what does it mean when you wake up to a headache every morning

DougWV

oobie 566,
You are not alone, I will be interested as well to see what others reply to on your question. I too, wake up with a headache every single morning, normally around 2:30 or 3:00 am, can almost set my clock to them. I have had them many years.
This is a good message board, so good luck !
Doug

jonstar

Given that it has been going on for 5 years, it is unlikely to be anything sinister causing it (brain tumor etc)

See your doctor for a check up, it could be "chronic tension headache"

A rial of a tricyclic antidepresant (such as nortriptyline, 50 - 75mg at bedtime) would seem a good start (these drugs have an effect against pain and headache as well as being antidepressants, ask your doctor for a trial of it)

Also, try taking two tablets of Naprosen (Aleave or generic) at bedtime, this lasts over 8 hours, so when you wake, this should still be working when you wake.

Also, keep some Tylenol (or even better, Excedrin Tenion headache) at your bedside with water, take two when you wake, then lay in bed until they start to work.

Main thing, see your doc for a chckup, and ask for a trial of nortriptyline 75mg a bedtime

DeniLee

I feel your pain and I wish I had the answer. I think it's been even longer than 5 years for me. Every single day without fail, I wake up with a headache and I pop 2 Excedrin in my mouth. It's become like breathing to me. This past week they were killer headaches that woke me up at 4 AM and turned into a migraine. I've taken 3 Excedrins today and this thing is still pounding so I'll have to take an Imitrex. I have been to so many doctors, had all kinds of scans and there is just no explanation for this. I just cannot believe I have to live with this pain every day.

Michael8466

Could it be sleep apnea?

xblondeangel650

It could be that you are lacking certain vitamins in your diet,or that your not drinking enough water.Headaches can be caused by alot of things,it can definately drive you nuts to think that you may have something very serious.Did you get any type of tests done like a CT Scan/Blood Work? Your vision may be lacking as well,some people don't even notice things like that.Certain foods can cause headaches too,crazy right? Chocolate,Cheese,Caffien,and Sugar can definately give off a headache,even a migraine! I hope what I said helps out a little!

1sunny1

I woke with headaches for almost 15 years and going to doctors trying to find some relief, I lived on Ibuprofen. Finally, I found out I have 2 bulging discs in my neck which is causing the headaches. I took amtriptilene which worked but also caused me to have hallucinations. Now I take cymbalta and Lyrica. The Lyrica and Cymbalta are for my fibromyalgia, but the cymbalta also helps with the headaches. I also get trigger point injections for the headaches as well as epidurals, all of it really helps.

Sunny

NerveEnding

Most people who wake up every day with a headache for years don't have anything insidious or rare. What it usually is from is rebound headaches. One gets rebound headaches when taking a short acting pain medicine at least a few times a week.

One individual above talks about popping 2 excedrin every day. This could do it. What is the longest period of time people usually go without taking medicine? It is when they are sleeping, so the rebound headache begins to kick in.

See a neurologist about getting on a good headache preventative medicine as well as a good therapeutic medicine (i.e. a triptan).

itburns2004

I saw this post and this is my life too!! I get soo many weird headaches...UGH..stinks so much!! I live on Motrin. I have TMJ, but i do treat it. I assumed it was stress or allergy related. So many of my friends have this complaint too. I am watching them and what they do. Two are on headache meds from doctors, but it seems they still get them anyway. I am sitting here thinking what to do and just reading these posts. I have seen doctors(years ago)..seems i was told..Drink a lot of water, dont drink alot of caffiene, get enough sleep (hahahah who can do that???), watch what you eat with a food diary for a week, write everything you eat and how you felt 30min. after.., learn to relax (whatever works for you). Aside from that i have heard..hormones can give you a headache, hypothyroid (new" in" illness), and mold issues, ...etc.. it seems everything can cause a headache =[. Its upsetting because growing up I never recall anyone complaining about headaches, and now its all I hear, Including myself.

LiaLinda

Reound Headache: if you take medication every day to treat headache pain, then it's possible that your body goes through withdrawls when you sleep.

Sleep Apnea: if you are a heavier person and have been told that you snore, it's possible that you're having sleep apnea (where you stop breathing for periods while sleeping). If that's the case, then your heart & brain could be being robbed of prescious oxygen while you sleep, and you'd need to make an appointment with a sleep specialist, who can prescribe a medicine (which I believe may shrink the membranes and / or moisten the back of your throat), or a forced air machine to keep your throat open while you sleep.

Allergy: It's possible that you are allergic to dust (the bed is the dustiest place in the house due to dust mites & their feces), and that after spending 8 or 9 hours in that environment, your blood pressure is slightly increased. If so, try vaccuming your mattress every week, when you remove the sheets to wash them, and try using special covers to encase the mattress & the pillows.

I receive weekly nerve blocks to treat chronic tension headaches, but did not start receiving them until everything else was ruled out (including an eye exam, x-rays, CAT-scans, etc). The nerve blocks consist of 'freezing' the nerves with medicine like miacaine or maybe lidocaine (similar to the freezing a dentist uses), administered by injections in 14 places all over my head, neck and shoulders.

The way it was explained to me, headaches are hyper, jittering nerves which sit between your scalp and your skull.

The injections only freeze them for 10 or 12 hours, but having repeat treatments week, after week, after week , the nerve is "trained" to calm down / to 'behave' so to speak.

I have had much success with this form of treatment (I have no headache for 6 or 7 days), but for me, the headache returns when I discontinue treatment.

Hope there's something here that's of help to you.

Jaybird4368

I have the same problem: waking up with chronic headaches that seems to grow in intensity as the day goes on...I've tried everything under the sun from Neurotin to various narco's...The problem with narco's like vicodin and Codeine is the rebound headaches even though they can help out in a jam if you need to function in the short-term.. I've also tried shots of toradol, an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory with negative results...

Even though I haven't found the magic formula, I would try an every day preventative med like lyrica or topamax...coupled with a triptan like Imitrex or Maxalt for break out headaches coupled with narco (for limited use-not more than 10 times a month) for really severe headaches...

If the headaches are tension related, I've heard the triptans (which are considered abortive medication)s are non-effective so some neuro's will throw a muscle relaxant into the mix like flexeril or amrix to be taken with the preventative meds...

Good luck in your quest, I realize what a negative impact it can have on your life...

cotter1336

I wish I knew the answer to your question... i really do! I have been in the same boat for 3 years... evry day, all day, evry night, and evry morning which is the worst! Too much sleep and too little sleep can both be major triggers for the next days pain, so i tried getting 8 hours evry night and having a strict routine for a few weeks.... nope didnt work! Im interested to see does anyone have the answer for this... sorry couldnt be more helpful