Long time no see.

I've got a symptom question. Can headaches be a symptom of MS? I read on the NMSS website that it's possible, but it mainly discussed migraines. I have had an almost constant headache for the past week. I can take Tylenol or Advil and the pain eases, but it never goes completely away and it always comes back. They are not migraines...I've experienced those before.

So, whaddaya think? MS symptom or not? Call the neuro or GP? Thx!

I have had different doctors tell me different things! I'm interested to know!

Could be allergies. I know when pollen season kicks into high gear I have an almost constant headache. Sort of an annoying throbbing that just hangs around all the time. I've started taking Zyrtec at night and it seems to have taken care of it.

I've read that headaches can be caused by MS but I've of the opinion that it's probably caused by allergies or some other "fixable" cause.

Hope you feel better soon!

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you what happened to me.

I started getting migraines and they were testing me for strokes, found brain lesions, thought ms. I then developed constant headaches.

First neuro said they were *rebound* from taking too many over-the counter meds for the headaches.

I was not taking much of anything for them, so I don't agree with that.

I take a lot more stuff now (Advil), and don't get 24/7 h/a, so that says something.

My Blood pressure was low-normal, my blood work was all good, no allergies. I did find I was light sensitive and weather made it worse, but only the migraines, not the daily h/a, was sensitive to weather or foods.

I had a constant, noticeable h/a for almost 7 yrs. Not to scare you, because it was not horrible and I did get used to it. Still have a bit of a h/a but mostly not that I notice.

Topamax takes care of most of it, and I am down from 2-3 migraines a week to 2-3 migraines a month.

According to migraine info I have read, it is not normal to suffer this disease for this long or this seriously unless some other disease/disorder is involved, and major health org's advise to have your doc keep looking for other causes for it.

People get h/a for a lot of reasons, from stress, allergies, neck injury, infections, etc. When they do not respond as you think they should, you need to find out why they're happening and treat the cause.

I figure it this way - if ms can cause all those other sensations over the body, why not headaches? I think it's totally possible.

**raises hand***

Me! I was being tx for migraines for a long time. I have had headaches that I can trace back to around the time I think I started with this whole MS thing. They have gotten better and my MRI has shown some calming in the area that the MD says they should have come from.

None of my MDs have been saying that headaches and MS are connected officially, but all of them say its really common.

Please make sure its not a rebound headache. If you take advil/tylenol/aleeve/asprin everyday for a headache, you can create a rebound effect, and your body will believe that unless you have that everyday fix, its supposed to have a headache. Try going into a med free week. Use cold compresses, massage, and other actions. If you have spastic neck muscles (spasms are common in MS) it can tip over a stress headache, and a muscle relaxer may be helpful for you.

clear as mud?

They are right. There is a possibility for a rebound effect by taking OTC too often.

As to the headaches, I get a lot of different kinds. Ice pick headaches, that feel like someone sticking something sharp into my head. Sinus headaches that can lead to sinus migraines (the feeling of head pressure helps me realize it's yea old allergies). Stress migraines that begin as a band around the head (knock on wood haven't had one of these in a long while).

I'd try the no med week to see if it helps. Hope you feel better soon.

Hello Jennifer, Glad to see you around again.

Yes, headaches can be a symptom of MS, at least that's why my neuro always asks me about headaches whenever I see him.

I have headaches that go way back. When I was a kid my headaches were so bad it was extremely painful to move. In my early 20s my PCP would prescribe Tylenol w/Codeine(sp). That was the only thing that gave me relief, I took it when needed for a few years then came the MS dx.

I have had a headache that I have gotten very little relief from for a few months. I keep thinking I need to see my Doctor

What complicates things is headaches can be caused by different things other than MS:

Hormonal changes
Sinus problems
Allergies
Certain foods
Caffiene

Neuro or GP? Flip a coin But, it's probably a good idea to see one of them and not do what I do....wait

Hey Jenn! Nice to see you. Right before I went to NC, I had a couple of wks of nonstop headaches. I was getting really nervous to fly, so ended up going to the Dr before I left. It was seasonal changes, trees budding, allergies and a sinus infection. Knock on wood~ they are gone now, but I do notice that I develop these type of headaches in the Spring and late Fall.

They are awful, so hope you get some relief from them soon. Glad your'e back.

Hey, Jen, no answer to your question. I just wanted to say hi and hope you are doing well besides the dang headache.

I have something very similar, and have for years.

I was finally told it's neuropathic pain, but it FEELS like a headache.... it's painful and burning in my case. I've had headache AND migraine. This is a dull, always there pain that is untouched by medications (OTC and prescribed).

HOWEVER... it's also the reason they sent me to a pain doctor, who confirmed what my neurologist and GP said about this pain I have, only MJ will truly help the pain.

So if it's legal in your State or region, worth looking into. I'm still waiting on financial approval to begin my own 'testing'