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Tension Headaches

My partner sufferers terrible tension headaches. She has medicine from the doctors for it as normal painkillers dont work. But the pain is there daily and has been for over a year all day everyday, anyone experience the same sort of thing and have any ideas on how to ease them? The doctor said indian head massage? Has anyone ever had one of these? Is it worth the money?
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Reply 1

Touche

Less stress, more sleep.

Massage is a good idea. Perhaps get someone to do it once or twice and see if it helps, if it does you can learn to do it yourself (=free).

Swimming is also supposed to be good.

If you want to pay for something, acupuncture is supposed to help some. I'd go for a western style rather than traditional.

Best med for headaches is Aspirin generally. Take a big dose (900mg) when it's coming on.

Reply 2

LouiseK

Hi Charkate - I suffer from tension headaches every day all day and have done for over 2 years. I don't know how your partner is doing now but KEEP going back to the doctors - persist try things and if they don't work go back and tell them this and say you want something else. (I've tried various drugs and they have all been useless - especially amitriptyline which is the worst drug ever and made me feel like a complete mong for a long time). I persisted and then went to see a neurologist she reffered me onto a physio then an acupuncturist and also a chiropracter, who I see on a regular basis.

Tension headaches are caused by stress so try to illiminate this (even if you don't feel stressed - I always think I'm pretty chilled out but stress can come from anywhere!!!) and tension in the neck and shoulder area so joining a yoga/ pilates class is really benificial. Basically it is NOT something that will go away with a parecetomol or neurofen these just get rid of symptoms/ mask the symptoms and not the root cause.

You need to change your lifestyle! I mean it - I know it sounds crazy, but work in some regular relaxation/ exercises into your life - I do neck and shoulder exercises every day. Pay attention to your posture, try to chill out, also other factors are sleep/ food etc.

Ignore these people who don't have a clue what they are talking about, and go see someone a doctor and persist. Keeping a headache diary is also good. You could visit the migraine clinic in London this is free. Do not waste your money going to see a chiro/ physio etc as they probably will just want money rather than getting you better - get it on the nhs.

Anyway hope that helps.