Tension Headaches

LegacyUser

Hi. I am wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to me and am needing some advice and support please.
I've had tension headaches for years and am generally an anxious person, so much so that I've started medication this year to help and it has worked thank god.

I have one outstanding issue though - I get headaches everyday and have found myself in a situation where I'm taking solpadine everyday - I've been taking them for years now due to various health problems but I would like to stop. People close to me have commented recently and it's made me realise just how many I take. I have tried just not taking them but the headache I'd suffer would be brutal and I cant function...

I've been to the doctor before and the advice for pain seems to be take meds so I'm not sure what to do.
If anyone could help me figure what to do or how to get this sorted it would be great.
Thanks.

Larianne

Try another doctor if your current one is not listening to your concerns of taking so much medication.

I had tension headaches when I was a teenager and after loads of tests the doctor sent me to the physio to see if she could find anything. Turned out to be a knot in my shoulder muscle causing the tension which lead to the headaches. So, I really think you should go to another doctor and see what they can do for you.

Would doing something like Yoga help with the stress/anxiety?

Taltos

Hi OP
I have heard that Solpa can be addictive - so going off it cold turkey could just cripple you with pain. Maybe try easing down the amount you take - say take 1 instead of 2 every second time.

Yoga or a variety of exercises can also help you relieve stress.
Just as a side thought - if you are grinding your teeth in your sleep maybe seek advice on that - I know I get grief there and wake with a foul stonker of a headache most days.

LegacyUser

Thanks for all the replies.
Yes sunflower I had a similar experience as a child but unfortunately the headaches haven't left me yet.
I will mention it to my gp the on the next visit. I suppose I'm worried I have become reliant on the solpadines and its quite shameful so it's difficult to admit.
Larianne, yes I would like to try yoga or something if I thought it would help, I often find I get headaches after exercise - which is odd.
Taltos I do grind my teeth! And wow is it sore the next day.

Taltos

Well the great news for grinding is you can get a device from your dentist to help you stop
You might have to wear it for a while or maybe even most nights - but after a while it trains you to stop.
For me though I have already damaged my teeth from all the grinding I do and with my luck I lost the mouth guard from the dentist - typical - so occassionally if it gets bad I use a simple mouth guard - just for a night or two.

But really recommend you talk to your dentist about it and get some proper advice - if your dentist is not the best then seek a 2nd opinion. It was only when I changed to my latest dentist that I was given any options - just wish I had found her in my teens or early twenties.

Nothing to be ashamed about with the solp dependency - think it happens to loads. Know my OH is fond of them too

Dublin2Donegal

i found that cutting out the pain killers and trying acupuncture really helped with the headache and eased some of the stress, it is something to look into because takinh med all the time is going to do you more damage

HTH

Firetrap

Do you have bad posture? Especially if you're an office worker. Would going to a physio or for a proper massage to loosen the tense muscles in your shoulders/neck help?

LegacyUser

Hi,

I just want to let you know my secret weapon! I get tension headaches too but not as regularly as you would seem to. However I am also a freak when it comes to taking pills/medication and I would prefer not to if I didnt have to. So A couple of years ago I stumbled across a product. I got it in an airport but since then I have been able to find it in a local health store. They dont stock it in evergreen healthfoods which I am guessing would be the most widespread healthstore in Ireland. I'm not sure if they have it Boots to be honest they might have!

Anyway I got it in a local independent health store. It is called 4Head it comes as a stick like lip balm except it is harder than a paste like lip balm and you put it on wherever you are feeling the headache and it really helps!!! its cheap too, less than €10 for a stick of it and mine last at least 6 months maybe more depending on how often I use it. You'l probably have tried the roll on migralieve things from evergreen (I havent) but they arent what I am talking about here either way so dont confuse them! This product it is different.

Ye should check it out it is great!!! I dont know what I would do without it! And Im not affiliated with it or anything I m a genuine user of it and it helps me.

hadook

Massage, yoga and gentle exercise are good for a tension headache. You can get little aromatherapy stick type things in pharmacies that you rub onto your forehead and pulse points that will also help.

A close family member ended up addicted to solpadine last year after suffering from back pain. They had gotten to the point that not taking some left them with a bad headache and they needed to take more and more just to try to stay on top of the pain. It's far easier than you think to become addicted to them so if that sounds familiar then you need to talk to your doctor about weaning yourself off them.

There are an awful lot of possible treatments for headaches and not all of them are painkillers. If after a lifestyle change (massage, yoga, acupuncture, exercise, sorting out the teeth grinding, not taking solpadine etc) you're still suffering from headaches then you need to look at getting referred to a specialist.

LegacyUser

Taltos wrote: »

Well the great news for grinding is you can get a device from your dentist to help you stop
You might have to wear it for a while or maybe even most nights - but after a while it trains you to stop.
For me though I have already damaged my teeth from all the grinding I do and with my luck I lost the mouth guard from the dentist - typical - so occassionally if it gets bad I use a simple mouth guard - just for a night or two.

But really recommend you talk to your dentist about it and get some proper advice - if your dentist is not the best then seek a 2nd opinion. It was only when I changed to my latest dentist that I was given any options - just wish I had found her in my teens or early twenties.

Nothing to be ashamed about with the solp dependency - think it happens to loads. Know my OH is fond of them too

I'll get onto the dentist so. It could take a while to sort this I suppose I need to get prepared for that.
Yeah the solpadine are there to reach for as a quick fix to the tension I feel.
Thanks Taltos

Firetrap wrote: »

Do you have bad posture? Especially if you're an office worker. Would going to a physio or for a proper massage to loosen the tense muscles in your shoulders/neck help?

No not an office worker. That might help, I haven't much cash for massage etc but it may be worth it alright. I think myself it's more of a mental rather than physical thing, physical symptoms maybe..

canada wrote: »

Hi,

I just want to let you know my secret weapon! I get tension headaches too but not as regularly as you would seem to. However I am also a freak when it comes to taking pills/medication and I would prefer not to if I didnt have to. So A couple of years ago I stumbled across a product. I got it in an airport but since then I have been able to find it in a local health store. They dont stock it in evergreen healthfoods which I am guessing would be the most widespread healthstore in Ireland. I'm not sure if they have it Boots to be honest they might have!

Anyway I got it in a local independent health store. It is called 4Head it comes as a stick like lip balm except it is harder than a paste like lip balm and you put it on wherever you are feeling the headache and it really helps!!! its cheap too, less than €10 for a stick of it and mine last at least 6 months maybe more depending on how often I use it. You'l probably have tried the roll on migralieve things from evergreen (I havent) but they arent what I am talking about here either way so dont confuse them! This product it is different.

Ye should check it out it is great!!! I dont know what I would do without it! And Im not affiliated with it or anything I m a genuine user of it and it helps me.

I will look into that thanks, I have tried stuff like that before but always end up with the headache worsening.

Dublin2Donegal wrote: »

i found that cutting out the pain killers and trying acupuncture really helped with the headache and eased some of the stress, it is something to look into because takinh med all the time is going to do you more damage

HTH

Is acupuncture expensive? Yes I suppose it could help lessen the occurrence of the headache by being less stressed rather than curing the aches.

hadook wrote: »

Massage, yoga and gentle exercise are good for a tension headache. You can get little aromatherapy stick type things in pharmacies that you rub onto your forehead and pulse points that will also help.

A close family member ended up addicted to solpadine last year after suffering from back pain. They had gotten to the point that not taking some left them with a bad headache and they needed to take more and more just to try to stay on top of the pain. It's far easier than you think to become addicted to them so if that sounds familiar then you need to talk to your doctor about weaning yourself off them.

There are an awful lot of possible treatments for headaches and not all of them are painkillers. If after a lifestyle change (massage, yoga, acupuncture, exercise, sorting out the teeth grinding, not taking solpadine etc) you're still suffering from headaches then you need to look at getting referred to a specialist.

Yeah it's a vicious circle with some pain killers and that's not good. I don't know if I'm addicted - I think though I am dependant on them. Thanks your comments are really helpful.

This thread has given me lots of food for thought, helps me identify some possible alternatives to solve the stress and headache, and gives me confidence to talk to the doc. Thanks for all the replies.

opinion guy

hey OP.

so as you suspect you are most likely addicted to solpadeine. What you may not have realised is that solpadeine may actually be contributing or causing your headaches. It causes withdrawal headaches in people who have become dependent. In fact many specialists feel that solpadeine should not be sold over the counter because it is so easy to become addicted to and people end up with withdrawal headaches like this.
Has your doctor sent you to see a specialist ?
PM me and i'll send you the name of a neurologist who is good with headaches

opinion guy

solpadeine contains paracetamol and codeine
check the list of common side effects:
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/codeine-side-effects.html
headaches are listed

LegacyUser

Hi op here.
So I'm still getting headaches daily and taking the solp. I've decided from this morning to gradually cut down and out the solpadines.
I'd usually take 2 three times a day so today I'm aiming for only 2 twice a day - I'll do this for 3 days and then cut down to 3 tabs a day for 4 days and then 2 tabs a day for 4 days and then 1 tab a day for a 5 and then try going without.
I hope this is gradual enough to work, I'm also working on some relaxation techniques with a professional and am waiting for an appointment re; grinding of teeth.
I'll check in here from time to time to report my (hopefull) improvement, if it works out I should be free of the craving for them daily in a couple of weeks.