Migraine and/or Cluster headache?
I have had migraines since I was very young. They have progressively gotten worse throughout life, especially since the birth of my daughter 5 years ago. I got one on Monday (that I STILL have) however, it's different. I have the usual excruciating throbbing on the one side around my eye, but yesterday evening it felt like someone took an ax to the back of my skull (on the opposite side.) I am terrified of the ER (from past experiences.) I have tried everything I have! (Relpax, Topamax, 800 mg Motrin, Excedrin Migraine, Benedryl.) I'm desperate, but I am terrified that I will walk into an ER or Urgicare and be treated like garbage. BTW: I have no insurance since I lost my job. I just want to know if I have a migraine with a cluster headache now. I just want to know what I am in for. I am completely dysfunctional.
TY for the exercise, however, I have been trying it regularly all week hoping that it works eventually. Thanks again.
I had an CT scan a year ago and they found spots on my brain that "show cause for sever migraneous attacks." Again, I just don't know if I am developing cluster headaches too and if so, what am I in for because chances are I won't get treatment.
Public Comments
1. I used to have cluster headaches. I went to the doctor and got a prescription which stopped them. I can't remember what it was because it was years ago. I suggest you do the same. Don't go to the ER. They will just give you something to temporarily ease the pain and send you home. Go to your family doctor.2. You can get rid of them once you fully understand what is causing them. The keep getting missed because the pains for headaches/migraines are really started in your neck muscles. Those muscles go to the top of your head for it's movements. When the muscles are tight up there they pull on other muscles to surround your brain with pain, your headache. Migraines are more muscles tight and tighter as well. If you have eye issues it's because the nerves for your eyes go to the back of your head, right past those muscles. When the muscles are tight they press into the nerves to cause pain on the back of your eyes. More pressure causes the pupils to dilate to become sensitive to light. To get rid of these problems you have to free up the muscles in your neck and because of shared muscles in the upper back and neck area, the back muscles as well. Here's how to free up those muscles:
Neck
Put your hands alongside your head so your thumbs are on the front of the muscle under your ear and your fingers are on the back of the muscle behind your neck. Squeeze your thumb and fingers together and hold. Relax your body. When your fingers and thumb touch, about two minutes, slowly lower your head as far as you can, release the pressure but hold your neck lowered for another 30 seconds. If any pain remains repeat this step.
Back:
(do from a sitting position)
Place your left hand on your left leg next to your body. Place your right hand over your left shoulder, fingers over the back and the palm in the front and firmly pull down on them and hold. After 30 seconds slowly lower your body forward and to the outside of your left leg, keeping your left arm fairly straight as you do. When you reach your lap remain there for another 10 seconds, release the pressure but rest there for another 30 seconds. Then reverse your hand positions and do your right side. For both- for best results relax your body first by taking a deep breath and exhaling then remain this relaxed.
