Depression causing headaches?

[lilvalval]

Have had headaches and back pain for about 2 1/2 years now. Went to the dr when it first started and was put in physical therapy for my low back and neck. About 7 dr's later, I'm worse. My shoulders hurt a lot and my neck hurts too. Have severe headaches about 3 times a week and dull headache everyday. Headaches start in back of head and move over my head to forehead then temples. Sometimes they go around my head and cause my jaws to hurt. Had a MRI done on low back, brain, and neck and all show nothing. Also had CT and Discogram on back showing nothing. Posting another question about back to backache forum, but thought you should know as they could be related. Tried anti-inflamitories, pain-killers (which simply put me to bed for 6 hours), and muscle relaxers (which mildly help for a little). My nuerologist wants to put me on anti-depressants! Is this crazy?! Never heard of chonic headaches being linked to depression. Can feel pain coming out of my neck and shoulders and forming into a headache so I don't see how it could possibly be anything but that. I have no family history of depression, I have a super easy job, a great marriage, no kids, I'm 21 years old, great friends, and supportive family. Parents have recently divorced but I'm am beyond okay with it. I love them and they still love me. Sure it makes holidays tough, but that's life. Not the type of person to yell "Depression happens to other people, NOT ME!" !!" . I do not want to take somethingthat I don't need, but I am willing to to try anything to make these headaches stop. What do you think of all this?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

The treatment of chronic headache disorders can include medications which are typically used for depression, epilepsy, and high blood pressure. Even though these medications were initially designed for one purpose we utilize them to try and prevent headaches form occuring. Therefore, if your doctor is prescribing an "anti-depressant" that does automatically mean he/she thinks you are depressed. You should ask the doctor why he/she is using that particular medication.

Second if you are having daily headaches this could be do to analgesic overuse. Meaning if you use to much pain medication it can actually induce headaches. The fact that they have found no structural lesion is good, however it does not explain the recurrent headaches and back pain. Have you been screened for connective tissue or inflammatory disorders such as lupus?

What I would recommend is a second opinion with a neurologist who specializes in headache. If you are in the area we have an excellent headache center. They can review your case and recommend a treatment strategy to try and reverse this negative cycle. Good luck.

[nurse12hr]

While waiting for the MD to answer, I can tell you that antidepressants are often used in treating chronic pain.  I don't believe it is for depression in your case, but for the chronic pain you are having.  

may take a couple of weeks to start working, too.

[lilvalval]

thanks Cristy, but isn't this simply masking my headaches and as soon as I got off them, the headaches would come back?

[neicey]

Hi Just thought I'd add something. Chronic headaches are a sign of depression and clinical depression can arrive for no reason however there are many reasons for using Anti deps
and also it would be useful to know which one you were prescribed. Depression of a clinical nature can be diagnosed by asking certain questions of yourself do you wake in the night for no reason or early in the morning do you get tired alot more than is normal do you get angry or fly off the handle easily? there are many depression rating scales on the net go find one and see how you do. Christie is right it may be treatment for pain often we can get into a cycle of pain and your body responds or learns to keep tense all the time waiting for the pain to arrive you breath differently this causes hyper oxegenation so you bathe your nervous system in alkaline affecting how your muscles respond and your nerve endings get irritated. Im in england so we have different names for drugs here but I'd be interested to know which one you were given I work in primary care and devise guidelines for the treatment of depression and the de-stigmatisation of the disease. If you are treated successfully and you take the meds religiously the headahes are unlikely to return once you've completed your treatment as you will have conquered your cycle of pain make sure you look at your breathing though do some relaxed breathing excercises in the morning before you start your routine . good luck

[lilvalval]

Hi, wanted to let you know my neuro prescribed Zoloft. What do you think of that?

[inittowinit]

A related discussion, Despression Causing Muscle Problems and Headaches? was started.

[willette409]

A related discussion, Pain was started.

[helene116]

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