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

[blondguy]

Morning Carol

Coming off the AD's will make you full of emotion and 'the little things' like the housework will become more prevalent again.

This is only opinion Carol but I only use the vic.gov.au health website or the National Health Service is the UK. I think the poms have done a better job than we have where govt websites are concerned. Please do try to avoid the tonnage of google medical pages...They only over stimulate the mind and put more 'ifs' and 'buts' and worry in your life.

My friend Pixi is taking AD's for chronic abdominal pain only after suffering for so many years she had no choice. I am glad she is still on them knowing the pain was the trigger for the depression.

Paul (Hugs) x

[Lost_Girl]

Today my specialist physio has advised that the manipulation we did last session could have contributed to the electric nerve sensations I am feeling.

I am so confused. I just want to be able to tell what is caused by the AD and what is happening without the meds. I am down to the lowest level so I made a decision to stop today.

I have slept all day and I have woken but still feel sleepy. I feel like I could sleep for days. Is this part of stopping ADs? I have known they were causing insomnia but now off them I feel like sleeping 24x7. The ones I was taking have a very fast half life.

Regardless, my headache has not changed. It was the same on or off the meds. My mood seems stable. I am calm. I don't feel any sadness nor any anger. I perhaps feel a bit flat... void of any highs or lows. I am guessing this is the absence of the extra serotonin. I will talk to my GP about that Sunday.

I am just rambling so I'll stop now.

[Elizabeth CP]

I saw my psych today & mentioned that I have been sleeping in late but still feeling tired. I was worried I was getting into a habit of staying in bed too much & causing more tireness from not doing enough. His answer which I thought related to you as well was 'No"You have been under so much pressure lately & not slept enough so you are exhausted & it will take more than a few nights of decent sleep to recover. His message to me was allow myself to rest when I felt I needed it rather than worrying about it. I suggest anyone who had been though what you have with pain & worrying about the cause & insomnia so sleeping for a day is not going to be enough to catch up on what you have missed. Look after yourself & rest when you can. I hope you have support to allow you to do this.

[blondguy]

Dear Carol....you are not rambling at all (hugs:-)) You are thinking way way too much though..I cant explain your headaches though Carol, I am sorry. I can quote something you said though if thats okay;

"I just want to be able to tell what is caused by the AD and what is happening without the meds" Its okay to self examine but you dont have to microscope yourself right now. You do sound exhausted Carol....I know it sounds futile but please try even a tiny bit to let yourself rest and have some peace....10:46pm here in Melb. Do you have support in your home tonight? I hope you do...because you deserve it!

You cant do anything right now about the symptoms...the anguish..It will only be counter productive Carol.

Please be 'Gentle to Yourself'....and that includes your thinking/internalizing...Easy...........ok?

My Kindest Thoughts for you Carol and huge hugs too xx

Paul 🙂

[Lostworld]

Carol

Sorry to hear you are doing it tough, the last para about feeling flat etc is a mirror over hear, I have the L5/S1 pain, shoulder tendon tear and migranea too, the TMJ probably not helping anything, these more tablets right now than I can remember and I can only say I have advanced to a state of helplessness and acceptance it won't change. Youre not alone

[Lost_Girl]

Thank you Elizabeth, that really has helped. I am overtired and it's comforting to know that it's not necessarily a bad thing to rest more.

Thanks Paul, you are right. I need to let go of that which is not within my control and just let it be.

[blondguy]

Dear Carol

thankyou for posting back x. I just wish you some peace...I do hope you can somehow have some...2:00am/Sat..I am off to have some sleep..I have no mental energy left..please be gentle to yourself xx

Paul (Hugs)

[Lostworld]

Hi Carol

You are not rambling, for me that would be looking for answerinsteat of being calm and they will come, the system is slow, but the people here are here to support like in these times, like you did for me.

I won't say much more as my heads a mess, just wanted you to know I am sending back some of the good energy.

Barry

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Barry,

It means a lot, thank you.

Dr told me to double up my pain meds at night but I must be having a bad reaction...incredibly nauseus, head spins and stomach pain...back to see her tomorrow anyway.

Hope you're getting some rest.

Kind thoughts,

Carol

[Lost_Girl]

Well..... coming off ADs is no walk in the park. I am actually struggling to walk today at all.

I am massively dizzy. Periodically my world shifts slightly to the left and back again in a fast jerk like movement. I periodically feel like my heart stops then starts again. Dr says these are withdrawal symptoms. She wanted me to go back on the lowest dose for a while but I am refusing. I am just going to try and wait it out. My blood pressure is normal but pulse is over 100. I will go back if anything worsens.

I have had "gastro" all night. Dr thinks I picked up a bug but no one else is sick and I did some more reading and it's likely another withdrawal symptom. The problem with having gastro is that I can't keep the pain meds down so I am suffering full blown headache and head pressure. Dr has given me some strong short relief meds by chance I can keep them down.

I am really struggling to read much. I feel really slack because I like catching up in the cafe but I am really struggling.

It's just a matter of time. I know that.

My daughter is here trying to convince me to get a puppy "right now". I do wish things were a bit easier so we could.