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 James,

Lovely to hear from you. I have been reading all of your helpful posts around the threads. In fact I had a little laugh the other day because I seemed to be following you and posting after you on our commin threads.

You always give such great advice. You are a very calming presence.

Trying to keep positive. Some days are easier than others.

Hope you are doing ok today James.

Carol 🙂

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hopefully the physio and pain management clinic can help you. Perhaps an early night tonight after your rubbish sleep last night? Wishing you rest and less pain, my friend. And thank you for being there for me tonight. I've really needed it.

Blue.

[Emmy.]

Really worried about Sherie. What do you think we can do for her Carol. Xx

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Emmy,

I am too lovely, it is making me feel horrid actually.

I think she would have only taken a few days initially but knowing her, she would have taken what Chris wrote to mean "yes stay away". I am sad that her individual situation wasn't taken into account, that she has noone and we know from reading her thread that she doesn't go to the GP when she is really bad. I hope Chris reads my request and at least gives her an option even if he doesn't publish that he has done it so as to not set precedence.

I hope you are ok Emmy. Nice to read you spent some time with your bestie.

Love me xx

[blondguy]

I hope Sherie is okay too Carol & Emmy...Just having a break.

[Guest_1055]

Hi dear Carol

Just noticed you were on the forums.So thought I would pop in here and say hello to you.

How are you managing at the moment in regards to the pain and such. Have they got any closer to finding out the cause or anything? It wouldn't be like chemical sensitivities?....and yes I have been reading about it. I know you have other allergies, so maybe you have issues with other chemicals, like perfumes, toxic fumes in carpets, fragrances in soaps, etc.

Also, I want to thank you for the beautiful message you left for me in the CAFE and Sherie's thread a while ago. Thanks heaps for thinking of me. That is very kind of you.

Just leaving a comforting hug here for you also.

Love

Shell xx

[Emmy.]

I hope Chris does too Carol.

Do you think she'd still be checking her thread?

Wish we could send private messages to each other

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Paul and Emmy,

If Sherie had said a week ago she was having a break I wouldn't be worried.

She was very obviously distressed when she left and said she felt like she had reverted back to before the treatment with very high anxiety levels. It is having a break while feeling like this that has me concerned. As you guys know she has no-one and even her medical team don't know the full story about her husband. I don't think she will reach out to them either in this state.

Paul and Emmy, thanks for caring. Hugs to you both xx

[Lost_Girl]

Dear Shell,

So lovely to hear from you. I do miss chatting to you.

They say the chronic headache is from muscle tension. The GP and Neuro have been careful not to give me strong painkillers that could cause a medication headache because they know over time those meds can actually make the problem worse.

I haven't changed anything in my life that might be causing the headache like perfume etc. Also because it is constant and not a headache that comes and goes it makes sense what the neurologist is saying.

I am an asthmatic and have a number of allergies including animal hair and dust. I have wooden floors throughout the whole house because of this and get natural products for using on my skin etc. I do have perfume but I have to be fussy on what ones I can use. Scents like lavender and boronia affect my asthma and allergies.

The headache has just been brought on through missing the upper neck when I had all the physio for my shoulder. My new physio has been great in talking through how all the muscles are connected. He agrees with the neurologist. They both believe it is just time, physio and posture will help too along with the botox treatment.

I actually do feel a bit better today pain wise. It hasn't helped that I keep getting viruses from my littlest son.

Thanks so much for thinking of me. I knoe you are not spending as much time here but I do think of you often.

If you feel up to it I would like to know how your support group is going and how you are feeling at the moment. Is there anything you need?

Here's a friendship hug for you.

Love Carol xx

[Lost_Girl]

I just had my physio appointment where I caught him up on my neuro saying I had to be realistic. He went through all the physiology again and talked about how the brain processes pain. He said in terms of being realistic that I will probably never be 100% pain free. I kept it together in there but now I am sitting in my car bawling. I am devastated. I don't want to be in pain forever. So sad.