So i've had a headache for a week now, it started on Monday at my temples then it has gradually gone to the back of my head and to my neck area and even lower, the base of my skull is in excuciating pain. I normally get headaches all the time but it is relieved with tylenol, this time around, nothing is helping, not even sleep, it is really killing me, I have a doc appt tomorrow to see what is wrong with me. I remember this happened to me 5 years ago, I went to every doc known to man kind and they said nothing was wrong with me, I even did mris and cat scans which were all clean. The scariest to me is when they last so long and when I wake up after sleeping for 9 hours and my headache is still there. My sister's bachelorette party is in 2 weeks in Vegas and I will kill myself if I still have this headache. What could be causing this and how can I relieve it. I just want to be sure that it's not life threatening?? Took tylenol with codeine with o relief at all. I really wonder if the pain starts from my neck/ back and reaches my head or does it start from head and go all the way to my back?
I am sorry to hear about your pains! It's very frustrating when doctor appointments do not go well. Have they offered you any other kind of pain medication? Just asking because Tylenol and even Tylenol with codeine do not work very well for me. For over the counter, my best bet is Advil (ibuprofen). I know some people who like Aleve (naproxen), but it doesn't work for me either. I find that Advil works very well with headaches AND soreness. Lately my back has been getting some strange pinching pains - nothing severe or unbearable, but uncomfortable - and it's probably just from sitting at the computer a lot at work. Advil really helps with that too. You likely have already tried it, but perhaps the doctor can at least try a different kind of prescription, other than Tylenol with codeine. It's possible that with time, Tylenol isn't working as well for you since you were taking it regularly.
I also notice that when I am taking over the counter pain meds often (i.e. every day), I start getting rebound headaches more often. I'll take the medicine and it will help some, but as soon as it wears off, it's back.
I'd start looking into other things that can contribute to headaches, like stress, allergies, etc. Stress can do awful things to us that don't even seem possible from stress, like a lot of muscle soreness and tightness, headaches, etc. Do you feel very tense? I got a prescription to Xanax to take as needed for stress and anxiety, and it helps you just relax your muscles too. If anything, it can help relax the neck muscles so it hurts less. I stick with a low dosage since you can get addicted to such medicines.
Unfortunately, a person could be perfectly healthy and still get headaches without an obvious reason! I hope you are able to identify something that helps. I've also purchased a neck wrap that can be heated up or put in the freezer to use when my neck bothers me, and one for my face as well for my sinuses. Sounds simple, but it is soothing and will help out, at least temporarily.
