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

[Guest_2350]

Hi Carol,

i hope your withdrawal symptoms will pass quickly. You're nearly through it if you have already stopped completely?

What kind of puppy does your daughter want?

Take care, Yggy x

[Guest_5218]

Hi Carol. You are obviously doing it pretty tough right now. But hopefully the worst is over as far as the withdrawal symptoms. Then they will be able to get to the bottom of what started it all - ie the headache etc.

I really feel for you Carol, and hope you are not suffering so badly for too much longer.

Hopefully tomorrow is a better day .........

Sherie xx

[blondguy]

Dear Carol

I have no words.........except for my admiration of your strength and spirit...

(Thankyou for helping with pvroom and her 3 day old old unanswered post. With her difficult birth and PTSD I am glad you read my post in the cafe for help that you have given pvroom)

You are a Champion Carol

Paul (Big Hugs) if thats okay xx

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Paul, Yggy and Sherie,

Thankyou all for being you. You guys are amazingly kind and caring people. I am fine, just having a moment. I do feel a little better this evening.

It is just a matter of time. I am sure my low is just my body getting used to having less seratonin.

I am glad of your friendship. Tonight I am glad you are all there for Shell. She undervalues herself. She has no idea how wonderful she is. I am glad she has you all to remind her.

Paul, thanks for the hug. I run on hugs.

Yggy, my daughter doesn't mind what sort, neither do my boys. They are restricted to one that I'm not allergic to though and so far the only breed I have found to date (that I've been near anyway) is a cavoodle. We looked after one for a few weeks for a local family who needed a pet sitter and it was wonderful. We also looked after a spoodle for a few weeks but that one gave me hives. I have played with a number of cavoodles and have not had a problem so looks like the way to go. I do want to see if I can find a Bischon Frise to play with as I have heard they are good for allergies too. Straight poodles give me hives too for some reason (so do sheep!). I can't even wear wool as it makes me itch the minute I have it near my skin. My daughter adores dogs so much. I have wanted to get one for a while but progress has been slow making our yard dog friendly. Things have slowed again with me not being paid now and hubby having little time to do outdoor things as I am a bit needy. All a matter of time. We want to make sure we can give all we need to a new furry edition to the family. It would be selfish to get one at the moment. I keep looking in the shelters too but haven't found any suitable for allergies yet.

Take care all and I hope you all get some rest. We all seem to be in a low spot. Thinking of you all xx

[blondguy]

Hey Carol

'May the Force Be With You"

I dont need to quote that to you Carol...You already have it 🙂

I am glad that 'Monkeycrap' gave you a little smile Carol...thankyou...

Bless your kind heart

Paul xx

[Guest_5218]

Hi Carol. Pleased to hear that you are feeling a little better this evening.

Yeah poor Shell. But what a lovely idea of yours to get a mini bus full of people to go visit her and personally deliver flowers, pets, people, hugs, etc. Minus the chocolates I think! It really would be nice to actually meet some of you guys in the flesh. Of course I know that cant happen, but it is a nice thought. ( - :

I hope you will be able to get a cavoodle real soon. They are lovely dogs and I'm sure you would enjoy having one equally as much as your daughter will. Of course I understand the reasons you cant just now, but it is just a matter of time. Something for all of you to look forward to when the time comes.

Hopefully you have been able to keep some of the new pain meds down long enough to relieve your headache and tightness in the head. And dont worry about not being around the Cafe too much, I know its difficult for you just now. We will all cope okay without you while you work your way through this latest hiccup. So take a break when you need to. Meanwhile the days are counting down towards neuro day, only 15 days to go. ( - :

A gentle hug to you Carol so as not to hurt the sore head. Catch you in the morning, at which time you will hopefully be feeling a little better.

Sherie xx

[blondguy]

Hey Carol

I hope you feel reasonably better soon...You have made a good call with your thoughts about getting a K9...I have Prince here and even though I walk him everyday..I dont have the confidence (in myself) in letting him off the lead for an open run. He is a rescued dog and he is huge...but the depression seems to be coming back in like the tide....it will go back out again.

I do hope you get through this dark time Carol...I have tried to gently help shell, she is a legend, I can only do so much to help shell help herself. And thats fine. Anytime anyone draws a line in the sand I can see it and will respect it.

I will check my PC tomorrow to see how you are traveling Carol...Bless your kind heart xx

[Lost_Girl]

Hey guys,

I am a little better today just very sleepy so I am trying to just go with it.

Do they have a female equivalent to The Mens Shed where females can get together on person for support? I haven't been able to find anything. I will flag this post to our goid community mgr Chris if you guys don't know.

If I were allowed to do that for Shell I would do it in a heartbeat. Everyone deserves to have friends to hang out with and she is so lovely as are you guys.

It seems that loneliness is very much a common thing here on BB aside from the ilnesses. I think a female equiv to the Mens Shed would be of great value.

Yawn, hoping to wake up to a "proper morning" with that strange yellow bright thing in the sky one day soon haha.

Carol xx

[Guest_5218]

Hi Carol,

I was just thinking of you, and wondering how you were getting along.

I believe I have heard of a Womens Mens Shed somewhere, but I simply cannot recall where I saw or read it now.

Have you managed to wake up to a 'proper morning' yet? You know where you see the sun just starting to rise over the horizon? Actually you probably have now that daylight saving has finished because the sun rises an hour earlier now. So you are probably just heading off to bed as the sun rises. ( - :

Have you managed to shake off the gastro bug yet? If so, it hopefully means your pain relief will be effective again.

I do hope you're pacing yourself a little. Not trying to do too much in any one day. Are you kids coping alright with you not being at your best for so long? Pretty adaptable little blighters I suspect, kids usually are.

Anyway, I was really just checking in on you to see how you were doing. I may catch you around the traps later.

Sherie xx

[Lost_Girl]

Hi Sherie,

Thanks for checking in. I worked out that the increased pain med dose caused the stomach issues so I have had to stop them. Back to a short term pain med that only gives me 2 hrs relief out of 6 but puts me to sleep for an hour shortly after taking it, so 3hrs out of 6. Sigh. It is now the only med I am on and in a way I am glad as it means I start my new neurologist meeting off with a clean baseline.

It does mean more pain and harder to concentrate and very lethargic. It doesn't seem to matter much what I do any combination seems to have me useless.

I do very little to nothing to help with the housework or kids. Anything that involves tilting my head down (e.g ironing, picking up things, putting dishes away, bathrooms etc) all make the pain, dizziness and nausea worse. I am either exhausted or in pain so not much I can do with the kids either. These days I set up activities like crafty things or games then go and watch from my comfy recliner.

I think missing out on stuff with the kids is the hardest. I am still too dizzy, tired and sore to walk anywhere. I can't drive for the same reason.

I have to keep reminding myself that the kids are happy. Hubby does a lot with them on weekends. It is school holidays now and I have the older two home. They get their own breaky and lunch of I am sleeping in. On the upside they are fiercely independent strong kids. Love them to bits.

I made my older boy an "alien easter bunny" it's bright green and black and looks a bit like the creatire in Lilo and Stitch. All 3 kids asked me today to crochet some clothes for the bunnies (guess they liked them!).

They give me lots of love, kisses and cuddles so I figure they are doing ok despite me being pretty useless.

It's hubby I worry more about. He does so much and is exhausted. He has no friends either just work colleagues. We have outsourced our ironing so it helps a bit but I just want to get better to be able to give back to him. He is my best friend, my rock, I don't know how I would do this without him.

What he forgets to do however is to give me emotional support. He is great at functional things but he never checks on how I am now. I get it, same answer or different whinge from me each time. It does feel lonely though. No snuggles at night either because he is too tired. I get it. I just want it back how it was.

I am glad you feel better for having your break from therapy. I am very hopeful that it will make a real difference for you xx