Constant cluster type headaches, please help!!

[Eddie711]

Hello everyone, for nearly 5 months now I have been suffering from what I can best describe as a "cluster type headache". The pain rotates around my head but primarily stays on my top right side. The pain can be felt in either ear, behind an eye, on the crown of my head, on the back of my head, or on either side of my head. It seems to pick one of these areas leaving the others feeling normal. The pain can range from an itchy feeling on the scalp to slight pressure to sharp bursts of pain with pressure. Along with this when I wiggle my ears and hold them back I get a tapping in my right ear like someone is lightly tapping a microphone with a slight twitch in my neck below the ear. I have been to the clinic twice, the first time in August I was told it was probably allergies and to take zertec, didn't really help. I went a few days ago (1/16) and the doctor did an exam and asked me a bunch of questions and said he was sure it wasn't intercranial, " brain tumor " ect. but couldnt determine the cause. Does anyone have any ideas? It has greatly affected my enjoyment of life and I don't know what to do as I'm low income without insurance. It seems to go away a bit when I'm exercising or taking a walk. The pain usually wakes me up really early in the morning around 3, but if I get up for a bit it goes away and I can go back to sleep. I started having problems with anxiety the beginning of last summer and this has started triggering that again. If anyone has any insight please help me. Thank you.

[Eddie711]

Thanks for you're suggestions!! I will give them a try!!

[AKC_75]

Hi and welcome to the Migraines & Headaches Community.

The first thing you need to do is change your pillow. You need one where when you lay your head is perfectly aligned with your body, not bent downward or upward. I suggest a memory foam pillow.

Here are a few more over-the-counter tips you can try....

1. There are several symptoms of migraines and what causes the pain of a migraine is the blood vessels in your brain become dilated. So, sometimes it helps it you put a bit of pressure on your head. I am sure you have already been doing this unconsciously with your hands from time to time. So, get a bandanna or a cloth headband and wrap it snugly around your head.
2. If you rub Mentholatum across your forehead and on your temples that helps relax those tense muscles. You can do this with or without the wrap, depending on if you like the heat or not.
3. Try either a cold or hot pack, whichever is more comfy to you.
4. The best OTC meds that I have found that works is Excedrin. It is a combo of Aspirin, Tylenol and Caffeine and that happens to be an excellent combo for migraines.
5. I mentioned caffeine before...well, drink coffee, Mt Dew, take Vivirin...sometimes a mega dose of caffeine will stop it in its tracks.
6. If you get nauseous or dizzy get some Meclizine from the pharmacy (the stuff behind the counter) you can take 25mg three times a day as needed. Yes it works on both.

[Gemfly]

Have you ever tried magnesium to help with headaches?