Help me with my headaches!

[zeebs]

Hi ladies,

Does anybody here have suggestions for treating migraines and tension headaches? I get both.

Thanks in advance. They are excruciating.

[Xarata]

OTC wise...Excedrin. Tylenol does not work for me. Advil does not work for me. Aspirin will only work if i take like 3 of them. Excedrin is tried and true for me. They make one for migraines and one for tension headaches. I've also been told they make one for "back and body" but I haven't been able to find it.

Non-medicated tricks...

-Aromatherapy has never worked for my headaches. It usually makes them worse. Even lavender
-Hot showers tend to help some for me because the heat helps the muscles relax and the tension release. It isn't sure-fire but it usually helps. I also sometimes use hot tea for a similar effect
-A good back/neck rub always helps but they're hard to come by
-Caffeine is one of the active ingredients in headache medicines. Easy no-hassle access to caffeine can be found in mints. I am partial to the penguin line of peppermints (which come in mint, chocolate, and cinnamon) and gum(comes in mint, kola, and citrus) found at http://www.peppermints.com


Generally I have a scale for my headaches classifying them as bearable or unbearable. The bearable ones I generally do nothing because i get them pretty often. The unbearable ones i take OTC meds for.

[mgmsrk]

I agree for OTC Excedrin is my first choice, it is the only OTC that ever stood a chance with my migraines. I do now use Imatrex and have for about 10 years it works very fast and pretty well always gets rid of them.

I like cool compresses for head aches, warm aggravates the pain for me. I take a mixing bowl add ice and water and a face cloth. I apply the face cloth to my forehead and eyes, when it is warm I dip bake in the water and wring.

[deepix]

hmm...
isotonic drinks....
in some cases migraines are caused by electrolyte imbalance....

[karen]

I get tension headaches from time to time...generally a trip to the Chiropractor, or a good massage helps. I've also had wonderful luck with acupuncture. Staying hydrated, and taking fish oil helps too (check with your doctor first).