Two-week headache

[lingual]

I've had a headache now for 2 weeks, daily. It is usually over my forehead, but sometimes shifts to the back of my head instead. I've tried relaxation but the headache continues during the times I'm feeling relaxed. Hot showers and massages don't stop it, nor does exercise. The headache isn't constant and there are times when it has gone completely. At other times it feels like it's in the background, about to start but not quite there. The headache is an aching, gnawing kind of pain. Paracetamol doesn't seem to work on it and ibuprofen seems to have a limited effect. I tried a paracetamol-codeine tablet the other day (500mg paracetamol, 8mg codeine) and that didn't really quell the headache entirely either. I haven't tried aspirin. Nothing seems to bring on or relieve the headache, it seems to happen randomly. I am going to make an appointment with a doctor but I am really wondering what could be causing this. I haven't suffered any kind of accident.

[ponykid]

I am tired of having headaches. No one else I have ever known has headaches a week tp ten days every month. If I thought putting a drill to my skull would stop them, I'd do it.
I have to work Sometimes it is so difficult to stay calm when  have this pain. It is usually over one eye. Tonight it is up the back of my neck and over both eyes. Often they start in the middle of the night while I'm asleep.  I have to be friendly, positve, and happy as I work with young children.  I have migraine meds  (MaxHalt) that work sometimes. I'm in a big HMO that makes me invisible. What do I do?

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

Cluster headache exhibits a clustering of painful attacks over a period of many weeks. The pain of a cluster headache peaks in about 5 minutes and may last for an hour. Someone with a cluster headache may get several headaches a day for weeks at a time and usually interrupted by a pain-free period of variable length. No one knows exactly what causes cluster headaches.  Some of the attributed causes of cluster headaches may include: some medications, heavy smoking, normal sleep pattern interruption, or problems with the hypothalamus.

During a cluster period, it is important to keep to your usual routine, remain calm and avoid changing your sleep pattern. Once a cluster period has started, a change in sleep pattern, particularly taking an afternoon nap, seems to bring on the headaches. Tryoid alcohol drinking.  Stress may bring on attacks, and the headaches may start when you are relaxing after a stressful time.

Several treatments are available for cluster headaches. It is important to work with your doctor to talk about side effects of different medicines. One medicine is taken regularly during a cluster period to reduce the number of headaches while another is taken to relieve the pain when a cluster headache occurs.

It would be best to have yourself evaluated by your doctor. A complete medical history, physical and neurological examination is needed. Imaging techniques like CT or MRI may also help in visualizing the structures and ruling out other causes. Take care and keep us posted.