Tension headache 🤕

[Mrslovexx]

Has anybody had what I’m sure is a tension headache since Saturday?

It’s not always been a ‘headache’ it was more of a pain every so often at first but now it feels a little more throbbing at times, mainly in my forehead, both sides of head & some times back of neck?
Health anxiety through the roof :(

I think I've got one at the moment! Hurts more when I'm up and moving around. Ibuprofen hasn't worked so far. I have health anxiety too. I wouldn't worry though - the anxiety is probably what's causing the headache!

@Sojo88 I was fine on Saturday, getting ready to go out then all of a sudden I got a random pain in my head, was a ‘headache pain’ just not a full blown headache. I took some ibuprofen and carried on. Got into town, felt unwell and came home. The pain has been coming and going ever since but now it feels like it’s getting slightly stronger in one side 🤯🤕 I’ve taken some paracetamol so we shall see x

Yes, I get them a lot.
A clicky noise inside my head/neck when I move it round. A hot shower sometimes takes it off.

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress I’ve had a hot shower, it did go off slightly earlier but it’s back now. I’ve taken some paracetamol but it’s lasted for ages. It’s making my anxiety worse because it’s lasted so long x

I get bugged by hear aches alllll the time. I've had all sorts of tests, I'm just unlucky. try some soluble asprin it clears headache quickly

They're a bugger and so draining.
What used to shift them was Syndol but now they've removed the magic ingredient that sent you feeling all doolally they're not as good.
Can you take ibuprofen? You can have those 2 hrs after paracetamol.
I had one yesterday and Tuesday and they always come when I've got loads to do.
I do sympathise.

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress oh I’ve never heard of those, but why did they get rid of the stuff that sends you dolally? That’s the stuff I need right now lol. I can take ibuprofen I will take some around 8:20pm that’s around 2hrs since my paracetamol. It’s really making my anxiety bad, and it’s awful! It’s right above my eye 😓 and side of my head, left side x

@katieg03
Oh they are horrid aren’t they. I don’t have any aspirin I will get some I can’t see the paracetamol and ibuprofen working if I’m honest. X

Is it a migraine maybe?

@Sojo88 I don’t actually know, I have never had one I don’t think. I thought migraines was excruciating pain? I can tolerates light and the tv etc I’m just lying in bed. I’m using a forehead kool and soothe strip on my head at the moment x

Have you been grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw??

@winterisstillcoming I think I clench my jaw without knowing I’m doing it a lot. My jaw also clicks a lot when I yawn and sometimes it locks but it never hurts.. there’s no pain to it and i looked it up which said TMJ but apparently it’s painful and I have none

Oh the doolally ingredient was bloody marvellous.

I've had these for years - not sure whether they're tension headaches or migraines, but the pain is mostly at the back of my head (and sometimes in my neck), so I assume the former. As Scorpio said, the old Syndol (with the muscle relaxant) was amazing, and reliably sorted the headache within a couple of hours - I've never found a good substitute since, sadly.

One thing I've noticed is that mine are sometimes hormonally-related - and also that there can be very obvious physical triggers. For example, I was getting really bad tension headaches in the first few months of lockdown, and couldn't work out why (apart from being more stressed than usual). I eventually worked out that it was because I was working on a laptop all the time, rather than the desktop computer I usually use at work. This caused poor posture, e.g. my neck was bent most of the time to look down at the screen, and I was sometimes a bit hunched over the table. I sorted it by getting a separate keyboard and putting my laptop on top of a pile of books to raise the screen to eye level, and that's really helped reduce the number and duration of headaches for me. So it might be worth thinking about whether there's anything physical that is exacerbating your headaches?

Take 3 aspirin and 2 paracetamol together

Works wonders

@mackerella the pain is all over in different places at different times. Mainly in the sides, and my forehead. I’ve felt it in my neck, eyes, behind ears. It’s a weird one.
I have a mirena coil which was due out last October but had to go on a waiting list to have it out which was March this year but with the lockdown it never got taken out and now they refuse, could be that?
I don’t have great posture I slouch a lot as I work from home also I invested in those ‘blue light glasses’.
I was really stressed and upset a couple of weeks ago, had some issues to deal with but they was dealt with and I’ve been happier since.
And of course the situation we have now, has raised some anxiety’s. I think I’m worried about my son and how he will feel going upto juniors after not being at school for months he’s developed some anxiety’s so I have worried about him.. x

@ssd I didn’t realise you could take that many painkillers? Lol

Clenching uses a lot of muscles including neck and the Muscles on the side of face and head.

Clenching is also a symptom of stress or anxiety.

A heat pack will release tension in muscles as well as some massage and jaw physio.

I had similar symptoms and some weeks later it turned out to be a tooth abscess.

Do go to your GPif it persists as headaches can be due to sinuses as well as loads of other things.

@winterisstillcoming yes, I have read that and I do suffer anxiety. I have actually been to my GP on Tuesday and he put it down to ‘viral’ I’m thinking of calling tomorrow to maybe just speak to a nurse if I can just about some pain relief or if she wants to see me or get me in to see a doctor: Also, I have CFS and wonder if I’m having a crash which is causing this. The doctor that has dealt with my meds and diagnosis etc who I see for my CFS I can’t actually speak to until Wednesday. I will hopefully get to the bottom of it.

@Dozer have also thought about this, but I was only at the dentist weeks ago and all was fine?

Just to let you s know the old syndol(with doxylamine) has been back for a wee while now. It’s the only thing that helps me. Boots don’t sell it, not sure why but Lloyd’s chemist and other ones do.

Syndol have brought the old formula back, you can now get 2 different types of Syndol from the pharmacy.
I've been having tension headaches daily since Xmas and the pain has spread down my neck and into my shoulders now.
My GP prescribed amitryptaline but I don't like them

@IndieTara

I will definitely pop to the chemist and see if I can get some.
I am actually on amitriptyline as I have CFS/ME but I’m on the lowest dose and I think for them to work for headaches my dose would have to be upped. I’ve been on them nearly 2 years x

I’ve been getting these recently.

If above your eye, it is more likely to be a migraine. If the back of your head and it hurts more when you walk around, it is more likely tension. A shoulder massage will help a lot.

Actually, I also have chronic sinusitis, which does cause excruciating headaches at times, so it could also be that, as winter says. I sometimes get a stabbing pain behind my eyes which is related to sinus issues.

Sorry to hear you're worrying about your son, too - I'm sure that isn't helping. My DC2 is also going up to juniors in September, so I do understand your anxiety about that. I'm sure the school will do everything they can to help him settle in after such a long break .

scary thanks for the tip off!! I usually go to Boots, which is why I've never seen it obviously. Will try Lloyds or similar next time .

I get loads of tension headaches (as well as migraines). I used to love the old Syndol as well but now just take cocodamol or ibuprofen depending on what I have to hand. A pharmacist once told me to take painkillers with a fizzy drink when I had a migraine- so I try to do that (usually with sparkling water for a tension headache but I go full fat coke for a migraine to throw everything at it!)! Aside from the drugs, I’ve found a variety of things help- 4head roll on is pretty soothing, I sometimes wash my hair if I can as that seems to help, and a warm shower while rolling my shoulders around relieves a bit of the tension. The other thing I do every night (and at the height of a tension headache) is put a microwaveable wheat pillow thing under my neck. The relief is immense. It really seems to work for me. Good luck- not fun. Hope it passes soon!