Quote:
Originally Posted by Xoe22
Thanks for the reply. We are on the same meds. I find it hard to tolerate and it's only 10 mg. I'm kind of starting to think this may just be part of my life now and I have to just suck it up. Over the counter pain meds don't do crap. I o.ly take them when its real bad. Are your headaches similar to how I described mine?
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Yes, I also find that OTC meds are not at all helpful. I was on tramadol and vicodin for a while. The combo seemed to help reduce the pain for a while, but made me loopier than a latch-hook rug, and of course you can't take those long term.
I am on 25 mg of amitriptyline. The first few days I could hardly wake up, but it's getting better now. Unfortunately, as it gets better I also notice my headaches getting worse again. I'm hoping I won't have to have my dosage raised.
I have a iPhone and have been using the iHeadache app to track them. According to the symptoms I put in, most of mine get classified as migraines: worse with movement, throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and lasting longer than 4 hours.
Prior to amitriptyline, I was having daily headaches ranging from 3-7 (out of 10) on the pain scale. Since amitriptyline, they are more frequently 1-3 and I don't have them every single day. I am having a 4 & 5 today for the first time since starting it. Most days I'm still able to function even though I have a headache, which I was NOT able to do before I started amitriptyline.
Even if you don't like it, it is important to take it every day. Because it's for chronic pain and works like an anti-depressant, you have to build up a certain level in your body in order for it to help. So do keep taking it or if you just can't stand it, talk to your doctor about some other options.
I have also been doing neck & back rehab and seeing a chiropractor for my spine (I also have a history of sciatica and pinched nerve in my neck prior to my concussion) and I notice that my head sometimes feels better when my neck feels better. Then again, sometimes it doesn't.
I also finished nine weeks of vision therapy after my optometrist discovered I was having problems with binocular vision. That also seemed to help reduce headaches triggered by reading and other visual stimuli.
I'm spending this afternoon researching headache specialty clinics in my area. That's probably my next step. If you find something that works, let me know.