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

[Moonstruck]

Love you Oh Carol......tell me what I can do for you? What can I do to make things easier for you?

I wish so much I could ease some of your pain for you.....sending love and making sure you are warm and safe.

xxx

[Lost_Girl]

Dear Ava,

I did some reading, thankyou. It was timely as I cleaned out a hesp of clothes in my wardrobe a few days ago and in the centre between my side snd hubby's where the clothes that no longer fit sit, they had mold on them!

Hubby also tells me there is mold on the window ledge behind our bed. We keep the blinds closed in there and I didn't know because hubby has been pulling out the bed and cleaning behind. He has a big task Saturday to treat it all and let in the light. We have security blinds but they are roll up ones and I haven't the strength to wind them. Sigh. You could be onto something.

Thankyou so much for caring. I cooked dinner for the family today. First time I have been well enough to do it -just spag bol but I made bread and butter pudding too though I had to get hubby to put it in the oven as the dishes and water combined were too heavy. It is a start.

Dear Moon,

I am at the bottom of the roller coaster again. Here jump on, we must be due to go back up again soon. I do enjoy that anticipation as you rise to the top.

Storm likes being held like a baby on her back so I can rub her tummy. She is such a doll. If I get tired and stop patting though she gives me a nip on the hand to remind me.

I'm struggling to write anything positive. I feel so agitated but lethargic at the same time. Problem is that without the pain meds and ADs slowing my mind, it is super active and I am feeling so frustrated and bored and I just don't know how to process the mind and body being in such different places.

Love to you both xx

[Wednesday]

Hello dear Carol,

It is horrid when body and mind aren't working as one, but to have your bran working is good. I hope that your body will follow. It is probably out of practice after all this time and the meds, it can come back my friend. It is so good that you cooked for the family, it sounds so very yummy.

The mould stories interesting isn't it. I have a friend that keeps up-to-date on this stuff so lucky to have had the info passed on. If you have the opportunity it would be useful to be tested for the HLA gene to see if you are susceptible. The GP can do it and get it bulk billed.

Hugs, xx

[Lost_Girl]

Dear Ava,

Thanks lovely xx

I had a few really good days but on the third day I overdid it and my body has crashed. Everything hurts and headache skyrocketed today. Sigh! I should know by now to take it slow. I see Dr Pain in the morning, will see what he says.

Much love to you xx

[Wednesday]

Dear Carol,

I hope your body is feeling a little more rested and less in crises and your visit to Dr Pain was useful. You must feel so very frustrated at not being able to everything you want to do. It is a common story the: I was feeling better so I did... but the next day I crashed. Do be very kind to yourself.

Hugs, xx

[Wednesday]

Dear Carol,

How are you? I often think about you and hope you are having some good results.

There is so much happening in the medical areas that we seem to be at a tipping point. Results from all over the world are reporting findings that add to the others work i.e. the brain gut interaction and the impact of inflammation on our bodies and we are getting clearer picture of how the brain works to stop or enable pain. I heard of one finding (Harvard or Oxford maybe) that said within 5years we will be treating depression as an inflammatory disease, which is a pretty amazing statement.

Dear one, don't doubt yourself if it hurts it hurts and there is a reason.

Hugs, xx

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Ava,

Thanks for stopping by and being such a terrific support.

I told Dr Pain how I overdid it and his reply was that I probably overdid it. Super bright isn't he haha! I have to revisit pacing though it seems that I am not learning. As much as I have taken it easy since then, even minor activity has the pain rocketing up and I am left a bit bewildered.

On Friday I see my Occupational Therapist being provided by my insurance through work. Between him and the new physio who specialises in pain who I will see next week, I am hoping they can help me work out a schedule and exercises etc so as to improve without overdoing it.

My headache is starting at a 6 and reducing to a 4 over the day but any activity sends it up again. I feel grumpy about the whole thing. I am just impatient.

It doesn't help that hubby has for some reason decided to start telling me how I feel or how I should feel etc. Today's classic line was "There's nothing wrong with you now so there's no reason you should be in pain". Thanks hubby, I wish you could feel how I do and then tell me it's nothing. Sigh. I think he may have reconsidered sharing those words of wisdom as I don't seem to have a filter on my anger at the moment. I think his ears are still burning.

For some reason he thinks now I am not taking any medication I should be fixed. I have tried explaining but he really only responds to physical symptoms - tears work.

That really is amazing Ava. I have been eating veg that are meant to help with inflammation. I have a way to go but I am working towards the whole family eating food as close to nature as possible. It is harder with the kids but little by little.

I sound grumpy but I am quite hopeful. I am unhappy with the pain but I am in good spirits considering. Hopefully I can get back on track.

On my way to check on your thread xx

[Airies]

Hi Carol,

good to hear from you and it's helpful to vent at our other halves every now and then. It's a fragile existence we lead and throughout your posts, no matter how much you must be hurting theres always a positive spin. Goes to show what a determined individual you are.

It would be great if we could wave a magic wand and cure all our ailments. Something to wish for Xmas for all of us. I've basically been eating veg for the past 3 months with no bread, spuds or red meat with emphasis on grains, bran etc. My meds put on a bit of weight and my rationale was to eat a health breakfast, no lunch and veggies for dinner. I've managed to loose some weight and along with the mental discipline it feels good. Getting through Xmas will be tough as this time last year I was at the height of my illness. A lot better and a constant work in progress.

My body was protesting a while back with my weight gain but nowadays is giving me the thumbs up with eating increasing greens. I feel so much better nowadays eating far more healthily. Not that my diet was that bad beforehand but with a few tweaks it's amaysing what a difference it has made.

it would be hard with young kids re trying to eat as healthy as possible but keep chipping away and from a personal perspective I feel a whole lot better eating healthily. I've got a very small veggie patch, one of those small raised metal beds and can grow a variety of fresh veggies in such a small space. I've bitten the bullet and gotten rid of part of my back lawn and this time next year will be growing in a much larger plot. Just got to keep the possums at bay.

[Airies]

Oops my ipad playing up,, take care, mega hugs

cheers Len xox,

ps your poetry is so moving.:)

[Wednesday]

Hello dear Carol,
I can imagine that trying to manage your family and life in general would be quite a handful, so it’s hardly surprising that you are having a problem pacing yourself. You have every right to feel grumpy, it’s horrid living with pain. Who would want to live with an ongoing headache of any level? You’ll get there baby steps!

You must be seeing your OT today, how did it go?

Your ongoing pain concerns me, it is just not reasonable. I so wish I could share some of the info I’ve learnt. Our genetic profile is so important to our wellbeing. For example, with all the best will and most stubborn personality in the world if you have a certain gene type you will be at greater risk of certain things like biotoxins (bathroom mould etc) that others are not likely to be affected by. It is hard to get your GP to pay attention to such research though.

OMG, just what you need hubby “helping” he really doesn’t understand does he, it must make you feel very alone on occasion. If he hadn’t been so good before I would be extremely cross with him. For the minute I will go with cross and giving him a sound talking too! Hope he can hear what I am saying.

I’m glad, though wish, it was different that tears work.

Good work on the food side. Tumeric is fabulous for inflammation, nice yellow rice for the kidlets maybe? Fresh is best! Ideally everything made from scratch, no processed foods and cut back on grains. Can you cut down on the use of any chemicals too. Diluted vinegar does a great job on everything (nearly) and is very cheap. Fly swatters instead of spray, no weed killers etc. Sorry if I am lecturing.

I admire your amazing ability to remain hopeful.

Hugs, xx