Pain Reliever and Headaches

[docrowan]

Recent threads on medical issues started me back on something I've thought a number of times: Do pain relievers (aspirin, acetaminophren, etc.) actually relieve headaches?

Follow my chain of logic here:

1) I've had headaches that went away on their own without taking any pain reliever.

2) I've had headaches that would not go away no matter how many or what kind of pain reliever I take. I've had some where I've taken the max recommended dose of all of them spaced out over a few hours.

3) So if I have a headache that I take something for, and it goes away, how do I know it wouldn't have gone away on it's own, as in link number 1 above?

[MilDoc]

Yes, pain relievers relieve headaches. And, no, if your headache goes away on its own and you took a pain reliever, you would not be able to tell what caused it to go away.

What too many people do not know is that pain relievers, chronically used, can cause headaches. This is the "medication overuse headache" and account for a lot of chronic daily headaches. And the only "cure" is to stop taking drugs, tough it out, until they stop.

So, if you have occasional mild headaches, don't take anything. Try hydration, rest, etc. If it persists, take something.

But don't get into the habit of reaching for the bottle every day! Medication overuse headaches can develop in as little as a few weeks.

[Hellrazor]

Worst headaches are from caffeine withdrawal...

[leehljp]

Worst headaches are from caffeine withdrawal...

Going south on this note: Worst headaches I have ever had come when I get off or caffeine for a couple of days in prep for my organization's required colonoscopies for over 50 people. Got one coming in January!

[RodKirby]

As my fellow sufferers will tell you - you aint had a headache until you have a CLUSTER - and NOTHING works with them

I'm in this year's batch right now - each day (8 days so far), between 9:00pm and 11:00pm - last for about 45 minutes. Last year's batch lasted for 14 days. So glad I don't have any firearms in the house

[tkarlmann]

Then try something completely different

As my fellow sufferers will tell you - you aint had a headache until you have a CLUSTER - and NOTHING works with them

I'm in this year's batch right now - each day (8 days so far), between 9:00pm and 11:00pm - last for about 45 minutes. Last year's batch lasted for 14 days. So glad I don't have any firearms in the house

--not a Monty Python joke...

Pill-wise, I'm in favor of asipirin for pain relief. If I just want to take pills with no affect, then I take Tylenol. Then there are those migrains that pills do not seem to affect. So what to do?

Get ready for a leap of faith.... here it comes....

Try Reflexolgy! This is an amazing technique that you can do yourself. You are basically massaging your feet to cure your headache! Yes. Really. You just need to know where and how to massage.

The deal is that all your body can be mapped out ON YOUR FEET! There are books on this, and it works to varying degrees, but it can and does cause relief.

For headaches try around your big toe, or between the big toe and the next toe. You need to probe with your fingers (gently at first) until you find a sensitive (or even really painful) spot to rub. Then press slowly and carefully, but deliberately, on your foot right on the painful spot. The pain in your foot should go away in ~ 1 minute or so, and so may your headache. You may need to probe for several spots on your foot, and if the headache is REALLY bad -- don't expect miracles.

The story goes that those painful spots represent areas of your body where blood flow is blocked for some reason. Pressure on the painful spot is supposed to trigger your body to correct the blood flow, and then relieve the associated pain.

Disclaimer: I am NOT an expert in this field, and whole books discuss this topic, but this works quite well in a limited way for me.

P.S. Now if you find you cannot REACH your own feet, then we have other issues to deal with, don't we?

[Uncle Cracker]

I divorced the worst headache I ever had... Cleared up my PITA, too...

[jking]

Worst headaches are from caffeine withdrawal...

I'll raise my cup to that.

[JSUPreston]

As my fellow sufferers will tell you - you aint had a headache until you have a CLUSTER - and NOTHING works with them

I'm in this year's batch right now - each day (8 days so far), between 9:00pm and 11:00pm - last for about 45 minutes. Last year's batch lasted for 14 days. So glad I don't have any firearms in the house

Rod, I feel your pain, literally. I get migraines on a fairly regular basis, and occasionally a cluster. The last one I had, my wife thought I was about to die and wanted to take me to the hospital. I refused to go because I was working on a project for my Master's degree.

My wife also gets migraines and clusters. She, like I, has clusters rarely. My 8 year old was diagnosed 2 years ago with migraines, and the 5 year old has started complaining of headaches as well.

To answer the question of the topic, Excedrin Migraine/Extra Strength or a generic equivalent seems to work the best for my wife and me. I tried prescription stuff about 10 years ago, and nothing I tried worked. For the kids, Tylenol and sometimes a little chocolate or some Diet Coke for the caffeine.

Rod, you're right...you don't know how bad it can be until you've had migraines and clusters. Have you even had a migraine with a cluster "on top" of it? Needless to say, it hurts like #$*(!!!!

[gsmittle]

Worst headache I ever had was when I started leaking cerebrospinal fluid after my back surgery. I was a quart low for a couple days, and nothing touched the head pain.

I've read that nitroglycerin can give a bad headache, too.

I've also read that pain relievers often contain caffeine, too.

g.

[RodKirby]

...Rod, you're right...you don't know how bad it can be until you've had migraines and clusters. Have you even had a migraine with a cluster "on top" of it? Needless to say, it hurts like #$*(!!!!

No, I cannot (don't want to), imagine that combination.

Please extend my sympathy to your family.

[SteveR]

O2 !!!!!

I tried prescription stuff about 10 years ago, and nothing I tried worked.

As my fellow sufferers will tell you - you aint had a headache until you have a CLUSTER - and NOTHING works with them

I'm in this year's batch right now - each day (8 days so far), between 9:00pm and 11:00pm - last for about 45 minutes. Last year's batch lasted for 14 days. So glad I don't have any firearms in the house

I remember a similiar thread about a year ago.....I was surprised how many clusterheads popped up.

Fellow cluster head here.....hey guys.....no need to bare knuckle these demons. I did for too long and finally discovered O2. Have to get a script (in US anyway) from your doc. A high flow regulator (up to 15 lpm a MUST) and a non-rebreather mask (cut off elasic band, just in case you fall asleep after the hit starts to subside). Hit'em as soon as you feel one coming on....works pretty quick. Night hits another story, but will work eventually...beats a 45 min. battle hands down. Google OUCH (organization for understanding cluster headaches) for further info. on O2. Print it out and give to your doc. If you can not find it, I will place a link on here for you. My medical provider, which is Kaiser, states the same on its website. It is safe in short intervals (10-20 min.). Just do not do a whole tank of O2, that is bad for lungs. Kid wise (Preston if yours has CH) there are a couple of CH parents that have CH kids....they use O2 on them as well. Works "ok" on migraines, better on CH.

http://www.ouch-us.org/index.shtml

Please check out the O2....I can not emphasize this enough!!
Steve
PS....stay WAY clear of adult beverages when in cycle...it is a major trigger for most.

[x00018]

I feel your pain

As my fellow sufferers will tell you - you aint had a headache until you have a CLUSTER - and NOTHING works with them

I'm in this year's batch right now - each day (8 days so far), between 9:00pm and 11:00pm - last for about 45 minutes. Last year's batch lasted for 14 days. So glad I don't have any firearms in the house

Find yourself a doctor that is willing to read up on them and try the lithium routine. That is what helped me after years of trying different drugs and many, many doctors.

And you are right about the firearms. DON'T ever have one in the house.

[Hellrazor]

try the lithium routine.

I think everyone here wants to try the lithium-ion route, but that is a whole other discussion.

[linear]

Try hydration

Works great for me. I had no idea I was dehydrated until I fixed it. Cheap fix, too.