Monday, January 19, 2009 crafty asks

Q: tension headaches

I have had headaches for years, and I mean years, I don't know when they started, but lately over the past several months they have became worse. I don't seem to have any new symptoms with the headaches they seem the same as all the others except in intensity.

I have been under a doctors care and she was helping me out, but she now has sent me to a neurologist to be checked out and he says they are not migraines, but tension headaches.

These headaches over the past several months I wake up with them, sometimes they are only 2 or 3 on pain level but there are times that they are over the top of 10. I use ice pads that are used for migraines, both on the front of my forehead and on my neck. I also use sometimes a ice bag on the top of my head theses headaches can last from 4 to 10 hours till I can say they are gone.

He has me order to get both a MRI of head, neck and back. He also has suggested that I go to pt and get messages and a something they call a tends unit for them to use. He also suggested that I could learn to go yoga, and relaxation tech.

These headaches don't only hit me in the morning but they can come on anytime throughtout the day. He said I could be suffering migraines also, but he is trying to find the answer to what is just going on.

I also have been taking fiorict for years. Most of times it helps with only taking a couple tablets in a day, but sometimes it takes up to as many as 8 to get it under control. Spread out over a 24 hour period of time, mind you.

I was just wondering if you let me know if I am heading in the right direction or not. I am tried of getting these headaches and as often as I do. Thank you for any help or advise you could give me.

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Answers (1)

Teri Robert, Health Guide

1/19/09 3:30pm

crafty,

Although we can't give medical advice, we CAN give you information to help you work with your doctor. How's that?

There are a number of issues here...

First, you need a confirmed diagnosis -- tension-type headache? Migraine? both? It matters for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that the medications to take when you get a Migraine are usually different from those for a tension-type headache.

The Fioricet you're taking may actually be a big part of your problem. Possibly, this is where it becomes important to know that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine and headache specialists. They treat all kinds of neurological disorders and injuries, making it difficult for them to stay totally current on any of them.

Taking Migraine pain medications such as Fioricet more than two or three days a week can make matters worse by causing medication overuse headache (MOH), aka rebound. See Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires for more information on this.

It can be difficult, if not impossible, to tell if you're having a tension-type headache or medication overuse headache. Fioricet, since it contains butalbital, should not be abruptly discontinued when you've been using it daily because that can, in some cases, cause even more issues including seizures. Your doctor will need to help you stop taking it.

Waking with a headache or Migraine can indicate sleep problems --- too much, too little, disrupted, or poor quality sleep. Please discuss your sleep patterns and quality with your doctor.

You didn't mention any symptoms other than headache. Migraine includes some other symptoms. Here are some articles to take a look at so you'll have a foundation when you talk with your doctor:

• Anatomy of a Migraine

• Tension-Type Headaches - the Basics

If your doctor isn't able to help you, it may well be time to consult a Migraine and headache specialist. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.

I know you're going through a rough time. If you'd like some additional support, come join our discussion forum. You'll need to register again once there because it's a separate membership database, but you can use the same member name, email address, and password that you used here. You can find our forum at http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/migraine/forums.

Good luck,

Teri

Q: tension headaches

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