Tension headache

[Furbabymum23]

Hopefully someone can help, on 5th August while on holiday I started with a migraine the next day it was worse so got tablets from greek doc which helped a little. Flew the next day and felt not too bad then it came back 10fold. Doctor sent me to hospital for CT scan which didn't get done as they said it was sounding like a very bad migraine. They gave me sumitriptan which didn't work. The following week I saw an on call doctor who said he thought I had migraine, sinus infection and a tension headache coming from my neck. I got an MRI scan which showed nothing. I was off work for 3 month's. I then got amitriptyline which did nothing. The doc has now said they can't do anymore for me. I feel awful all the time, it never goes away.

[Agora1]

Hi Furbabymum23, of course we are not doctors but I can relate to the time

I went through that phase myself. Every single day would wake up to a tension

contraction headache only interrupted by intense Migraines in between. I was

tried on the 2 meds you were put on with no relief as well. The muscles in the lower

back of my head, neck and upper shoulders had contracted to the point of not releasing.

There were "trigger points" that needed to be released that medication could not do.

Test didn't show anything physical causing them. My doctors became my Neurologist,

Rheumatologist as well as Physical Therapist. It goes w/o saying that therapy was also

recommended to teach me different modalities in relaxation.

Looking back now, I feel it was my anxiety out of control looking for release for my stress.

Physical therapy did help but was short lived. It seemed like this went on forever and then

one day I noticed the pain was subsiding until I became headache free. Don't give up. xx

[Furbabymum23 in reply to Agora1]

Hi agora, the thing is I don't feel stressed or that my anxiety is running away with me but yeah the pain in my neck and shoulders is baaaad. Today I feel exhausted with it iv just finished work and can't wait to go to bed. It's so hard to find any proper information on these headaches

[Agora1 in reply to Furbabymum23]

I'm sorry I can't help you but I do hope you find the answers.

Don't give up, there is a reason behind those headaches. Terrible to live with xx

[Damian]

Hi Furbabymum, I was just wondering what the verdict was from the doctors. Are they saying they think the headaches are purely caused by anxiety, or are they saying there is another cause but they can't fix it? At least the MRI didn't show a serious physical problem, that must have been a relief.

My anxiety can be weird... I used to get GAD, which would come on suddenly for no apparent reason, and last a few days before gradually dissipating. These days I tend to get OCD more. If something stressful is coming up, I often don't feel particularly worried about the thing itself, instead I find myself worrying about not constantly checking the things I'm "supposed" to.

Because of that, I can completely understand getting anxiety-related headaches without feeling particularly anxious in general. It's as though anxiety finds an outlet, but not always the one you expect—or that's my experience at least.

[Furbabymum23 in reply to Damian]

Hi the doc just said they were out of options of trying anything else which is strange when I only really tried amitriptyline they haven't mentioned anxiety being the cause in fact they have no suggestions at all.They have been pretty hopeless actually

[Damian in reply to Furbabymum23]

It sounds as though it might not be anxiety at all, then. It's a common cause of unexplained headaches, but I don't imagine it's the only one. I suppose one thing to ask is, if the headaches disappeared, would you feel reasonably happy with your life? Were things going well for you before the headaches started?

I remember someone (I'll be a bit vague here so I don't identify anyone) who got various physical symptoms all at once. She had to look after her elderly mother, who had dementia, and the dementia was getting worse at the time when the symptoms started. Eventually her mother moved into a home, and then the symptoms went away.

I think she felt she had to be strong for her mother, so although she was very stressed, she felt she had to hide it. Eventually it found an outlet in these physical illnesses she got.

Something like that could explain your headaches, but perhaps they're caused by something completely different. I agree it doesn't sound as though the doctors did much of an investigation.

[Babe1213]

Hi Furbabymum23 - Any idea what triggers the migraines? There is usually something, could be something you have eaten or drank, or it could be unresolved issues from your younger years. Either way it sounds like your doctor is one the typical idiots we have in the NHS at this time. How long have you been taking the Amitriptyline? I do know from experience it does take quite a while to get into the system to get full benefit - alternately if you have decided its no good and come off without weaning, that can affect you just as much. Was the doctor who told you they can't do any more for you a hospital doctor or your GP.

If it was a hospital doctor speak to the hospital PALS. If it was GP; maybe its time to get a new GP; or ask for a second independent opinion, or to be referred to an anxiety facilitator.

Or another thing you could do if you feel you may have unresolved issues would be to make contact with an Anglican church and ask to speak with the vicar/priest in charge. They are bound by confidentiality and may be able to help listen and advise. What area of the UK are you in? I may be able to source some help for you (I am an Anglican Lay minister with knowledge of network systems for counselling facilities.

Also try to discover if there is any particular food that makes you susceptible to migraine you can do this by keeping a food intake diary and go via a process of elimination.

[Furbabymum23 in reply to Babe1213]

Thankyou, it was my GP who said they were out of options. I took the amitriptyline for 2 months with no difference at all. My migraines just start out the blue but they don't bother me too much. I think it's just coincidence that my migraine triggered the tension headache or that's what they believe it to be. I actually had an Indian head massage yesterday which may have slightly helped . Apparently my back shoulders and neck are so tense there is no movement there. From the start the doctor offered no reason as to why I had this headache like my head is constantly being squeezed in a vice.