Constant Headache

[Paula244]

For about six weeks now I have had a constant headache. I have had about a seven year history with what I thought were migraines. Previously, I would get a 'migraine' about 1-2 times/month and I would take an Imitrex and try and sleep it off. Over winter break, I got a headache and it stuck with me ever since.
Here is a bit of history...I first noticed a knot in my neck during high school (7 years ago) and had my soccer trainer feel it, she never mentioned anything about it so I always thought it was just part of my head. Recently, I have had pain in the front left side of my head that I thought was stemming from the knot in my neck. Anyway, I saw a neurologist who basically told me that I do not have migraines and he believes I have tension headaches which are caused by my neck. After feeling my neck he sent me for blood work, a CT scan and x-ray. All test came back normal. I was prescribed a steroid for six days and I recently saw a neuro-muscular massage therapist. The neurologist was not willing to prescribe me pain killers or muscle relaxers so I went back to my primary care physician who prescribed my Skelaxin and Fioricet.
Neither drug really helps me feel any better. Tylenol/Advil/Excedrin, etc. Nothing is working. This headache is just about every day...I do not always wake up with one or go to sleep with one, but sometime during the day I feel it there. I do not like taking medications and have decided that I need to rule out rebound headaches so I am going to try and tough it out and not take any prescriptions or OTCs. At this point I am desperate for answers. I have began cutting gluten out of my diet and I am going to try this for about a month. I am not sure if a food allergy has been triggering this non-stop headache. I have began keeping a headache journal documenting exactly what time I wake and go to sleep, what I eat and when, and also what type of physical activity I do. I plan on seeing a different specialist in my home state at the end of this month.

Does anyone have any answers for me? Or know of anything that I should bring up to my doctor?

I am desperate.

[Dr Santos]

Aside from medications, complementary and alternative medicine such as biofeedback therapy and other relaxation techniques like acupuncture may help. Talk to your doctor about this for proper management. Best regards.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you?  It is good that the tests done were normal. If there was no history of head and neck trauma, this could indeed be caused by  medication overuse, posture issues, emotional stress,  and even hidden depression. MRI or MRA may also help rule out blood vessel problems. The headache journal will indeed be beneficial in identifying the triggers that you can avoid.A second opinion from another neurologist may also help.  Take care and do keep us posted.