Chronic tension headache diagnosis and long term management

[Lost_Girl]

Hi I suffer from chronic pain. I have a bone shard impacting a nerve root at c8 being treated with cortisone. I have pain at c5 and c6 that is manageable without anything. However I have a constant headache and pressure in my ears that I have had for pretty much every waking moment for the last 7 months. As a result I have become depressed and I have insomnia.

After a trip to a neurologist I have been advised to cease sleeping medication and strong pain killers. I am now only on antidepressants.

A visit to my psychologist today has alerted me that depression does not cause headaches.   

Has anyone been treated for chronic pain with ONLY antidepressants and did it work?

I havr a referral now to a psychiatrist to check but it not until May. While I see if I can find something earlier I sm keen to hear if this has worked for anyone.

Thanks,

Carol

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Shell,

Thankyou! Feeling very vulnerable at the moment and can use all the empathy I can get.

The bone shard near the nerve root is causing muscle spasms in my neck and back. With the cortisone injection at the nerve root the spasms stop. If the cortisone injections stop lasting 4 months or more they can look at an operation to place a thing (technicsl term?) in the spine to keep a space around the nerve root but that isn't needed yet.

Unfortunately the cortisone does nothing to help the headaches and the spine surgeon says there isn't anything he can see that would be causing them. So back to neurologist at this point. I am very frustrated and sad. I am glad th ey are treating the depression, I don't think I would be coping as well without the antidepressants.

Having a bit of a woe is me moment. It's just hard and I am sooooooo tired. I just want to have a little bit of time without pain so I can rest. 

Thanks for caring, it means a lot

Carol xx

[Guest_5218]

Hi Carol,

I have posted a response to your post around mid afternoon, but it is very slow to come through.

Until it comes through, please know that I am thinking of you.  I just read that you are feeling very vulnerable, so I just wanted to lend you my support.  Sorry its taking so long to come through, and I wont repeat what I have already posted.  It will eventually come through, I'm sure.

Thinking of you ................ with love.

Sherie xx

[Lost_Girl]

Well can't get in to see Neurologist until end of March. He works with a pain specialist but can't get in there either until end March. GP will not prescribe any pain medication until I see the Neurologist as the Neuro said to have only antidepressants and stop any sleep meds and pain meds.  I should point out I have never had any problems with pain meds, typically I am reluctant to use any unless absolutely necessary...not a fan of taking medication. 

Hubby will call GP shortly after a work meeting because I am feeling so sad I can't talk on the phone anymore.  Crying and wondering how I am meant to cope with another month of constant headache, pressure in my head and no sleep. 

I am trying all the tips from the psychologist but the pain has been going on so long it is very hard to distract myself from it. Having a very down day.

😞

Any tips on how to cope? Thinking to go find a comedy on tv to try and take my mind of it for the short term. But another month?

[Guest_1055]

 Hi Carol....

I am sending out another hug to you now. Did you end up watching something funny? And.....

I came across this distraction technique from a" chronic pain website" . I am not sure if I could do this, but you may be able too. Or maybe you have already heard of it. Anyway it is called:

Altered focus 
This is a favorite technique for demonstrating how powerfully the mind can alter sensations in the body. Focus your attention on any specific non-painful part of the body (hand, foot, etc.) and alter sensation in that part of the body. For example, imagine your hand warming up. This will take the mind away from focusing on the source of your pain, such as your back pain.......Maybe that would work, I don't know??

You deserve a medal or some sort of high award as you are doing so well persevering with all this. That has to be a good thing.

Much love to you

Shelley xx

[Guest_1055]

Just me again..... my headaches stem from a different origin then yours. But here is a couple of tips that I use.

1) Drink lots of filtered water

2) Drink unsweetened coconut water

3) Place a chilled light towel that has been soaked in a water solution that contains pure Epsom salts, on the painful area.

4)Rest in a darkened room

5) Give your a hair a nourishing and refreshing treatment. It makes your hair feel nicer. I use pure cold pressed coconut oil. Just massage into your damp hair, put on a plastic shower cap. Rest for a few hours, than wash out.

When I had a pain with my ankle once, I did this:

1) Graped a piece of paper

2) Wrote across the top" I am thankful for"- it is a bit like the thankful thread on here.

3) Then listed all the people , that I am thankful for. eg friend. Included the reasons I am thankful for them in my life, for example they may bring humour into my life.

4) Start listing circumstances, pets and things that you are thankful for as well.

5) Keep going until you run out of things to write on your list. I have sometimes wrote over 30 entries at one time

6) This is a beneficial distraction, as it helps you feel emotional better and sometimes I feeling off thankfulness results. It is also a good use of your time.

OK bye now

Shelley xx

[Lost_Girl]

Thanks Shell, I will try some of those out xxx

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Lost Girl,

Glad to hear the earlier response helped and just thought I'd try and throw some suggestions to help deal with the headaches.  Feel free to pick and choose what you like because I think finding good pain relief (or distractions) is something that works differently for everyone.

- Dark rooms or different lighting may help/hinder. Often I've had to just go and have a nap in a pitch black room because that's the only thing that will help.  Certain lighting also makes mine worse/better.

- Heat/Cold

- Music; whether it's music you enjoy or certain meditation/relaxing melodies

- Meditation: there's lots of different types so try not to knock it til you try it - I personally like body scan meditations which is where you focus your thoughts onto relaxing your body feet to head, but there's also other ones that can either help you be present or take your mind further away (like a visualisation)

- Gratitude

- Stay hydrated.  It's fairly easy to get dehydrated when we're in pain.

- Go for a small walk or do some tidying.  The movement can often help even if it's only a little bit.  Dance and yoga can also help.

- Essential oils and aromatherapy.  I haven't used this one personally but have heard it being helpful, especially for insomnia.

- Journalling, drawing and colouring.  

- Swear.  I've read that this actually helps people endure pain for longer, plus I know being in constant pain is super frustrating so it's just good for the system.  If you don't like swearing you could just make up a word.

- Find support. There are lots of forums and Facebook groups specifically for pain management and knowing that people are going in the same boat can be very helpful.

- Pace your activities. Do you find that your headaches flare up at certain points?  Keeping a tracker/journal can also be helpful in learning what makes it better/worse.  

- Be aware of what you're eating.  Often diet can help/hinder pain.

- Find something that you're interested in like a project; such as knitting, drawing, journalling, baking, podcasts, etc.  I know for me personally feeling like I have a purpose and reasons to get up is important to me.

- Find humour.  It's okay to sit back and watch TV shows or movies.

- Have a good cry. Pain is difficult to go through and you're not alone.

Hope this helps some.  Sounds like your appointment isn't too far away.

[pipsy]

Dear Lost Girl.  Your initial post was do anti depressants help chronic physical pain.  While I can't answer directly, because I have never experienced chronic physical pain.  I'm going to tell you something that might help guide you.  20 years ago I was wrongly diagnosed with severe clinical depression.  I started going through menopause about 12 years ago.  I had done research enough to know what I was in for with this coming situation.  Night sweats, headaches, mood swings etc, etc.  I experienced severe headaches, although this could be attributed to side effects from the anti-depressants.  I had no night sweats, I did experience slight mood swings, no depression.  I did not have the severe problems associated with menopause.  Now whether it's because I was on anti-depressants, I can't say.  What I can say is, had I not been taking the meds, things might have been 10 times worse.  Romantic's ideas sound pretty good advice too.  Watching comedies, reading a good book if possible.  Taking mild pain killers, although I would suggest discussing that with your Dr first. 

Hope this helps a bit.

[Guest_1055]

Hey Carol

I was just thinking of you, as I came across this advertisement in one of those free magazines you get from" coles".

This ad was marketing a product called" Bosisto lavender spray"

This advertisement said you basically spray this lavender oil on your pillow to aid sleep and for temporary relief of headaches.

I haven't tried it myself, but aim too next time I have a headache. Just thought I would mention it in case you wanted to give it a go or something.

OK bye now

Massive hug to you

Shell xx

[Lost_Girl]

Thanks Pipsy, I think I'd be a mess without the antidepressants.

Shell, thanks so much for thinking of me. I am an asthmatic and allergic lavender unfortunately. However I might look into if there are any alternatives used in the same way xxx