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]

Thanks all xx

To follow on with my luck I have a chest and ear infection too. On the upside the headache is easing. Not on any pain meds now and off ADs too but still in good spirits. Have lost another 3kg! A few positived. Breathing, sleeping and ear aches are proving my worst issues right now so hopefully when these resolve things will improve.

I have my head injections Thurs for the headache too.

Sorry for not being on much.

You are all just wonderful people. I very much hope you are getting some positive changes happening.

As my hubby would say I think we are all ready for some different fun now.

Me xx

[CMF]

Thinking of you Carol. I don't know how you continue to deal with all this pain.

you are an amazing woman.

cmf x

[Moonstruck]

Yes CMF, she is pretty strong isn't she? you're both valued friends of mine - just letting you both know....if you are interested that is.....had my pre-admission appt yesterday, filling out of forms mainly etc.....for my annual exploratory surgery thing which is next Wednesday - no big deal usually....just a look to make sure all is well, as the thing they keep a check on doesn't have any symptoms until the very last minute...and it becomes an Emergency Case.....so I am relieved I am on the list to have this "safety check" every year!

It's just a day thing -not fully anaethesitized or anything...just sedation so Im not awake, .thank God.

I'd rather go up the Faraway Tree though I think Lost Girl..how about you? Is it still waiting for us do you think? to whisk us away to the magical world of childhood fantasy...it's not as easy to "escape" as it seemed to be when I was 8!.....(in fact I don't think I want to be here any more....I have no more strength to fight with, or even to passively resist with.....that takes inner strength and confidence in oneself too....I have nothing left. luv me x

[Lost_Girl]

Oh dear Moon, you sound very low today. Here, rest your head on my shoulder, I shall be here to support you.

The Faraway Tree will always be there, just around the corner in your mind. There is no reason to lose hope dear friend, you have your very own Dragon Slayer. Perhaps it is time to let your defences down and let him rescue you. Sometimes we just need a friend, or a lovely lamp post in the snow, to guide us along.

And if all else fails dear friend, I am here to help you through.

In the words of A.A.Milne,

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.

"So it is."

"And freezing."

"Is it?"

"Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

Big hugs Moon xx

[Wednesday]

Dear Carol,

Thinking of you dear one. I hope you are managing to muddle your way through your appointments and that all the aches and pains vanish! Yes let's all have some different fun now, wise man that hubby of yours!

Hugs, xx

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Ava,

Thanks lovely. Yes, chest xray and sample to pathology today. I think the new antibiotics will fix the chest infection though (crossing fingers). They gave me the wrong one initially (says me with my non dr opinion). I actually said to hubby I was surprised they didn't give me "xyz" antibiotics and now that's exactly what I have been given. Sigh.

I will check in on your thread. Big hugs back xx

[Wednesday]

Hello dear Carol,

No need to worry about me, just get you well. I am hoping that the antibiotics have helped the chest infection. Don't doctors drive you nuts. I guess they are necessary and I need them but gee they drive me nuts. Maybe its the number of meds you get and its numbers game the more you get the more chance of it being wrong? Oops tad cynical, but I have evidence.

Hugs, xx

[Wednesday]

PS I forgot to ask about you other Nov 10 appointment, how did it go?

xx

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Ava,

Yes, the new antibiotics are helping. It is slower than it should be as I have been struggling to keep anything down, medication included. I have had to go to the GP a number of times now for injections of anti nausea meds as I can't even keep the wafer type of those down. It doesn't help that the antibiotics are the size of horse pills either!

I had my 31 injections in my head on the 10th. This time all free from my pain meds and ADs and didn't it hurt like a (insert expletive of choice here). It was actually quite traumatic again like the first time I had it. For some reason the injections on either side of my head just back from my temples hurt so much that an hour later it still felt like I had hot skewers in both sides. I hadn't realised how much the pain meds had been blocking. Ahh but it was over and done with and I was a big sook.

None of these things are life threatening. I wish my emotions would hurry up and match the logic. I am sick of my heart feeling like I'm seriously ill when I know I am not. It is hard to manage because it feels real, it feels life threatening even though it isn't.

Everyday at the moment when I wake up the pain hits me like a truck slamming down on top of me. Pain everywhere, all over, aching and throbbing and heavy. The pressure in my ears makes me feel disoriented and it is a struggle to wake up. I despise waking up, it is the worst part of my day.

I know it will get better.

I wish things were easier for your dear Ava. I read your thread and I am so sorrowful for all you have to endure let alone these new troubled and sad times. If I could give you a gift of strength, I would do it in a heartbeat.

A friend posted a new Winnie the Pooh quote for me today. It is now my favourite and I want to share it with you:

"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
"Pooh!" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."

You can be sure of me Ava.

Much love xx

[Wednesday]

Dear, sweet, Carol,

It all sounds so awful for you, the injections sound horrid and very sook worthy, I'll have little sook for you too, here have some of my Haigs chocolates and a soft tissue. I hope the injections are working?

Its not surprising that your at odds and evens with your logic and emotions, you have been in a lot of pain for a long time and it really hurt. Our brains do odd things don't they, for example if people that lose limbs can still feel their limb, what does that mean? Have you seen or read about this experiment they do with people: one hand is on a table the other hand is hidden. The false hand is then placed on the table acting as though it is the persons real hand. The scientist starts by stroking the false hand, all of which the person feels. Remember this hand is not attached to the person but they feel the strokes etc. Then the scientist hits the false hand with a hammer, yes they really feel the pain!

I haven't explained this all that well you can see a version of the experiment if you look up "The Rubber Hand Illusion - Horizon: Is Seeing Believing? - BBC Two" . There are others too!

It seems to take a long time for our brains to rewire, baby steps my friend. You have come so very far already trying to work your way through this. Do you feel okay off the AD's?

Did you see this advice from Dr Kim a while ago?

... neurobiological research shows that “neutrons that fire together , wire together”. What that means is that the more you think and behave in a certain way, the more automatic that becomes for your brain. Your challenge is to change the “automatic response” from “I feel sick and anxious and this doesn’t help so I’m going to stay home" ( and picture the “terrorists “ in your brain celebrating the victory as they succeeded in getting you to think the way THEY wanted !!) I know this is hard , but I’m going to survive the temporary discomfort and do this” ( and picture your healthy brain celebrating its victory over the terrorists!!)

At the risk of boring you witless.. I also have a little game I play, I visualise my brain on fire (as a symbol of pain) and concentrate on putting the fire out, it takes a while and little fires will start, or the cooling fire will get red again, gradually if I work at it long enough I can get the fires to minimise and cool. I've found it a useful tool and hopefully I am strengthening my good neural pathways! But I do take a lot of meds too.

I love Winnie the Pooh too.

Hugs, xx