Tension Headaches

[Bella44]

Does anyone suffer from bad tension headaches?  I've been having problems with headaches for the past week or so and over the counter pain killers just don't seem to do anything.  I've got a doctors appointment this afternoon and a head/neck/shoulder/arm massage booked for Friday but if anyone has any other advice I'd love to hear it as these things are seriously starting to take their toll.  Also, would cutting back on caffeine help at all or just make the headache symptoms worse?

[sixpack]

massage sounds good.

I also find that when tylenol/advil don't help, adding sudafed seems to

[dantescritic]

Does anyone suffer from bad tension headaches?  I've been having problems with headaches for the past week or so and over the counter pain killers just don't seem to do anything.  I've got a doctors appointment this afternoon and a head/neck/shoulder/arm massage booked for Friday but if anyone has any other advice I'd love to hear it as these things are seriously starting to take their toll.  Also, would cutting back on caffeine help at all or just make the headache symptoms worse?

 Hi Bella, I suffer from tension headaches on a daily basis.  I don't think cutting back on caffeine would help.  However, ive found that an ice pack over the back of the neck does wonders for the headache.  Also an exercise regiment could help loosen up the muscles.  Haven't tried massage yet but probably should.

 Best of luck!

[tarabama]

i have them everyday as well and my doctor told me to stretch. she also told me to exercise and use ice packs to loosen up the muscles. good luck and i hope you find relief soon!

[Bella44]

Thanks for the advice!  My doctor gave me paracetemol combined with codeine tablets so hopefully that will help.  And I'll try the ice pack later on tonight.  And I'm having something called an indian head massage on Friday that specifically targets tension areas in the neck, shoulders and back of the head. It goes down the arms too, which will be great as I can definitely feel tension and weakness there.  Has anyone had one of these done before?