New Daily Persistent Headache

I have had a constant unrelenting headache for 3 weeks. been diagnosed with NDPH and go for a MRI soon just to rule out anything sinsister. On propanalol 80mg once a day....but no change yet! I had this 4 yrs ago - a headache for 3 months and MRI and lumbar were all normal...I cannot understand it - not sure what triggers it - if naything - and I dont suffer migraines/headaches normally - just seem to save it all for a huge 3 month one!

Hi gardengate,

Welcome to Healing Well. I am assuming that it is a Neurologist that has had the MRI done for you and made the diagnosis. This is a fairly new diagnosis for a lot of people so as yet I must confess to not know much about the treatments, but it does sound like you are on the right road at the moment. Unfortunately these things never go at the speed we need or want them to. Hang in there and let us know how you get on.

take care

Ann

Hi

Yes I saw the Neurologist and he said he wants me to have a MRI to rule out anything seriuos although he think sit will be normal - have looked up NDPH and there is no known cause or treatment - just have to sit it out! I have been off work now for 3 weeks and its driving me mad........

Hi gardengate,

I have had a chronic headache - constant 24/7 - for 4 years. It began with a sinus infection for me and has never gone away. I have tried every therapy and drug I can think of, without help. Fortunately, it is not entirely debilitating. It is a dull ache that only becomes problematic at work when I have to think. ha. So, I try to avoid stress, and I've had to psychologically deal with the fact that this may never go away.

I'm sorry I have no recommended course of action for you. As with others in chronic pain, I am propelled onward by a need to define my ailment (most likely New Daily Persistent Headache) and to find new treatment methods. Keep at it. Something may eventually work for you.

I kind of laughed when my neurologist labelled my chronic daily headaches NDPH -- I've had them for 17 years now!! The label is new but the treatment is the same as for any chronic headache -- experimentation with the entire range of drugs and other treatments. Having a name for the headaches is of minimal comfort, but maybe it's a start to recognize them as a separate class.

What I've read about NDPH that is "new" is that they're thought to begin with some sort of illness -- much like geogirl's sinus infection. A Google search, including Google scholar, will give you quite a bit of info on NDPH.

Good luck finding a treatment that works for you!
KYMark