pain. Headaches can be so debilitating. They are coming out with new pharmaceuticals for migraines. Did your doc say they were migraines as well as tension headaches?
I wish you all the best. I still have tension headaches and migraines often myself. I have a condition called eppstein barr that causes my tiredness, which causes my pain. Sometimes the headaches can be a result of a condition such as this. Just a thought...
Take care, WWW :)

[birdgirl73]

Ooooh, Epstein-Barr. You have CFS, WWW? That's not fun. I had mono when I was a kid, so I have an idea what it might feel like chronically. Not good, that's for sure.

[burnable]

jee whiz thanks for the solid info. Yeah it's sort of a lurid area to me, medication for better mental functioning. I think it goes profoundly deeper. We live in a manufactured, arbitrary civilization that is more and more detached from our natural ancestral roots. I believe that a root of many psychic problems lies in the fact that we simply don't have a collective lifestyle that promotes optimal mental health. People base their ideologies and perceptions on the "concrete" surroundings that they inherit from an increasingly consumerist and avaricious preceding generation. Our whole lives are based on what we've created, not what created us, so when we accomplish all that we think we need, there's something lacking and we have no idea what it is. And that is a good recipe for mental insecurity. Why not apply medicine from the only known world?

The principle I mentioned of not relieving emotions with a substance would have more relevance in a civilization that wasn't based on something so unstable in the first place.

It wasn't my intention to go so abstract; after all I'm trying to cut DOWN on headaches.
My normal dr. was on holiday, so I met with a different guy. He asked about my lifestyle and asked if I actually chose to be a fulltime dad (I suppose because if I didn't, it would indicate a more significant albeit underlying stress source). He was pretty choosy with the meds. I told him these didn't work: ibuprofen, naproxen, vicodin, imitrex, axert, and maxalt. So i guess there were some variables that made him decide on lexapro and topamax.

I don't care for those so far. The lexapro makes me stoopid and distorts my perception of time. The topamax f's with my sleep and gives me mad gas. I guess I'll give them a few more days and if my body doesn't start tolerating it better, I'd rather just deal with headaches. He also prescribed massages, which isn't covered by ins. and we can't afford. :)

[Sombrero]

I give great credence to evolutionary biology and anthropology. We have evolved with cannabis and, to a much greater extent, alcohol. However, we have not evolved with many modern stresses and most prescription medications. I also believe that "modern medicine" is highly overrated, and not nearly as advanced as many people would like to think. We have a good understanding of most organ systems and so forth, but relatively very little understanding of the brain and mind. Taking mind-altering prescription medicines may certainly help, but they surely are no substitute for actively, naturally coping with the causes of stress. Stress and pain are there for a reason, and in terms of evolutionary biology, those feelings are not there to tell you to take a pill.

[Sombrero]

And I just remembered something, insurance that doesn't cover massages should still cover physical therapy, you may be able to get a month or two of appointments for neck tension.

[burnable]

I agree, sombrero. I didn't want a drug that changed my daily awareness so much. The data sheet said the lexapro restores levels of seratonin without really altering general brain activity. I don't know about that-i don't feel like myself at all. I remember taking zoloft once and it reminded me of this antidepressant cuz they both surge at you when you yawn. It seems like my emotions are artificially leveled out, something I dislike. I enjoy the ups and downs of normal human emotion cuz it makes you cherish the good times much more and yields an artistic, honest view of the universe. All I wanted was some headache relief; if there was some way to still have stress and anger and let it not result in immobilizing physical pain, that would be ideal. But like you said, modern medicine is overrated

[Weedywildwoman]

Ooooh, Epstein-Barr. You have CFS, WWW? That's not fun. I had mono when I was a kid, so I have an idea what it might feel like chronically. Not good, that's for sure.

Hi Birdgirl,
I DO have CFS, it sucks! I also had mono when I was a kid and they think that is what manifested itself into the epstein barr. I hope you never show signs of CFS from that case of mono. Although I can't imagine it manifests that way in too many people. I may need to research my conditions some more! It's so hard to get through the day exhausted all of the time. It has made my immune system crash, so if there is any contagious illnesses near me I usually end up ill with that too...crazy! Thank god for weed or I would be in even worse shape!
Take care, WWW :jointsmile:

[Weedywildwoman]

"All I wanted was some headache relief; if there was some way to still have stress and anger and let it not result in immobilizing physical pain, that would be ideal. But like you said, modern medicine is overrated"
__________________quote from burnable...

Hey there again! I get incredibly stressed very easily. If it is not an appropriate time for me to have a quick hit on a joint, I whack the heck out of punching bag. I feel a lot calmer after I get that angry feeling out! I get angry when I watch the news mostly! Nasty people hurting children and then being let out of prison to hurt and murder again. That is mosty when I feel so angry I could burst. I can't beat the pervert to death, so I beat the bag hanging in my garage to death! It gets out the adrenaline in a safe way. Maybe something like that could help get out the stress? Maybe not that exactly but something like it to get out the tension.
I am determined to help you relieve the headaches!
I wish you the best,
WWW :)

[burnable]

I've tried stuff that like for venting. I'd go in the other room and punch a soft chair till I felt calm. It seemed like if I tried to zen the anger away, the headache would worsen, and if I vented the anger out, the headache would worsen. often I'll wake up in the morning with a headache and it will be there till I go to sleep that night. THese topamax have made the headaches less frequent, and when I have them I can tell they're just as bad, but the lexapro makes me not care that it hurts. weird shit.

[burnable]

so i just noticed that these drugs lower my pulse when I'm doing my daily cardio. Normally it's 140-150, but on these pills the same workout only yields 110-120. Do you guys think it's just as effective even though it's a slow pulse, or should I work harder to get my pulse back up? My goal is general cardiovascular health and cholesterol management (my LDL was like 280 on july 16. I've been on a nazi-diet and exercising 6 times a week since).

[burnable]

just an update. I complained about those pills to my dr and how they weren't even touching my headaches and how the topamax was interfering with my sleep, so he had me quit both of them. He scored me some percocet and scheduled a ct scan, which was a relief. The percocet's okay, but my head could still feel better. Plus I'm running out of herb and I'm a ways off from my next crop due to idiocy on my part ( I wonder if I can get a rx for weed for my headaches; I'm in a med mj state and have a real need for it, the perc's are worthless without herb).

[Weedywildwoman]

I am glad you are getting a ct scan, maybe you will get some answers. Has the doc mentioned re-bound headaches? Headaches SUCK because they hurt and because there can be such a struggle to find out what is causing them.

I went to a headache clinic for a while and they told me it was caffeine...it could have been, but it wasn't! So frustrating! I wish you well and I hope you get some answers. :thumbsup:

[burnable]

update: my ct scan came back normal. I still have daily headaches and I need 4 percocets a day to keep the pain down. I've tried just taking one and combining it with a big ibuprofen, but it doesn't work for much longer than an hour. It's annoying to call every week and ask the dr. to write me a new rx (they can't just call it in cuz it's a taboo drug); I don't want to seem like a junkie or something. But it's a good medication; I feel like my normal pain-free self, and I"m able to dispense quality vibes and attitude upon my kids, and that's all that matters

[Dave Byrd]

You mean you feel like yourself for the hour that it works, right?

Did you have a plain CT or a CT-angio? (where they injected dye and looked at your neurovascular system with contrast). How old are you? Are there any neurologists in your area? See if you can find one who specializes in headaches.

[amsterkushed]

If noise (ie baby screaming) or light causes or increases your headache you might be suffering from migraines. You have to have one to appreciate the agony they bring.

Anyway, have your M.D. prescribe you Imitrex.

An Imitrex taken with an Aleve at the very first hint of an oncoming headache will greatly reduce, if not eliminate your pain.

Good luck.

Peace

[burnable]

I had a sample of Imitrex. It didn't get to the pain very well and made me very irritable. I thought I was getting migraines a couple of months ago, but they evolved into these perpetual, deep, acute headaches that don't seem to fit the description of migraine.

The newborn has matured a little and doesn't spend much time screaming, especially since I've gotten to know him well enough that I can ascertain what he needs from his pre-cry body language. It was really only the first couple of weeks that I felt daily stress. Now it seems these headaches aren't any discernable result of emotional or circumstantial activity, yet they are just as painful.

Dr. Byrd I believe I had a regular ct, without the dye. I'm 25. is it likely that my current dr. will refer me to a neurologist? He's normally very quick to write referrals.

The percocet pretty effectively keeps the pain down for about 4 hours, but I have to take 2 at a time, otherwise it still hurts. Thanks 4 your time

[birdgirl73]

Dr. Byrd I believe I had a regular ct, without the dye. I'm 25. is it likely that my current dr. will refer me to a neurologist? He's normally very quick to write referrals.

He's not here at the moment, Burnable, but I've heard him say before to patients who're having headaches that neurologists know a whole lot more about dealing with headaches than GPs or internists or family doctors. A visit to someone who specializes in heads might not be a bad thing to look into if they keep up.

I remember having headaches when our baby was a newborn, now that I think back on it. I think a lot of it was tension from terror and stress taking care of him. Sleep deprivation didn't help, either. That's a rough time. Glad you're getting at least some relief. I had that same experience long ago when I took an SSRI antidepressant for seasonal affective disorder. I felt totally flattened out and dull and hated that. Won't ever take those again.

[burnable]

Yeah I know what you mean. The Lexapro totally neutralized my emotions, which I guess would be good for someone who's depressed or bipolar or generally doesn't like his/her self. When something happened that normally would trigger an emotional response, i would sense the emotion under the surface, but it would just fizzle out and then I couldn't even get mad about it cuz that stuff removes anger. I didn't even feel human. The percocet only has some side effects, like drowsiness, but I have full access to my mind and emotions.

Fortunately my wife volunteers to do the baby thing pretty much all night. She can function on patchy sleep, as long as it's x amount of hours. I'm a mess without my 6-7 hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep. I imagine my head would feel much worse without it.

[Old Stoner]

I used to get frequent migraines, but then I got a divorce, and they mysteriously went away. No kidding!

Seriously, The above IS the truth, but i used to eat Goody's continuously. I bet the lining in my stomach is perforterated as hell.

I am not making light of anyone's situation, folks, really. I just try and make folks laugh, and maybe for just a minute or two, forget their pain. i usually tell my wife I hurt all over worse than I do anywhere else.

I feel for anyone with chronic pain/health problems of any kind. I won't go into mine - I just hope everyone finds everything they need to help with their pain.

God bless, and Peace,

Old Stoner

[burnable]

another update: I spoke with a neurologist and he couldn't say anything definitive about my ailment, since there was no accident and he couldn't see any tactile impairment. He took away my opiate privileges; no big deal, the generic percocet wasn't helping so much anymore. Also, I had a nasty emotional comedown for 2 days after I quit taking it.

The Dr said that numbing an inexplicable pain with analgesics is often counter-productive in finding a genuine diagnosis. So now I'm on Ketorolac for 5 days and Immipremine, with Relpax for breakthrough headaches. The Ketorolac helped my light-sensitivity some, but ultimately did almost nothing for overall pain. The Immipremine helped me sleep pretty good, but I still woke up with full-intensity headache. As far as I can tell, the relpax doesn't help at all yet.

I'm bitterly frustrated at the continual guesswork I'm subjected to. I realize it's the nature of my condition, and headaches like these are often very ineffable, and I usually have a strong ability to elevate myself above my own problems. But this pain is so deep and so acute and so pervasive, so much that I feel like it's rooted in the most unfathomable depths of my soul, and my normal personal strength is rendered totally dormant. I hate to say it, but I feel outright depressed and hopeless, and I feel like I'm not even living life anymore. I can't read to my kids or to myself or have lively debate with my wife without exacerbating the pain. Can't even watch tv.

[Pinner]

I was wondering if your a smoker(cigarettes) My 16 year old was suffering from headaches constantly at home for several months (living with her mother) and was given several different meds but nothing seemed to work. She went through cat scans and spinal taps which all came up negative. One day when she was staying by my house she realized that she never suffered from any headaches there. What we found to be causing her headaches was her mother smoking in the house. My home is smoke free. I confronted her mother and she stopped smoking inside the house and my daughters headaches subsided.

[burnable]

I positively despise cigarettes. Don't even drink anymore. I thought I might have gotten caffeine headaches, but after not drinking any for 2 weeks, and the headaches still prevailed, I eliminated that theory.

My head was hurting so bad last night that I broke down into tears, feeling like a victim and not knowing what to do with myself. So my wife took me to the ER and they pumped new drugs into my veins (Depakote, dextramethasone), and a clever narcotic that totally knocked out my headache, even until 4 pm so far today. The good night's sleep helped too.

[Deltron Zero]

Haha, lol!
I pretty much am and have gone through the same thing you are going through. Ever since I was 12, my mom, doctors, and I have diagnosed myself with migraine headaches. It seems to me that it is definitely migraines. I have 2 kids, the screaming always makes them start. Pills and other bs "medicine", otc or perscription, are BAD!! Doing extensive research on my ailment, has brought to my attention that you can't and should not swallow pills everyday because you have pain in your head. The thing is (at least for me), migraines are very hard to deal with. They stop you from doing normal life activities. I could go more into detail of this, but those of you who suffer from migraines understand. My mother has also, recentely been perscriped topamax, and was hospitalized for kidney stones, one of the side effects of the drug. Problem today with doctors and pharmecutical companies is that they just want to patch a bandaid on your disease/condition so that you come back and they make more money. Ask yourself why would this industry want to fix you so that you dont come back for their "business". Most likely the sole purpose for today's illegalization of medical marijuana. Anyway, the only thing that I can tell you is to do research, and do what's best for you and your body. For me, I have to deal with the pain, and take as little ibuprofen as possible, because of my legal "restrictments". I used to be able to just smoke my cannabis to comfort my pain, stress, etc. And actually for a long time my migraines were occuring amazingly less frequent (like 1 bad one every 4 mo.) and more dull. But, now they have come back to me just like when I was 12. Its rediculous that I get mild to severe migraines more than 4 days a week, and can't smoke a joint to relieve my pain. I feel for you brother. Keep in touch. Peace. B

[burnable]

wow that sort of puts my 6-month bout into perspective. I can't imagine having these headaches for that long.

The depakote was messing with my head, so I quit taking it last thursday, and coming off of it was probably the hardest emotional time I've ever had. depression, despondency, confusion, memory loss, and some of the most vivid and haunting dreams I've ever had. It was like an acid-trip; didn't even seem like I slept. I have an appreciation for people who get depressed or have inexplicable mental disorders. I didn't want anything else but to be normal. I'm finally myself again today (tuesday).

Just came back from an MRI. I don't enjoy taking pills, I try to avoid it as long as I can, but the pain gets so strong, that I don't have control over myself and don't know what else to do but take something (ibuprofen, percocet, which don't even help all that much). Often it comes down to the choice of: do I resist the urge to take something for my ultimate welfare, or do take something so at least I can interact with my kids and not vegetate on the couch because the pain is too much to bear? I can't just be stoic with my kids when I'm their primary caregiver.

I realize that the doctors have their own agendas, and they don't care about me as a person, but If I'm lucky they care about doing their job well. This neurologist sure seems like a bum. I guess you get to the point where you feel like you're on your own.

[fmacanthaya]

I got the perfect medicine for you. It's called Imigran. You should ask your doctor about it. My mother got massive migrains daily and she would bitch at all of us all the time lol. But these helped her. She would pop a pill and take a nap and she would be great. I also noticed that she mainly got headaches when we lived in the City. That might be the problem. Imigran is very very expensive. It's like 80$ for 4 pills haha. But if you buy them in Sweden they are alot cheaper, but the plane ticket won't be that cheap hehehehe.

[burnable]

ok so i saw my gp again today. He seemed very sympathetic, saying he knows what it's like and that his son gets wicked migraines. He even seemed to give me more time than normal. i expressed my frustrations at being given pills that so viciously drain my sanity and mood. My wife and I said maybe I should try beta blockers (blood pressure meds, even though i have pretty normal bp). So he gave me some and I'm much more optimistic about it. My head feels better today, but I won't know if it's the new meds or an aberration or my morning cup of coffee. I asked the dr. for perhaps a stronger, longer-lasting opiate, so at least I can give my kids a couple solid pain-free days a week (it's not like I'd call back and ask for more if I'm only taking 2 a week). He physically winced at the suggestion; it's fine I know there are federal laws about that stuff. Just makes me mad that there are junkies out there abusing potentially valuable medicine because they are self-destructive and ruin it for everyone else who just want their life made a little easier. So he gave me some more generic percocet. it's not hard to limit it to 2 days a week if I'm just told that by the guy.

I'm overall much more positive about the headaches. One comfort is knowing that chronic headaches are one of the most common ailments of members of the industrialized world, so i'm not alone, and they won't kill me, even if it feels like they will sometimes. I might not have a choice but to have pain, but I can choose to not suffer and be a whiny bitch about it.

[burnable]

a belated update: I experienced some neck pain along with the headaches and told that to the neurologist about the time that he wanted to in-patient me and run drugs through my body for three days. So instead he referred me to physical therapy. I don't know if it's an absolute diagnosis, but the therapy has helped a bit. The headaches aren't as bad when I know how to hold my head on my shoulders and sit with good posture (posture was something my mom always told me to do, but never how to do it. it starts in the lower back!).

With being a full-time dad a lot of activities call for looking down and stressing the muscles on the back of the neck, resulting in tension headaches. This feels more like a sensible diagnosis than anything else has. I'll type back as to whether it's ultimately effective.

[burnable]

mostly I'm keeping this thread alive hoping that perhaps someone experiencing the same thing might learn something about their own headaches. Also it kinda serves as a headache journal for myself.

The neck pain I had is virtually gone from the P.T. But the headaches themselves are just as constant and severe as before. I still maintain good posture and I do the exercises they gave me, but the headaches are still oppressive. Since I decided that there is probably no genuine cure and I might as well deal with it and be positive, I've felt better in general. I just conclude that pain is part of life; just wish I could do all the things I could do when I was pain-free.

The dr. put me on a beta blocker, Atenolol about 2 months ago, but it hasn't effected the headaches and they just make me sluggish to the point that it's difficult to exercise. I really want to quit taking it so I guess I should ask the dr. Has anyone had any ill effects from abrupt discontinuation of a beta blocker? (I don't have high blood pressure)

[burnable]

I've been going to a chiropractor. I knew I needed one a while ago for lower back discomfort, but the headaches overshadowed it, plus my neurologist discouraged going to a chiropractor. But he's been more productive than any other option. He pointed out problem spots on the xray and they were exactly where some troublesome pain was in the lower core of my head. So after 3 adjustments, the pain in the lower hemisphere of my head has greatly diminished. In the upper hemisphere, severe pain is still abundant.

The neurologist is out of options. The final two suggestions he had were botox injections (wtf?), and opiate medication. I had had 5-325 mg percocets, so he gave me a limited amount of acetomenophin-free 5 mg oxycodone, taken 2 tabs at a time, twice in a day, just twice a week. He then said he'd increase my dosage after a month. So with that, coffee, tea, head-on, essential oils (esp. peppermint), ibuprofen, I'm pretty good at managing and minimizing the pain. It helps to have several different pain relievers, so I'm not taking too much of one thing and so I trick my body into lower tolerance levels for each respective thing.

[burnable]

for the sake of closure, I thought I'd bump this thread because I found a way to relieve myself of headaches any time, without drugs. It's a simple matter of tapping into the pure energy of the universe, or god, or whatever label is chosen. THrough depersonalization accomplished by deep meditation and dismissing anything related to my ego, i.e. what I'm doing, why i'm hurting, what I"m experiencing...I can actually leave my body and sense the pure energy all around me. The process causes the headaches to vanish while I'm doing it, and I can maintain freedom from pain afterward by dismissing why or how I have a headache and just leave my head. pretty cool

[talktostrangers]

This kid i live with use to get really bad migraines and allergies
he went vegan and everything about his
health improved...
his acne went away
no more migraines
his eye aren't swollen
no more constipation