5yr daily headache...migraine,tension,or allergy?

 i am a female who has had daily headaches for 5yrs now, Started in jan. 2001 2 months after 2nd back surgery for heniated degenerative disc. Have Titanium screw cages in L5-si. have pain still in back but not as bad as before surgery. Headaches start 1/2 hr after getting up and last all day. Also have Seborrhoeic Dermatitis in ears, scalp and around nose. ears itch started same time headaches. 2 different Nerologist said TENSION/MIGRAINE headaches. put on

• BUTALBITAL/ASA&CAFF,  DEPAKOTE ER 500MG,   BUTALBITAL COMPOUND,   BACLOFEN………………NONE OF THESE WORKED

 also tried Topamax 10mg but side effects to bad. Was tested for allergies ..tested positive for cat dander, dust, ragweed. Zyrtec and allegra didn't work. but zyrtec -d or allerga D worked for only 2 months. (don't remember which 1 of these 2 worked but only did for 2 months. )

 

am currently on AMITRIPTYLINE HCL 30MGS, DON'T WORK. !!!!!!!!!!

 

pain in forhead, cheeks, nose, teeth, around eyes. Nose is stuffed when lay down, when turn over on other side that side gets stuffed. While sleeping start coughing like choking, post nasal drip. Stabbing pain around eyes sometimes. Headach works in higher alltitudes like in mountains. cold weather or ice pack makes worse. Heat pad relives little until take off.

 

Not senseitive to light or sound, no aura, no vomiting, no usual signs of migraine.

 

had 1st child last yr ...HEADACHES WERE GONE WHILE PREGNANT AND 1 MONTH AFTER DURING BREASTFEEDING. 

 

SO IS THIS TENSION/MIGRAINE OR ALLERGY? WHY WENT AWAY WHEN PREGNANT? 

 

Why did allegra-d work only for 2 months?

 

could i also be allergic to dairy or a certain food besides dust,cat and ragweed?

 

anyone else have same sypmtoms?

Hi ted3, welcome to Healing Well. I have allergic Rhinitis (all year round hay fever) as well as migraine, and I can identify with your nose being blocked when you lie on one side then the other side blocks when you turn over, and the Doctor has given me Nasonex Nasal Spray to have each night. It's not wonderful but if I miss a dose I sure know about it the next day. At the beginning of each summer my migraines are always worse as the pollen makes the lining of one side of my nose swell and start a migraine. The Neuro has given me 1mg Prednisalone for occasions like if I am going to spend the day gardening or I know I am going to be outside most of the day when the pollen count is high, its not brilliant but it does help.

For me the Migraine and Allergies are mostly separate and I have drugs to treat both separately, but as I said above there is a link for me. I am now on Amitiptyline 50mg but trying to get up to 75mg - well tried for last two days but all I want to do is sleep so will try 60mg instead of 75mg tonight. The Amitriptyline has helped as it has numbed the pain a little at least enough for the abortive medications to work properly, and it has helped my Anxiety. I am now waiting to see a Headache specialist.

It is possible that you are sensitive to certain foods, for example I am sensitive to cheese chocolate and citrus fruits - they help bring on a migraine - I am not allergic to them just better off without them. Also many food additives and especially preservatives and MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). I hope this helps take care Ann.

hi ted, can you tell us a bit more about the pain?

is it one sided? how often does it last and how many times a day do you get it!!

sorry if seems nosy, but just trying to get a bigger picture!!

sandra xxx

Sounds like my tension headaches, they would start as soon as I got up. There are lots of alternatives to medicine that you can use to help with the pain. I was on amitriptyline (which did nothing for me) but now I take Klonopin (an anti anxiety medication) because I realized my headaches were caused by constantly clenching my jaw at night while I slept. This caused my pericranial muslces to ache all the time, giving me headaches, and spreading the pain to my forehead, jaw, cheeks, ears, etc... I got a bite splint to also help with the clenching. Now I am headache free! (unless I forget to wear my bite splint at night).

Massage therapy is also something that works well, focusing specifically on the neck, shoulders, and scalp.

I hope you find a way to help your headaches, good luck.

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