Tension Headache Relief

[Jaynyne]

Folks, I am desperate. I'm on day three of a really nasty tension headache (not a migraine). Nothing is touching it. Not OTC meds, not meditation, not caffeine, not ice packs, not anything I can think of.

Any thoughts? Natural remedies, teas, anything?!? I really am desperate; I don't want to live with this through the three day weekend, too.

[esme]

Could you be dehydrated? Sometimes drinking an extra pint of water can help. Sorry you're in pain.

[Sally]

Wish I knew how to help with your headache. I had a really bad one a few weeks back. I tried pressure-point massage. Just finding all the really painful points and pressing my thumb and fingertips into them. Not sure, but I think the physiology here is that the stretch this puts on teh muscles "resets" their neurological length setting, making it easier for them to release contractions. At least, this is my vague memory from muscle physiology classes a million years ago. And the pressure-point helped me. It didn't totally alleviate hte headache, which was keeping me from falling asleep, but it relieved it enough that I could eventually fall asleep and, the next morning, it was gone. So, my suggestion: pressure-point massage, and lots of neck stretching (but be sure hte stretch is gentle and sustained). You could also try lying down on your back with a couple of tennis balls placed just at hte base of your skull in back. That also will put a sustained (and therefore "resetting") stretch on the large muscle that goes from teh base of the neck up over hte head.....

[mayfikn]

My husband's boss made up an aromatherapy remedy for me that helps with tension headaches, and to relax enough to go to sleep when I'm really wound up. The aromatherapy remedies are individually tailored though, so it would probably be a solution for NEXT time.

Kelly

[Baptista]

Perhaps some vigorous exercise followed by plenty of water and a glass or two of wine?

[Jaynyne]

Thanks everybody.

I wish to heavens this was as simple as being dehydrated, esme. That was a definitely good suggestion. But I easily drink 15-20 glasses of water a day, and haven't had any illness that would cause dehydration.

Sally, I really like the tennis ball idea. And it that why I always instinctually poke at my temples when I have a headache? That is an interesting explanation. If I could get a good night's rest tonight, I would be delighted.

Mayfikn, I'm doing the best I can by trying to breathe in the yummy goodness from the teas I am drinking. But, yeah, I shoudl look into that as well. I am all about aromatherapy goodness. The lemongrass right now seems to be halping a little bit.

Hmmm, vigorous exercise, Baptista? I would have thought something more relaxing than vigorous, but I am willing to try. I'm game for anything right now. Let's see how I feel when I get home from work. Drinking I cannot even fathom right now, though. My poor sweetie, who has never drank, was trying to get me to drink last night so that I would pass out. I had to explain to him that that kind of sleep isn;t relaxing anyway.

Oh, my! As I was typing I just remembered a wonderful IV narcotic I got a few years ago when I was in the hopsital. I remember the nurse teling me that the drug would not make the headache go away, but it would make me not care about my headache anymore. Boy, was she right. I fell asleep within minutes and remember being so weightles and happy for the first tiem in days. I need that narcotic!

Anyway, thank you all.

ps: I am not chjecking for typos. That attention to detail hurts my head too mcuh.

[allthatkaz]

Try reflexology that helps my mother in law, there are specific points on your feet for headache. And squeeze the area between your forefinger and your thumb for a minute or two. Are you sure this is not some form of a migraine? They come in all shapes and sizes!

[Dianyla]

Besides the obvious already mentioned above I can think of a few odd things you could try.

Can you get a professional deep tissue and/or pressure point massage? When I get tension headaches I have to massage my scalp, my face, and all over my neck. It's especially important to massage the muscles in the front of the neck, all those muscles are usually ignored by the typical "neckrub" which only gets the side and back neck muscles. I like to press on my temples, around my ears, jab my two thumbs into the pockets between my eyes and nose bridge, right under the start of the eyebrows.

and/or

Do you have access to a sauna that you can get superheated in?

[KarenLynn]

A good massage can work wonders. If desperate, doing it yourself can help, but I'd recommend to have someone else do it, as it's hard to relax enough while using your arms to massage. Focus on the area from the middle of the back (many women especially are tense between the shoulder blades) to the nuchal line at the base of the skull, where lots of neck/back muscles of varying sizes are attached. When these are tense, they pull on the attachment, which again causes tension on the epicranius muscle. Also the trapezius in general is a big muscle that almost always seems to be tense. Oh, and the muscles around the jaw might enjoy some attention too.

I hope you find some way of relieving it!

[Teacherbear]

I'm sorry your head hurts so badly!

*disclaimer* I am NOT a massage therapist. I am a quite experienced recipient of a variety of body works (Swedish massage, deep tissue, trigger point, MFR, cranial scaral work, Body Talk, accupressure, accupuncture, shiatsu, watsu).

When my head hurts (or jaw, or neck, or, ok you get the idea), I give myself a scalp, head, neck massage. I don't do this for my hair at all, just for my achy anything in the upper torso.

I've found that tension in the neck/upper back can cause pretty bad headaches. I've also found that tension in one part of the upper torso can cause pain somewhere else. Sometimes just very gentle pressure to any one or more of these places can make a dynamic difference.

My first places to massage are:

in front of each ear, really over the jaws. I rub in small circles. I don't rub fast or hard. I'll work my fingers into the little pit in front of the ear behind the jaw.

above the ear.

behind the ear, then down around the occiput (the base of the skull).

the temporals (the sides of the head)

the top of the skull.

down the neck.

I also find that some of my head aches need me to just put constant pressure in my shoulders/upper back.

I've also found that gentle, sustained ear pulls are HEAVENLY. Seriously.

I hope your head feels bettter!

[Ali]

You poor thing... sending soothing vibes for your head..

There's been lots of good advice on this thread... I'm bookmarking it for my next tension headache!

I'm not sure if tiger balm is common in the US (a topical analgesic) but a touch of that on each temple is amazing... better than any drug I've ever been given (hrm.... except for those hospital narcotics you mention... ). If it's sold in america it's likely to be at the chemist (drugstore?) I'll use lavendar EO if I have to, but it doesn't work anywhere near as well as tiger balm.

Other things I do involve pressing on my closed eyes gently or pinching the bridge of my nose... I find these only give temporary abatement of the pain, but even that's a relief when you've had a headache for so long.

I hope your headache abates and you have a nice weekend! Sending my best vibes to you over the ocean!

[Baptista]

Originally Posted by Ali

You poor thing... sending soothing vibes for your head..

There's been lots of good advice on this thread... I'm bookmarking it for my next tension headache!

I'm not sure if tiger balm is common in the US (a topical analgesic) but a touch of that on each temple is amazing... better than any drug I've ever been given (hrm.... except for those hospital narcotics you mention... ). If it's sold in america it's likely to be at the chemist (drugstore?) I'll use lavendar EO if I have to, but it doesn't work anywhere near as well as tiger balm.

Other things I do involve pressing on my closed eyes gently or pinching the bridge of my nose... I find these only give temporary abatement of the pain, but even that's a relief when you've had a headache for so long.

I hope your headache abates and you have a nice weekend! Sending my best vibes to you over the ocean!

Lush sell something like that -- don't know if it works but I think it's called Temple Balm or something similar.

I honestly think the best thing that I have tried that is not too harmful was Valium, that worked quite well for me. I also find smoking quite relaxing and numbing, but I don't do it unless I'm seriously not well bc I realise it does much more harm than good.

[Jaynyne]

I actually went jogging last night, and I hate jogging (bad knees, I usually walk). For a while my headache subsided, enough that I got a great night's sleep. But the headache is back

I wrote somewhere yesterday that my fiance is trying to get me/us in for a massage somewhere today. Still waiting to hear about that.

Ali, we do have tiger balm and that's a good idea.

I'm beginning to wonder is this isn't a tension headache. Though I have been under a tremendous amount of stress, I don't know if even tension headaches last this long.

Thanks so so much everyone.

[Wanita]

I've had 2-3 day tension headaches before. Usually I treat them like a migraine (which I rarely get anymore), which was ibuprofin and a dark room. I would try to NOT wear my glasses, and wear my contacts instead, to avoid the pressure on my face/head. The headache would hang on for 2-3 days, but ease up over time.

Sometimes inhaling peppermint oil can help, especially if the pain causes you nausea.

I don't know what else to recommend on top of all the other good advice - the massage sounds lovely - I hope you feel better soon!

[Darkfire]

You can tiger balm all over in the US everywhere from Wal-Mart to RiteAid to Whole Foods etc carries it even some Sam's Clubs carry it. It is a miracle and I use it for stress headaches, bodyaches, tight chest when sick. I just love this stuff. If you are looking for it you might miss it. It comes in small jars not a long tube like bengay though in a regular store it's sold right next to that stuff. The Co-op I go to has it in a different spot but you can always ask the clerk to help you find it. Oh they also sell patches and some liquid. I like the oinment in the jars the best. It comes in several strengths too. I almost always use ultra.


Darkfire