Headaches from laying down

[kennyh]

I am a 51 year old male who has had daily headaches for the past 5 years. The headaches are in the back of my head, and seem to be caused by laying down. I awake each morning with a headache. Most mornings they are mild to moderate, and a few days are stronger. I can be feeling fine with no headache, and then go lie down and within 30 minutes will have a headache - usually worse if I lay on my back. Does not matter where I lay down - bed, couch, floor. I recently had a complete physical and everything is fine. Have been seeing a chiropractor for the last 6 weeks for therapy on my neck muscles but this does not seem to be helping. I am experiencing no other symptoms. I would love to hear from anyone with similar headaches.
Thanks !

[thebear702]

You might want to get an x-ray of your lower back I know it sounds silly but 20% of the population have a form of spina bifida that goes undetected. If this is true you could possibly have something like chiari malformation.  Sometimes it is easy for them to miss on an MRI if they are no really looking for it.

[soccermom1999]

Kenny, I struggle with the same problem, so do my mom and my sister.  However, two years ago, my sister went to a chiropractor down near Ft Worth who after probing her head asked my sister specifically whether she got headaches from sleeping on the back of her head.  My sister had two adjustments with this dr and has had no headaches of this nature since.  

The chiropractor asked if anyone else in her family had this issue and informed my sister about what she termed a "hereditary dysfunction of the suboccipital muscles."  All of us began to be effected by this in our mid-thirties.  

As for me, my "lying down" headaches degenerated so badly that I could only lay on about a 2 in. section of my left check to sleep, and I use the word sleep loosely.  

I've not had as good of luck w/ my chiropractor, but two months ago I became so desparate that I drove to Texas and had that chiropractor adjust me twice.  I'm also in rehab for unrelated shoulder issues and my rehab guy's been instructing me on exercises that help.  

At this point I can sort of sleep on the back of my head.  Not at all on the right side, and sort of on the left side.  I have to see the chiropractor regularly and also go and have deep tissue massages on my neck and head only (and I'm very directive during these massages knowing exactly what I need for relief).  My husband's been taught specifically how to relieve my headaches by both mine and my sister's chiropractors, but frankly he's not good at all and can't even give decent back rubs.  If he can get the pressure points right, he is much more effective than any pain reliever.  I worry about taking too much ibuprofin, Tylenol, and aspirin...


I have one question for you.  If you press deeply on your jaw joints right in front of your ears does it cause any pain?

[bristol600]

If you had a spinal tap they may have punctured your Dura and you could have a CSF Leak. This really sounds like it. Pain in the neck feels like you are at the bottom of a pool. If it is alleviated by laying down it is definitely it. You can have a blood patch done to fix the puncture if that is it. I just had back surgery followed by dural tear - I am well read!

[SRennie912]

This is also my life. Although, I have not tried a chiropractor regularly, just occasionally. I've always had bad headaches, but the "caused by what I thought was laying down" started this past year. I realized recently though, that it's any physical contact with almost any part of head...i.e., leaning head back on head cushion in car. OTC meds almost never work anymore. Ibuprofen 800 doesn't work. I'm on generic for Maxalt and it works about 50-75% of the time; but I only get 8/month. So, the rest of the days I try to sit up all day and struggle with going to emergency at night.

[Paulma2010]

I cut out all artificial sweeteners. You MUST do this. Then I realized that my mouthwash contained a variant of saccharin(worst of all the fake sugars) in it. I stopped using it and all symptoms stopped.

[soccermom1999]

My neurologist / migraine specialist has since diagnosed me with occipital neuralgia.  Press with your fingers upon the occipital region of your skull.  Check for an internet diagram if needed.  In my 20's I stopped being able to wear my hair up, pony tails, or hats.  Absolutely nothing can touch my head.  Really struggle with dental hygiene appointments!  Of late, Gralise 2400mgs (that's a lot) has worked, but left me in a haze, and Topamax is pretty good.

I'll also be seeing a dental specialist for my jaw in September.

Best wishes to you, sorry!

[Paulma2010]

I cut out all artificial sweeteners. You MUST do this. Then I realized that my mouthwash contained a variant of saccharin(worst of all the fake sugars) in it. I stopped using it and all symptoms stopped.

[Nursingstudent53]

I've had headaches since Sept. I had Lyme Disease and was treated - thought it was gone. Who knows. My headaches feel like they pounds and pound with tinnitus and I can only lye on my right or left side without it pounding all the time. I have difficulty studying/ reading - I've become truly dyslexic on what I read/interpret and be able to restate. I am dizzy most of the time, have GI issues of 2 ft long feces to tarry stools to all mucous in the same day. I am scheduled for "botox" treatment for the migraines since I have tried Topomax, Propanolol, 2 tricyclides, as well as a back and head message that regrettably caused more pounding once they finished and I had to stand up. I am having most difficulty filling in the bubbles to match my choice of questions and to compute exactly what is being read as I have a foggy head. I am going to ask for the MRI of the neck and shoulders this next week and going to see an Arthritis doctor - I was told by my heart doctor that they are really intelligent. Any idea's - I would appreciate. Thanks Nursingstudent53