What kind of a headache is it? Where do you feel the pain, and how does it come on? Is it constant?

I get what I have labeled as "spinal headaches". It starts in my upper spine, and it seems to radiate from that point to my shoulders, neck and upper back.

When I wake up in the morning, I am usually ok for a short while. As the day wears on, the "headache" extends from the spine (to those places mentioned), then eventually to up under my skull in the back. If I sit for any length of time, the headache will settle in my forehead.

They usually last about 3 weeks when I get them, and the only thing that works reasonably well is Naproxen (500 mg X 2 per day) and LAYING down a LOT!! The longer the opportunity to lay, the longer I can sit up without the pain getting progressively worse.

Is this the kind of headache, or is it more like a migraine?

BTW, I think this may be as a result of spinal lesions . . . at least that's the conclusion I've come to based on how it feels and where my lesions are.

Cherie

Cherie
The headache you describe is more what I have, not a migraine. I do get migraines but this isn't it. I recently found out I have multiple leisons in T/spine in addition to c/spine and brain.

It certainly is something I need to persue. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. I do have some naproxan and will give it a try. That is one med I've not tried. Thanks much. I will let you know if it helps.

I'm glad I could help somewhat (maybe ).

The bad news is that I know how TRECHEROUS and debilitating these headaches can be (and I have a unusually high tolerance to pain). I feel for you.

I get these headaches a few times a year, on average, and I have learned to listen to my body when they happen. There is really no way to get around them, except to take it easy.

The good news is that it should let up with 3 - 4 weeks, no matter what you do. However, if you treat the inflammation, AND you lie down a LOT, it makes the pain bearable anyway.

I'm interested to know if you are feeling slightly better after a couple of days of following this regime, or if you ever find something that works better.

Cherie

I too have a high pain tolerance. When I say outloud I hurt. I really hurt. It is good to know it will resolve itself (if that's what is going on).

I'm going to try lying down more during the day, maybe it will help. I just hate doing that, it make me feel like a "sick" person.

See my new neuro on Aug 1st. Will see what his take is on headaches. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again.

I have tension headaches, according to Neuro, can't imagine why
Optical migraines too. High pain tolerance, I try to ride it out. If not, Darvocet. Maybe I'll take one now . I do have a headache and eye ache. .

Toodles!!

I remember the first week of the headache, thinking it was like the LP headache I suffered with for 3 weeks, before my @#$& doc figured out I needed a blood patch.

After the trip to the ER, I had forgotten that. I'm 95% sure that a spinal headache is what is going on. It is day 14, but whose counting.

Horizontal is more comfortable. Thanks for the tip. So far, no med brings relief. I'll keep you posted.

Consistent doses of Naproxen just seems to take the edge off for me, but by no means takes the pain away. As the headache gets progressively worse (throughout the day), and as the days wear on over a few weeks (the pain does escalate over that time too!), it may very well be that the laying and using Naproxen is helping more then you realize at this point.

I know that before I started doing that routine, this type of headache was beyond words after week 2, but once I started doing these steps, it was at least (barely) tolerable. Every little bit helps at that point though.

Anyway, if nothing else, I think the Naproxen surely helps with the inflammation that must be going on, even if not much for the pain. I generally don't do drugs at all, so recommending this is not something I do lightly.

One more week, and it should let up. You'll wake up one day and it'll be gone (it doesn't "fade", it just magically disappears, which is very cool).

I really suspect it is the same issue I have (yes, it is similar to the spinal tap headache, but more encompassing!), but you should be keeping your docs informed too though, Beth. I'd hate to think there is something else going on that isn't being treated, while you wait.

Hopefully you will be feeling yourself again very soon though.

Cherie