Tenison Headaches

I go to the chiropractor, get a massage, use arnica gel on the area, ice, lavender oil and take a B-complex extended release(helps with stress).

I get them occasionally. My husband suffers from migraines, usually brought on by stress. Hands down the best relief is Excedrin Migraine. It's got acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. My husband takes them when he feels a migraine coming on, and it knocks it out before it gets worse. And this medication doesn't make you feel loopy (which is why my hubby doesn't like taking migraine meds). Hope this helps!

ok so i skimmed thru the responces and alot of it sounds good my husband and i are on a med called nabumetone 750mg tables 2 at the onset of a headache to keep it from turning for the worst good thing is they are an as needed pill so nothing to worry about missing one or anything like that and they can also help with body aches and other stuff to if you want to try it

I would have to agree with the other posts that suggest going to a chiropractor. I have the same problem as well as migraines. I take Topamax daily at bedtime for the migraines and it works wonders but when a tension headache strikes the chiropractor is a miracle worker! I also sleep on a TriCore pillow recommended by my chiropractor to take the stress off my neck (I think) but whatever its purpose I cannot live without it. I will advise that it did take some getting used to but I stuck with it and now its great! :) Good Luck!

You might look into Sinus Busters. It's made from hot peppers. You spray it into your nose, so it's not systemic. Good luck, and so sorry about all the family living with you! We had some family live with us for a couple of months once when I was pregnant, and that was awfully stressful!

I don't know why you are having tension headaches! LOL You are a doll for taking in family and helping them out. Whith them and your family there is bound tot be tension. You need to take care of you. When you feel a tension headache coming on schedule a massage. I know it cost a little, but worth it. Since the headache last a couple of weeks schedule two. Learn some relaxation techniques. Take soothing baths at night or early in the morning before your hectic day begins. Chiropractors work well. You can also find natural supplements to help take the edge off. Shaklee has one...I have been taking it, but forgot the name b/c I am prego right now and it has an herb in it I am not allowed to have since I have a history of preterm labor. It works though.

Also make sure you are not trying to do everything for everybody...deligate the house work out...including shopping for groceries. Even if you and your hubby are paying for everything your sister can still go shopping for you. I will be praying for you. Taking care of a 4 yr old boy and other family is not an easy task when you are healthy, let alone when you have terrible headaches.

I have the same problem. Through some natural methods and massage I have been able to keep them in check for the most part. Let me know if you want to talk.

I have tension headaches (at least one a week) and menstrual migraines (I get them every month, 1-2 days before my period starts). The doctors can't seem to find a cause to work on preventing them - only that the tension headaches are induced my stress. I'm a single mom, I don't know what a life without stress is like!

I don't like feeling like a zombie on meds, either. I've been suffering from these headaches since my son was a baby, and he's eight now.

If I take Advil AS SOON AS I feel any tightness, ache, or tension sometimes I can keep it from becoming a full blown tension headache. Once in awhile it stops the headache altogether. I always take it with coffee or soda though, for the caffeine, which helps headaches (Excedrin has caffeine as an active ingredient, for example).

I also tend to use either a hot or cold compress on the back of my neck when I feel a headache coming on. For certain headaches where the band of pain rests across my temples and right over my eyes, I use this stuff called Sore No More. It's basically a natural version of icy-hot and the main ingredient is menthol. It cools the pain then melts it away (available at www.sorenomore.com)

Hi J.,

I used to get tension headaches all the time! I am true believer in chiropractic and good nutrition. Both have been a life saver. An upper cervical chiropractor can keep all the parts in order for the nutrition to do it's job. Avoid fatty foods, processed foods (which definitely include fast foods) and sugars. Check your tongue and see if there is a white coating on it or if it is a healthy pink. If it's white get back to me and I'll explain a lot about your headaches...

God bless!

M.

I get terrible tension headaches. Like you have been through all kinds of tests etc. I also have kids to take care of (2 and 4 yrs). I find that getting a good massage and chiropractic adjustment helps the best. Even better than the migrane meds. I take 600 mg of Ibuprofen and then something to drink with caffine and lay down. Generally the tension headaches starts at the base of your neck. So if you can get your shoulders and neck relaxed it will ease the pain. Good Luck to you. I know how bad they can be.

I would suggest trying some alternatives like chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, and/or craniosacral therapy. Find out which one works for you. In terms of chiropractic, maybe an upper cervical chiropractor would be a good option. Or a chiropractor that does kinesiology could be very helpful.

It also couldn't hurt to try to think back to what you ate or what were your stressors right before the headache started. Good luck and I sympathize.

Now that you mention it I realize that when I started taking an iron suppliment my headaches went away. I was anemic for a long time. I was tired and found everything more stressful as a result.

Hi J.,
I can relate! I haven't read all of the responses you've gotten already, but I did see one that I agree with... getting a massage is definitely helpful, no doubt about it. Unfortunately, it's also expensive, so I can't afford to just treat myself to a massage whenever I need one. If there is a massage therapy school near you (sometimes at a community college, etc.), you can get a much lower priced massage from a massage student than from a professional masseuse. Personally, our budget is too tight for even that option, so I ask my husband for a massage quite often. He's certainly no professional, but it does help some.
Another thing I rely on a lot is yoga. I can't tell you how much it helps, and not just with my tension headaches... it also helps with all kinds of other issues from sore back to sinuses! It really helps me stay feeling good all over. I don't have the time or money to join a yoga class, so I got a yoga video that I can do in the comfort of home whenever it suits my schedule. The video I have is about 45 minutes, but usually I just do the "warm up" portion of it, which is about 15-20 minutes. That small amount of time is much easier to work into my day, and it works wonders. I really encourage you to give it a try. If you're not sure whether yoga would really help you, you can get a video from your local library and "try it before you buy it".
Hope this helps! Best wishes to you and your family.

God Bless you for being willing and able to help your siblings and their families. As far as the tension headaches, try to do relaxation techniques often, rolling your shoulders and neck, hot shower or bath with no one interrupting(I like to light candles, run a bath, grab the CD player/radio or grab a book/magazine and lock the door!)

We stay with family when we travel and I know how stressful that can be for a shorter time period. We are a big fan of family meetings that set forth rules and consequences, schedules for using the TV,computer,gaming things even the laundry. When I stay with family I offer to do the cooking so that they can have a break, the standing rule in their home is whoever cooks, cleans up. I think it should be the other way around and when we were growing up Mom/Dad cooked we (kids) cleaned up but it is their house so we go along with their rules.

As far as medication when I start to feel a headache coming on then I take a couple of Excedrin,usually we have a generic of this, and if I have not already consumed a ton of coffee or soda that day a glass of cola or any dark soda that has caffeine. If I can sit in the recliner or lay down for 30-60 minutes I will do that with two washcloths, usually cold. I put one on the back of my neck and one on my forehead. Good Luck and God Bless.

If you have someone willing to do this (and in your home surely you would, LOL) you can get books at the library on foot massages. There are pressure points on your feet that can often alleviate tension headaches. I would give it try rather than medicating. Also, if you're like me, I tend to carry my stress in my shoulders. I catch myself with my shoulders practically touching my ears. I've had a massage therapist tell me that the muscles in neck are very hard and she could tell I carry my stress there, that can cause a headache too. So get someone to give you a massage as well.

Gracious, you are very generous and sounds like you need more Calgon time, LOL.

Hi J.,

I too get headaches often and I'm sure alot are tension. I was taking Topamax at bedtime and that took care of the headaches I would get on a daily basis. I didn't want to have to take the med's any longer so I stopped and the headaches came back. Now all I have to do is take a Goody powder everytime I get a headache. Works like a charm everytime.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

T.