Headache Remedies

[smokeyblue]

I know there are a lot of headache sufferers out there. What have you tried? I am seriously suffering. I have a cervicogenic headache, basically a tension headache with some migraine features rolled in. It had been non-stop for 3 weeks.

My neurologists office doesn't have any appointments until the first week of August and I can't get any trigger-point injections until August 25th. They told me I had to go to the ER if I wanted anything done. I finally relented and they were really nice; but it was awful. The drugs made me want to run a mile and in the next minute made me feel like I needed to fall over and sleep and in the next minute like I needed to make a Taco Bell run.

I did actually have one day of decent relief after going to the ER. Now my muscles in my neck are all tense again and my head just hurts. I always go to work and tough it out, but today I am staying home and making calls to doctor's and where ever else I can think of to get some help!

So what do you do for your really bad headaches? Any special massage, therapies, medications?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I get really horrible tension headaches from TMJ. It sounds strange but my doctor recommended Benadryl at night to help me relax my jaw/neck muscles and stop teeth clenching when I sleep. That probably doesn't help you at all, but that's my experience.

 

[cornflkgrl]

Well, I get migraines, so different meds. I take prescription daily med (topomax).

But for other headaches that I get on top of the migraines -- tend to get lots of tension type headaches -- I use only Goody's headache powder and a tall glass,
of regular coke.

If Goody's is not available I will just take aspirin, but that does not work nearly as well.

 

[smokeyblue]

I get really horrible tension headaches from TMJ. It sounds strange but my doctor recommended Benadryl at night to help me relax my jaw/neck muscles and stop teeth clenching when I sleep. That probably doesn't help you at all, but that's my experience.

It might be helpful. I had been taking a muscle relaxer, but it was giving me really strange dreams and it was very short acting so I wake up after a few hours. They did give me benadryl in the ER and it was actually one of the last meds. It may be worth a try tonight.

Well, I get migraines, so different meds. I take prescription daily med (topomax).

But for other headaches that I get on top of the migraines -- tend to get lots of tension type headaches -- I use only Goody's headache powder and a tall glass,
of regular coke.

If Goody's is not available I will just take aspirin, but that does not work nearly as well.

I've never heard of Goody's. If I see some I might pick it up. They pretty much treat these headaches the same as migraines. I take a daily med that is very similar to Topamax called Zonagran.

 

[MainMom]

A massage therapist is worth their weight in gold. And a chiropractor. I hope you get some relief.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

I take Motrin 800mg and that wipes them out. I at times have had headaches for weeks on end and so far this is my best relief. Good luck!

 

[MSLRAC]

I use essential oils (peppermint, Clary Calm, Past Tense, and Deep Blue) for migraines...which oil depends on the trigger of the headache. For the rare ones that I can't get a handle on with oils, my doctor told me to take a Benadryl with a Zofran. I'm not sure why that combo works but it does.

 

[The Princess]

essential oils work wonders for me!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

What about a cold wrap? You can buy one, or make your own with rice and a sock.

Do you take Motrin, as a pp mentioned?

 

[smokeyblue]

I take Aleve liquigels. For those who do essential oils how do you do them? I have some that I had purchased over Amazon from Eden's Garden. One was their muscle relief blend (I think it's supposed to be equivalent to Deep Blue and Pan Away) and one was their head ease (equivalent to Past Tense and M-Grain). I bought sweet almond oil and just put them in rollers and rolled them on my neck and forehead. Is there some other way I should be doing it that is effective? The muscle relief one seems to work better than the headache one. Also, I just kind of guestimated on the concentration. How many drops should I be using to my carrier oil?

 

[kidshop]

I don't have severe migraines, but some things I do that help...

Caffeine, just a normal cup of coffee. Then I take 1 Tylenol (500mg) 1 ibuprofen (200mg) and 1 aspirin (325mg).

Sometimes they feel sinus related and I use Claritin and Flonase. Definitely recommend Benadryl at bedtime!

I have also stood in the hot shower and let the massage jet pound my head/face/neck. A heating pad (hot) on whatever side of head that hurts or the back of my neck has helped at times. Hot feels better than ice to me.

 

[MSLRAC]

I take Aleve liquigels. For those who do essential oils how do you do them? I have some that I had purchased over Amazon from Eden's Garden. One was their muscle relief blend (I think it's supposed to be equivalent to Deep Blue and Pan Away) and one was their head ease (equivalent to Past Tense and M-Grain). I bought sweet almond oil and just put them in rollers and rolled them on my neck and forehead. Is there some other way I should be doing it that is effective? The muscle relief one seems to work better than the headache one. Also, I just kind of guestimated on the concentration. How many drops should I be using to my carrier oil?

It's hard to say on the concentration for that brand because chances are, it's already mixed with a carrier oil and there could be very little (if any) of the actual oil that is beneficial in it. The oils I use for headaches, actually come in roller bottles so I don't have to worry about it. But when I make other roller bottles, it's usually 10-15 drops of essential oil and then top off a 10mL roller with fractionated coconut oil.

As for application, it usually just takes a couple of swipes across the back of my neck. If it's really bad, I'll also apply it to my temples.

 

[MSLRAC]

I'll also add that I saw something on FB about putting your hands and feet in warm water when you get a migraine. I noticed that sometimes my hands and feet are super cold when I get one and in those case, the warm water trick works. But if they aren't cold, warm water actually makes it hurt worse.

 

[gotomu212]

To get relief for migraine I'll take an excedrin migraine (cocktail of Tynenol, aspirin, and caffeine and maybe crack but I don't care) and then drink a can of coke.

Bio freeze is this gel that works wonders on my neck to reduce headaches.

To prevent headaches I get regular massages and once I started that my headaches went down in frequency and severity overnight.

 

[kimblebee]

I don't get migraines, but when I get a headache I pinch the meaty part between my thumb and pointer finger and massage it really hard. It's a pressure point and 9 times out of 10 it will dull my headache if not stop it altogether.

 

[DopeyDame]

I'm sure you've already tried this, but I find Excedrin Migraine to work really well as long as I take it immediately upon starting to feel a headache

 

[jt'smom]

I get "headache" pain very similar to this due to my brainstem tumor, and the thing that helps me more than drugs (which I hate), is constant pressure to the lower back ridge of my skull and c1 area. Things like wearing an adjustable band baseball cap, can work if it's not too severe. Sometimes I wish I could get a vise like Uncle Fester had in the Addams Family! I also find that tilting my head and stretching out my upper cervical spine is helpful, and alternating heat and cold. Just be careful, because depending on why you are having them, you might black out if you hang too far forward. I've done that more than once, simply trying to get relief.

 

[Gracie09]

excedrien migraine and a real coke.

 

[emer95]

I feel terrible for you. I get excruciating migraines. Other than my meds, here are some things I've tried (that work to varying degrees):

Ice on my head/neck and heat on my feet. That draws the blood away from your head.

Give yourself an "ice cream headache."

Ginger pills- take two.

Benedryl and a nap.

Good luck to you!

 

[lanejudy]

For migraine-type cluster headaches I take Extra Strength Excedrin -- which I believe has the same active ingredients/strength as Excedrin Migraine. For more "regular" headaches I use extra strength acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Sometimes an icepack on the back of my neck helps.

Good luck! Headaches are the worst, especially recurring ones.