Bizarre Backaches & Headaches Issue

[Richard1988]

I have this very bizarre issue that has been ongoing for a few years now. I will experience daily backaches and headaches starting in the afternoon unless I take some of the drinks/food/supplements listed below. I am Male and 31 years old. It is relatively easy to control so I have not saught any professional advice on it but rather performed a vast array of experiments however have decided it's time to get some advice and attempt to determine the root cause of this. The following is a very condensed set of notes and results from my experiments.

Alcohol worsens/initiates the issue excluding wine which does not for some reason. Excessive heat also causes the issue to occur, for example long walks in the sun. I live in Thailand so heat is practically impossible to avoid when going outside.

I once injured my back in 2011 during a speedboat ride in which a large wave ejected me from my seat and I landed (back in the speedboat thankfully!) strongly on my back. I had a rather painful back for the following week or two but that was all. However I am doubtful that this incident from eight years ago has any relation to this current issue which has been ongoing for perhaps two years now. I figured it was worth mentioning nonetheless...

I must always take something in the morning before 12PM otherwise the backache and headaches start. Coffee or a breakfast cereal high in Vitamin B's seems to be effective.

One theory I have is that I'm deficient in Vitamin B12 however my experiments seem to indicate this may be part of the issue but not the full story as such.

Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions you have on the possible cause(s) of this issue and possible solutions.

Espresso Coffee - Very effective, seemingly the easiest, most reliable and healthiest option.

Red Bull Energy Drink (Thai version that is advertised as having extra B12 and not sold in other countries as far as I'm aware) - Highly effective within minutes of drinking it but certainly not a healthy long-term solution.

Electrolyte drinks - Helps depending on the brand.

Icecream - Helps sometimes.

Bananas - Helps sometimes.

Multi-B Complex - Effective most of the time if taken with a large meal.

Breakfast cereal high in Vitamin B's - Effective at preventing the issue from occurring if taken in the morning.

Paracetamol - Sometimes is a quick solution to remove the pain.

Choline Supplement - Does not help.

Lecithin Supplement - Does not help.

Magenesium Supplement - Does not help.

Vitamin D Supplement - Does not help.

Calcium Supplements - Sometimes helps depending on the brand and sometimes actually seems to cause the issue, highly confused with this.

[Barbola]

Hi sounds like what plagues me if i dont drink enough water.....some foods and drinks dry me out..... i love Coffee it helps headache but with it drink water...... i feel the blood vessels along my spine and in my head dry out? Just a guess but try more water

[Barbola in reply to Barbola]

Before a party night i fill up with water......

[Richard1988 in reply to Barbola]

Thank you, I will need to experiment more with water. Coffee has small amounts of Vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B5 similar to Red Bull. I have been wondering if there is a connection here as both have been very effective solutions for me.

[Hidden in reply to Barbola]

I was also going to say it could be dehydration.

[Barbola]

You should be getting more than enough b vitamins in food....coffee can deplete them and water keeps your bloodvessels from drying out....the body excretes the b vitamins and only keeps what u need. B vitamins are water soluble.

[cyberbarn]

Just because the injury to your back was a number of years ago doesn't mean to say that it isn't part of the problem now. Sometimes arthritis sets in to joints that have previously been injured.

But I second the dehydration. Some people need to drink 2 litres of water a day to feel well.

[Sunrisedrp]

Try adding one sports drink or smart water to the mix. They better hydrate you than just water. However, if this persists see your Dr.

[Richard1988]

Thanks everyone for all the fantastic suggestions. I have been experimenting with increasing my water intake. Seemingly water alone does not help however I am finding that electrolyte/sport drinks are very effective. These happen to contain a lot of Potassium as does Coffee and Bananas both of which greatly help me. So now I’m wondering if it could be a Potassium deficiency. Not to confuse matters further but eating very spicy food and sleeping also helps!