When to See a Doctor for Chronic Headache's?? =(

I SUFFERED for 15 years with migraines. I could and SHOULD write a book about those evil things.

I found out three years ago it was TMJ that caused most of them. All the suffering could have been avoided IF my dentist actually LISTENED to me. Once I found a specialist, things got MUCH better.

You have CLASSIC migraine symptoms. Drink an INSANE amount of water and REST when you can. That seems to be the only way to really beat a migraine. There's many medications but I have found the CHEAP Equate brand headache medicaine at Wal Mart works the best.

I would go see a chiropractor before going to the MD. This people can work wonders without medication.

My friend takes an omega 3 supplement called K48 plus and swears by it. You can message me for more info on it

To answer your question, about the time it becomes chronic and crippling your quality if life!!

I agree with trying a Chiropractor. If you live or work anywhere near Flower Mound...see Dr. Collins at Back to Health Chiropractic. (They charge $40 for cash patients.) He has helped me incredibly. If Chiropractic doesn't help you, then yes...you need to see a Dr.

Sounds like migraines, but I wouldn't take any chances if you've not been diagnosed. Headaches can be caused by many things the worst of them being blood clots and aneurysms. I have no insurance also, so I totally get the $ issue, but you really should get them looked at.

my cure for my migraines is Excedrin with a full glass of water and then a super hot shower for as long as you can stand it (and as hot as you can stand it) and 95% of the time, it goes away. if that doesn't work and you keep getting these, i'd go to the doctor. it sucks to pay that $$ but it sounds like it's really affecting your life. good luck and feel better..

All GREAT advice from other mammas. I also suffer from headaches (some with migraine-like symptoms. Mine have gotten a lot better after seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis and acupuncture (not cheap though but you can sometimes find ones that will work with you for less if you go regularly, I see Dr. Li in Plano he does both). Mine are most likely caused by TMJ and my jaw gets misaligned (my chiro puts it back in). I do still need to get a special night guard from my dentist but that's going to run about $800. There are so MANY causes for headaches it takes some major investigation. I would try keeping a food log, so you can see if something you're eating or drinking is perhaps triggering them (my father-in-law's were triggered by green tea), then do a process of elimination. Keep hydrated, take Magnesium, and massage your temples, jaw and neck area to help keep those muscles relaxed. I'm sorry, I totally know how you feel...

Like others have said there are plenty of different reasons you could be getting headaches. If some but not all of them you have been experiencing recently are migraines and some are just tension headaches then it is possible that something besides dire things could be causing them.

*Do you have an increased amount of tension in your neck/shoulder muscles?
*Have you been reading more or doing things that might cause eye strain?
*Do you you have allergies? I've been getting more frequent headaches the last three weeks because I have seasonal allergies and if I don't take meds then my head starts screaming at me
*Do you have sinus issues?

Try getting a massage (even a 15 minute to 1/2 hour massage can work wonders on a headache) from a certified massage therapist. You should be able to find an affordable one somewhere

If that doesn't work then go see a chiropractor.

When I get migraines a cold-pack helps wonderfully. I have some flattish gel packs that partially freeze and are covered with fabric. I lie down and plop one of those on my face and it makes it so much easier o for me to rest when I can so I can somewhat function when I have to.

Hope you can get it resolved soon. Good luck!

Sounds like a migraine to me. (one-sided, sensitive to light and noise).

I've found a migraine message board a good source of info and support. http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/

Does exedrin migraine help at all? Though you have to be careful with migraine meds since taking them too frequently (more than 2X/week) can cause rebound headaches for some.

If OTC meds don't help, and your quality of life is impacted, I would really reccomend seeing a doc. Are there any free clinics nearby, have you tried county health services to see if you are eligible for medical assistance?

I have had luck identifying some triggers with the help of a migraine diary and changing my diet. Some triggers I can avoid (like wheat/gluten & msg), some I can't (like changes in barometric pressure or cold fronts coming in).

Going gluten free has helped me *so* much- I am so much more productive now using less prescription medication. However getting my vitamin D levels up helped too. I did see a doc to get tested (MRI, vitamin D levels etc) but you could always try an otc supplement & dietary changes first to see if that helps. Good luck!

I would go get checked right away. I suffered with (headaches) migraines for my entire life, I took tylenol around the clock which didn't help and a lot of prescription medications that didn't help me at all. I even went to the Chiropractor which only helped temporarily (and I really believe in chiropractic) When I started keeping track I had a headache everyday for at least 3 years. My migraines were mainly on one side of my head. I started using a cream from Arbonne called Prolief (it is a balancing cream) I had one more headache then they were gone that was in July of 2002 and I am still migraine/headache free. Is there a free clinic in your area or someplace that you can go that won't cost so much? I would really suggest getting in to see a Doctor once they tell you it is migraines send me a PM and I will tell you more about my headache journey.

A headache that is localized to only one area is worrisome. PLEASE go and see a doctor.

I have dealt with headaches my whole life. About 6 months ago I got fed up and started doing research. Anyway headaches can be caused by magnesium deficiency. In fact my headaches sound just like yours and I was getting them multiple times a week. After 1 week of 400 mg of magnesium every night I don't get headaches anymore. It is a cheap easy relatively safe treatment to try. According to my midwife it's even safe to take in pregnancy. I would definitely try it. Hope this helps you.

It sounds like bad migraines to me, but that is A lot of headaches to be having!

If I were you I would go to the doctor though, it may be expensive, but a good doctor can put you on a payment plan. these headaches could be a symptom of something more insidious going on (I won't give you any horror stories, but sometimes ignoring headaches can lead to deadly results). It is better to spend $200 and find out everything is OK, than to not wake up one morning, right?

Good Luck!
-M.

I do chiropractic care once a week and massage once a month, now that my headaches are less frequent. I ice when I have one, and take advil if I need to get through the workday or can't sleep. That and occasional acupuncture when they were worse are all that's helped me!

I have the exact same headaches. It is caused by sinus pressure. That does not mean that your nose will be stuffy or drippy. The sinus cavity runs right behind your eyes and when it gets inflamed it causes migraine like headaches. Mine have been so bad I vomitted and only a dark quiet room brings relief. I have found that any decongestant, like sudafed pe, combined with an anti-inflamatory, like ibuprofen or aleve, does the trick to relieve the pressure. Usually within 30 minutes of taking both medicines the pain is receding and I can rejoin my family. I hope this helps you.

I didn't read all the responses so forgive if I repeat. I get headaches similiar to yours, they are generally dehydration or sinus. Drink TONS of water to prevent and if you get them take Excedrin (but only with food). If it is behind your eye socket, heat on my face usually helps some. I have a microwaveable neck wrap that I drape across my face that works best but any heat helps. Good luck and feel better.

There can be a lot of causes, including high blood pressure. I would see a doctor if you can. Also, check the weight of your handbag. I used to get crippling headaches from lugging around a big, full handbag. I changed to a small purse and it stopped.

You might want to check your bloodpressure. I had bad headaches and was cause from my blood pressure being high. Just a thought!! Hope you start feeling better!!

I am so sorry for you! I had those for 30 years.
It turned out mine were mainly due to an undiagnosed hole in my heart. The other cause was hormonal imbalance.
I used Shaklee supplements and they took care of the imbalance. Let me know if you are interested.
You should see a doctor if you can to make sure there is nothing nothing else is going on.

my friend found her cure which is getting botox in between her eyes, her dermatoligist suggested it & she says it really worked

I was having the same problem as you about this time last year. I swore up and down that I was having migraines. I had the same issues - sensitivity to light/noise and the pain was behind my left eye. Turned out that it was all because of my sinuses. Allergies were the true culprit. Once I got some allergy medicine, my headaches went away. Try looking up sinus headache and see if any of the info is similar to what you are experiencing.
Good luck!

Try Dr. D'Amanda in Aubrey, TX. Country Chiropractic. I've been seeing him for about a year and used to suffer from horrible headaches and facial pain. He specializes in upper cervical chiropractic and has a different technique than most. Also, he does not accept insurance but offers a wellness plan for care which makes visits very affordable. He's the best! Good luck!

I've suffered from headaches for as long as I can remember, (and I'm 46) they hurt! and sometimes they are worse than other, I've had them daily for months and I've goon weeks without one, just at different times of my life, two pregnancies without them and one pregnancy with a headache for 6 months. They just change over the years, but I do understand. and NO!!! it is not normal to have headaches all the time. I understand the part about no insurance and $$$, I've been there before, but you might want to try a few easy solutions before more expensive ones, but definitely get relief (I lost a job over headaches before because the headaches did negatively affect my job performance, don't let it get that far) you might check with a few of the local clinics or Dr's offices (care now or something similar) to see if they can work with you to find a solution, there are a lot of meds out there and most Dr's will give you samples to see what works best for you.

here are a few of the low cost remedies that have worked for me. Pasta, pasta stimulates serotonin, which during a migraine is out of balance, when I feel a migraine coming on I eat a huge bowl of plain pasta and it helps significantly with the pain, keeping it at a manageable level. (potatoes and bread also stimulate serotonin, anything with a high glycemic index) I discovered one time while low carb dieting that I was getting a headache everyday and when I reintroduced high glycemic food back into my diet the headaches stopped, so if in your quest to eat healthy you have cut carbs... that may be the culprit.

Rebound headaches are also a very real possibility if you are taking a lot of OTC pain relievers, so consider that as a possibility. I also have heard about the Magnesium deficiency mentioned by one of the other responders, that could contribute to headaches as well. Vitamin D is the newest thing but worth checking into, I love the way I feel after a good dose of it.

I strongly recommend exercise even if it is just a walk around the block or a few extra trips up and down the stairs. I also recommend giving up caffeine, I've been off the stuff for almost 15 years (except chocolate of course) but it helps, when I do have a headache I can take caffeine with pain meds to help cure a headache, and that is very helpful, if you are on caffeine all the time it doesn't really make a noticeable difference, and the OTC migraine meds are only meds with caffeine in them, nothing else, then they get to claim "migraine". just a marketing ploy if you ask me. I recently read more about Serotonin and that it is made in our intestines, as a neurotransmitter I thought it was made i the brain... but the book I was reading (Clean by Dr. Junger) talks about how the gut causes a lot of problems because it needs to be cleaned out every once in a while, which I find is true based on all the reading I've done about nutrition over the years (I've been reading about nutrition for migraines for about 15yrs now) and I think there may be something to the idea of a good cleanse to help with migraines, for that you can try Psyllium Hulls capsules from the health food store, ( about $10) to keep the gut cleaned out ( I take them daily)

I take Maxalt for my migraines if I need to, but I had a Dr recommend taking two Alieve at onset and one and hour later if you still have pain, and that works for me when I can catch them early (and a big bowl of pasta!)

hope that is helpful, feel free to message me if you would like, I've tried just about everything, home remedies as well as Rx's. Migraines are different for everyone, if you have a food allergy that can trigger them too, but no one thing works for everyone. I have used Airrossti therapy and had very good results with that but it is more expensive if you don't have insurance. I thik seeing Dr would be helpful, ask around for one that can give you samples till you can find some relief, and one that will let you pay for services in payments, no one should have to live with migraine pain

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It does sound like migrains according to symptoms my SIL has reported. Does OTC migrain medicine help? If not, do you have a long-time dr. who may work with you on this (like a Primary caregiver), so you can have more affordable treatment?

I get bad sinus headaches this time of year that seem to be off and on for weeks at a time. My allergist recommended OTC Mucinex and it has worked wonders for me. There is Mucinex and Mucinex D. We buy the generic Target brand which is much cheaper. Hope you feel better soon!

I know you don't have insurance, but please go to a doctor. I waited way to long. They can do some basic tests in the office that don't require x-rays or MRIs. It wasn't until my 3rd or 4th visit did they finally send me for an MRI. When I did finally get an MRI, there were signs on the film showing "spots" on my brain that cause the migraines. The migraine meds are expensive, but when I told my doctor I couldn't afford them, she gave me a whole bunch of free samples. When it comes to regular headaches, I use Kroger brand Migraine relief formula, for me it works better than Excedrin migraine. I see Dr. Maria Flaquer at Crescent Family Practice in Allen. I don't know what she charges for a visit, and you can wait a long time in the waiting room as she is always behind, but she is really good about free samples.

I experienced headaches somewhat like this, they started behind the eye socket and the forhead and would radiate down my neck and have stabbing at the base of my head. I would have several for a few weeks and then months could go by before it would start again. It would often be like the worst migraine of my life and my sinuses would clog. My doctor thought it was cluster headaches but I asked to see a highly recommended neurologist. It took me 6 months to get an appointment but I was glad that I did. He diagnosed me with occipital neuralgia. The occipital nerve gets inflamed and triggers the headaches. There are many medication regimens you could try, and he really wants me to do physical therapy, although I just haven't found the time. You could have a nerve block, migraine meds. Honestly, what I have found to work the best for my headaches are a combination of Ibuprofen, Tylenol, caffeine, and HeadOn (buy it over the counter, roll it on your head, it is like an icepack on the inside of your head). The neurologist also tried accupuncture which worked really well. I would go to the doctor to see what is causing them, just pick the right one. They will do most likely do a MRI or CT scan to make sure there isn't anything really serious going on.

CF,

First, taking ibuprofen may help. This is how you can take the least effective dose. Take 2 and then take 1 every half hour until the pain us gone, up to 8 at one time. This equals a prescription strength dose. If that doesn't help, go to the doctor. That kind of pain is not good for you. It interferes with your health, your career, and your personal life.

Good Luck!
Jen

Do you take any OTC meds like Tylenol or Advil to help with the pain? if you do, try stopping it for a month. Tylenol/Advil/etc. can cause "rebound headaches." I got into a cycle where I suffered from those for years and didn't realize it. Getting lots of sleep, drinking lots of water, helped me also.

I agree to also look up info on sinus headaches--that might be the problem, too.