Anyone have chronic daily headaches?

[missypie]

The guy who talked to our group said that Botox actually does wonders for several types of headaches, but you have to be willing to pay $$$ out of pocket.

He also said that he now asks people who come in if they eat a lot of Pringles. He said the sodium content is so high that they cause chronic headaches in some folks.

 

[torinsmom]

What kind of dental issues could it be? I have had regular dental cleanings and all that. Got a crown around a year ago. Everything else seems fine.

Marsha

 

[torinsmom]

I also take daily Ibuprofen. I used to take Esgic (ever tried that?) It (used to) work *so* well, so amazingly well, and it literally just over night *POOF* stopped working. That was a huge disappointment.

I just looked it up and Esgic is similar to Fiorcet. That's what I take for emergencies(they will only give me 20 every few months) THey also cause rebound if taken too often.

 

[CathrynRose]

What kind of dental issues could it be? I have had regular dental cleanings and all that. Got a crown around a year ago. Everything else seems fine.

Marsha

TMJ. Are you a grinder?

I think that might be part of mine. I believe mine are mostly tension headaches - at least thats what they start out as.

 

[mariolatry]

As far as an MRI, I have had many. I actually had a malformation called a Chiari Malformation, which was corrected in 2003. I had headaches for 13 years before that and have had them since as well. Evidently the two things were not related, although the surgeon was hopeful they would improve.



Can't use a chiropractor due to the Chiari Malformation, which could recur

Hello, fellow Chiarian! When was your most recent MRI? Is it possible the Chiari has recurred?

 

[SpecialK]

I had daily headaches for years until I stopped taking Tylenol or Advil every time I got one. Once I got off the daily meds, the headaches became occasional.

 

[dismom2]

What kind of dental issues could it be? I have had regular dental cleanings and all that. Got a crown around a year ago. Everything else seems fine.

Marsha

I had a tooth that I complained about off and on for a couple of years, but the dentist kept saying I didn't need a root canal yet because if I did, it would hurt all the time (not come and go). She finally did a root canal (which was on the side of my migraines, and my ear and eye was sensitive on that side of my face). I also had ALL of my old fillings removed (they were amalgon), and refilled with white fillings. These were fillings I had since I was a child. I was desperate for relief so I was made aware of the possible dangers of almalgon, and I just wanted to try anything. The dentist didn't tell me to do it, it was my choice. Basically, just from word of mouth, I tried different things that worked for others until I got relief. Beleive me, I tried a lot of things, and I don't think it was a coinidence that since I had all that dental work done my migraines have been reduced significantly.

I don't know if this will help you, but I wanted to share my story just in case it helps someone else. Someone did that for me and I am so grateful.

I have taken several different migraine meds, and I noticed you said you take Fioricet sometimes. I was given that at one time and it didn't help at all. But, I had a bad habit of waiting until I was in a ton of pain before taking it----I wanted to wait to see if it was a migraine or regular headache before I took it, so by then it didn't help. Then I was told to take it at the onset of the headache, and that helps. I usually only take that if I have a migraine due to sleep deprivation, and it works for that. For more severe migraines I have to take Relpax.

I sure hope you can get some relief---I totally feel for you. Good luck.

 

[dismom2]

The guy who talked to our group said that Botox actually does wonders for several types of headaches, but you have to be willing to pay $$$ out of pocket.

He also said that he now asks people who come in if they eat a lot of Pringles. He said the sodium content is so high that they cause chronic headaches in some folks.

That's interresting about the Pringles! I had no idea. I love salt and probably use too much of it, so I'll have to keep that in mind.

 

[torinsmom]

Hello, fellow Chiarian! When was your most recent MRI? Is it possible the Chiari has recurred?

Last one was probably in late 2004. I guess it is possible that it has recurred, but the headaches are in my temples, not in the back of my head. I also had hand numbness and a lot of back pain before and none of those things have returned. Sometimes I wonder if the pressure on the nerves for so long caused damage, and THAT is why I have headaches so much.

I am SO not willing to have that surgery again. My life would have to be in jeopardy to agree to it.

Marsha

 

[Mickeypooh99]

find that regular trips to the chiroprator help me a lot.

ITA. My chiropractor is wonderful. I used to have a headache everyday all day for about 1 year. It was so bad I couldn't even enjoy normal activities with my kids. One day I came home from a field trip with my DS, and I was crying by the time I pulled into the driveway. I decided I would try anything. Now I see the chiro every 3 weeks or so, and I only get a bad headache maybe twice per month or less.

ETA- I just saw you can't see the chiro.

 

[DizBelle]

TMJ. Are you a grinder?

I think that might be part of mine. I believe mine are mostly tension headaches - at least thats what they start out as.

Ooh! I used to wake up with a mild headache - fortunately it never required meds and never lasted long BUT I now wear a night guard. I'm a clencher when I sleep.

I wear one my dentist made me but you can buy the boil, bite, and form kind at the drug store for around $25 I think. Another worthwhile investment to see if it makes a difference.

I NEVER sleep without my night guard.

I would actually go for this one - only $22:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=215275&catid=1152

 

[DizBelle]

Also, have you had your blood pressure checked? Is it high? Even a little high?

 

[torinsmom]

ITA. My chiropractor is wonderful. I used to have a headache everyday all day for about 1 year. It was so bad I couldn't even enjoy normal activities with my kids. One day I came home from a field trip with my DS, and I was crying by the time I pulled into the driveway. I decided I would try anything. Now I see the chiro every 3 weeks or so, and I only get a bad headache maybe twice per month or less.

ETA- I just saw you can't see the chiro.

Yeah, in Chiari, your brain basically descends down into your spinal column. The surgery cut away part of the skull and top vertebrae to give it more room, and also cauterized some of the brain tissue. Head and neck manipulation is dangerous for that reason.

Marsha

 

[torinsmom]

Also, have you had your blood pressure checked? Is it high? Even a little high?

Nope, normally it is 110-120 over 70-80.

 

[mickeyboat]

I had a bout with daily headaches (left side facial pain) in November and another one in February. Each bout lasted 6-8 weeks, and the pain was a 9 / 10, but Advil seemed to help much of the time. My doctor was not helpful (diagnosed me with a chronic nerve condition) and I begged for a referral to a neurologist. At the same time I talked to a new dentist in my dentist office.

It took both of those visits and an MRI to find that since I grind at night, I had fractured a tooth. I also had extensive bialateral sinus disease. I have been headache free since March - and a mouthguard, steroids and antibiotics - thank goodness. My neurologist also gave me a Rx for Naproxen Sodium (Aleve) which he felt would work better than the Ibuprofen I was taking.

OP it sounds like someone new needs to take a look at your situation. A fresh perspective might be just what you need. Also, keep a journal describing your symptoms specifically so your neurologist can match your symptoms to a diagnosis.

Good luck. I hope you find some relief soon.

Denae

 

[torinsmom]

SO far this spring/summer, I have been to an allergist(who confirmed an allergy to cats and dust) and an ENT(who even did an MRI of my sinuses, as I kept having sinus infections) Nothing showed up in the MRI. I went to my regular doctor who put me on Flonase and told me to take Zrytec daily to help prevent the congestion from the allergies. I tried Zyrtec, but it makes me WIRED, so instead I am taking claritin.

I'm going to look for a new neurologist org maybe go back to the headache clinic I went to for a few months. My insurance changed and they didn't take my new one. Now I'm back to the old insurance, so I should be able to get back in there.

Marsha

 

[mickeyboat]

SO far this spring/summer, I have been to an allergist(who confirmed an allergy to cats and dust) and an ENT(who even did an MRI of my sinuses, as I kept having sinus infections) Nothing showed up in the MRI. I went to my regular doctor who put me on Flonase and told me to take Zrytec daily to help prevent the congestion from the allergies. I tried Zyrtec, but it makes me WIRED, so instead I am taking claritin.

I'm going to look for a new neurologist org maybe go back to the headache clinic I went to for a few months. My insurance changed and they didn't take my new one. Now I'm back to the old insurance, so I should be able to get back in there.

Marsha

Have you ever been told you grind your teeth at night? I might also take lfontaine's suggestion about the night guard, too. It can't hurt!

 

[hemispheredancer]

I, too, also wear a bite guard every night. Mine was made by my dentist. He could tell I was a grinder by the shininess of my silver fillings. If you do not grind they will be dull in color. I think my guard ran me $250. I have tried a variety of meds..Fiorinal, Elavil, Imitrex, Topamax, etc. I really try to just lay down in a dark room and shut the phones off. Usually I can sleep it off or if I have one at night and go to bed with it I am headache-free in the morning. Sometimes I feel bad for getting them. They have stopped me from having fun days with the kids and had me in tears at times. One of the most severe ones I have had was a little over a year ago. DH and DS were gone hunting. DD and I were supposed to go to a big skating competiton and I woke up with this monster. I could not keep any food down all day. I probably chucked 15+ times until I went to bed. That was God awful! Needless to say, we spent the entire day at home.

 

[mickeyboat]

Sometimes I feel bad for getting them. They have stopped me from having fun days with the kids and had me in tears at times.

I hear you. I had some of my worst pain right around the holidays. I remember one evening we were supposed to decorate a gingerbread house after dinner. I just could not participate and I felt awful.

I was prescribed some anti-seizure meds at one point, and I hated how they made me feel. I was very emotional and possibly suicidal. I was also very suspicious and was certain DH was having an affiar. So if your doctor prescribes a new med, pay attention to how you are feeling emotionally, and ask for something else if it affects you badly.

 

[NotUrsula]

For years, but I'm pretty much cured now, have been for almost 10 years. Mine were classic migraines, though; one sided, throbbing, and preceded by an aura. My neurologist had me take Calan daily for 2 years, and when I weaned off, miraculalously almost no more migraines.

What I do still get is sinus headaches, nasty ones around my eyes. (Didn't have them until I moved here, but STL is one of the mold capitals of the world.) What knocks those out best is a combination of Rx steroid nasal spray (either Nasacort or Nasonex) and Mucinex D -- a big dose of guiafenesin and pseudoephedrine. Pain killers really don't help it much -- the key is eliminating the pressure.