Tension headaches... what helped you?

[linmanuel]

I have an almost constant headache and sore neck
I am getting to end of my tether Googling all sorts of stuff
Someone on another thread mentioned a massage gun helping but I am wary of buying and using on the neck

Tried new pillows
Bit of yoga
Nothing seems to be working

Ibuprofen!

I suffer with chronic headaches (I have one almost everyday) and ibuprofen is the only thing that helps!

Acupuncture and a deep tissue massaged helps me on occasion. It feels worse to begin with but if the muscles in your neck are tight I find they set the headache/migraine off

My DH had tension headaches for years. He found that wearing a tight cap helped as a short term fix.

He tried everything including CBT, reflexology, massage, tablets, aromatherapy.

Eventually they stopped when he tried acupuncture. He went to a few sessions but I can't remember how many. Probably about 4 or 5 times.

I hope that you find something that helps you soon.

I was prescribed amitriptyline. It works. I don't get any side effects.

Massage, having someone massage it, especially making small circles up the sides of your neck, along the base of your skull and also further down your back. There’s some good videos on YouTube of massage for tension headaches. I found an osteopath would make it feel so much better but only for the day. Ibuprofen. Cold pack on the back of the neck. Sometimes rolling a thing blanket up and put it under the edge of my skull and using gentle traction

A cervical cushion like Neck and shoulder relaxation pillow for Orthopaedic relief Neck and support shoulder Upper Spine loose pain massage traction [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072LQGWBD/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_X52RPJXQVJEPEY8JQYZ5?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21 this one]] helps mine.
Or massaging in small circles up the sides of my neck. Probably better if someone else does it for you!

Being really careful with posture. I couldn't believe how many years it took me to realise this.

Chiropractor helped mine hugely. Also advised a really hot shower over head face and neck. As hot as you can stand for as long as possible. Really helped me. I'd always thought cold was best but I was wrong something to do with blood and circulation.

A physio who was experienced in treating headaches. And amitriptyline. After years of constant headaches (about 6 days a week), I now rarely get them.

Are you drinking plenty of water? I always feel like this when not hydrated properly. Also, lack of sleep. I’ll go to the spare bedroom on my own for an afternoon Kip (when I’m not working). Sometimes life gets busy and you need to shut it away.

Sports massage therapy once a month (down from weekly for about 6 weeks) She works on my neck, shoulders and arms mainly and it really helps.
Deep breathing exercises.
Addressing the main stressors in my life and reducing or reframing where possible.
Morning stretches ballet style.
Decent reading glasses.
A commitment to only 'sweating the small stuff' and to do that I avoid most social media. (MN is on a timer) I try to go for books instead.
I use a shaped supportive pillow.
I have a mouth guard which I wear at night because I clench jaw.
Daytime face exercises ( you can look up exercises to help relax jaw, like running your tongue around the inside of lips, or keeping tip of tongue resting gently between front teeth)
I also avoid wheat, and aim for at least 3 glasses of water a day.
Daily fresh air.
Paracetamol 4 hourly on worst days.

It's a long list but the headaches were bad!
I hope you can get some relief @linmanuel

Amitryptaline, regular massage from a therapist who understands tension headaches, dry needling, stress relief, decent pillows and mattress, cutting down on inflammatory ingredients (for me sugar and dairy - eg a 500ml bottle of coke will noticeably give me tenser neck muscles in the following days)

What helped me more than anything was a change of pillow. I now have just one, thin pillow. It's made an incredible difference. I'm a stomach sleeper, but not sure if that is anything to do with anything!

Yoga with Adrienne beck and shoulders session.
Heat pack on neck.
Deep Heat across neck and shoulders.

Pillows are so important. I have had a hear and neck MRI to see whats going on with my headaches. The neurologist said the best thing you can do is sleep on one pilllow.

Alsoz have you tried syndol? It has to have Doxylamine in it (they sell one without it.) But be warned, you will be good for nothing so don't take it in the keoning or before you have to drive the first time to see how it affects you.

You could try a Shakti mat.

Bloody awful, really feel for you.

DD suffers with lots of headaches. She spent a fair amount of time at an osteopaths to sort out a few issues and has since heavily relied on a massage gun. She tends to use it first thing in the morning on a preventative basis and then if he can feel the start of a headache. It had made a massive difference and rarely needs to resort to paracetamol.

Wow. I wasn't expecting so many replies these are really helpful. I tend to rely on soluble paracetamol but I will try ibuprofen for a bit

I

@TheTeenageYears

DD suffers with lots of headaches. She spent a fair amount of time at an osteopaths to sort out a few issues and has since heavily relied on a massage gun. She tends to use it first thing in the morning on a preventative basis and then if he can feel the start of a headache. It had made a massive difference and rarely needs to resort to paracetamol.

Where does she use the massage gun? I looked it up but it said to be wary of the cervical area ...

When you get a headache, a tip I was given years ago is to hold a pencil horizontally in your teeth (like a lothario would with a rose ) which diverts the muscle tension away from your temples or neck into your jaw- doing this for a few minutes can really help take the edge off!

I had two physio sessions years ago to help relieve the neck tension. I still use the exercises now.

I’m getting what I think are tension headaches. For the past month I’ve had a constant pain at the back right side of my head. It goes into my face too, but I have sinus issues so not sure if it’s the same pain or not.

@linmanuel (love the username - huge fans in this house) I think top of shoulders to the side of the spine - between bra strap and neck if that makes sense.

[quote TheTeenageYears]@linmanuel (love the username - huge fans in this house) I think top of shoulders to the side of the spine - between bra strap and neck if that makes sense.[/quote]
Thank you for user name compliments
I am off to hit go on the massage gun On Amazon
Will try pencil trick too
😬

Acupuncture and dispersible aspirin plus a magnesium supplement helped me

After investigation and other symptoms, which I ignored for years as I just thought they were normal niggles, I was diagnosed with iron deficiency and referred for infusion after years of taking tablets.

It could be caused by a medical condition, so best to ask GP to investigate properly.

My symptoms included tension headaches, sore neck/ limbs (achy) and the migraines with aura, then dizziness