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Suggest Remedy For Headaches When Having Anxiety
Question: I have a question about a headache I am experiencing. I think I have had this come and go for about 3 years now. I will go a year without having one and all of a sudden it starts up. I have had 3 CT brain scans in the last 5 years. Last year I had one in March so it was about 11 months ago. It was on a 128 slice and results were normal. So now I have just had some headaches start and as soon as they start I always think the worst and get bad anxiety. I start to sweat and constantly think about the bad things that could cause it. The headache seems to start in both side of the back of my neck. Its almost like a burning feeling and it either goes in the the top of my head or one or both temples. I can push around areas of the occipital region and pain refers to the front of my head. I can also push on the tops of my shoulders where my trapezius muscle is and it shoots into my head. I feel nauseous a lot and not sure if that is related to me being so anxious. Didnt know if its related to my occipital nerves or tension. I have had similar headaches before. But the nausea is new. i didnt know if my CT scan from 11 months ago is still good.
Also this one I am waking up with some headaches. But it is not a traditional headache like I have gotten in the past with the throbbing in the head. It is more in the neck region. Not everyday either just some days.
Also this one I am waking up with some headaches. But it is not a traditional headache like I have gotten in the past with the throbbing in the head. It is more in the neck region. Not everyday either just some days.
Brief Answer:
Agree that it looks like cervicogenic headache.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back and posting your query.
I have noted your symptoms in details and agree that this is suggestive of cervicogenic or tension headache.
You can start amitriptyline tablets.
For relief of pain, you may take diclofenac or ibuprofen tablets.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Agree that it looks like cervicogenic headache.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back and posting your query.
I have noted your symptoms in details and agree that this is suggestive of cervicogenic or tension headache.
You can start amitriptyline tablets.
For relief of pain, you may take diclofenac or ibuprofen tablets.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
A CT Brain scan 11 months ago will still be good? Should I be worried? Would anxiety make my symptoms worse?
Also do these types of things occur in cycles?
Also do these types of things occur in cycles?
Brief Answer:
Yes, CT 11 months ago is good.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Yes, CT brain scan done 11 months ago is still good. There is no need to repeat.
Yes, anxiety would make your symptoms worse.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Yes, CT 11 months ago is good.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Yes, CT brain scan done 11 months ago is still good. There is no need to repeat.
Yes, anxiety would make your symptoms worse.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
A couple last questions. So you would not be concerned with my symptoms? Do these types of headache occur in cycles? Can I take pain meds until I knock them out? Also sometimes when I take Xanax they go away. Also is the nausea not worrisome with these types of headaches? I read that nausea is a bad sign or is it some kind of violent vomiting they speak of. How long before amitryptyline start to work?
Brief Answer:
My replies are below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
There is no concern about your headaches, as you have had them before and your CT scan brain have come out clear.
If there is nausea or vomiting associated with headache, I agree it may indicate brain tumor or bleeding. That is why any first such episode should be investigated with CT scan. In cases of repeated such episodes, there is no need to do scan always.
Some headaches come in cycles such as cervicogenic headache, migraine and cluster headaches.
You can take analgesics and pain killers if pain is unbearable.
Amitriptyline shows complete good effect in 2-3 weeks time.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
My replies are below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
There is no concern about your headaches, as you have had them before and your CT scan brain have come out clear.
If there is nausea or vomiting associated with headache, I agree it may indicate brain tumor or bleeding. That is why any first such episode should be investigated with CT scan. In cases of repeated such episodes, there is no need to do scan always.
Some headaches come in cycles such as cervicogenic headache, migraine and cluster headaches.
You can take analgesics and pain killers if pain is unbearable.
Amitriptyline shows complete good effect in 2-3 weeks time.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My nausea is not of concern? I dont have the nausea with a headache per say it just seems to be there. And the only headache I have is burning around occipital. Is it possible that I am worried or anxious about this and that is making me nauseous? But I have not vomitted or anything.
Brief Answer:
Nausea is not of concern.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Nausea per se is not of concern. It is the vomiting, without nausea (what we refer to as projectile vomiting), OR repeated vomiting OR vomiting early in the morning on awakening, which are of concern.
In your case, nausea is most probably unrelated and may be due to anxiety.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Nausea is not of concern.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Nausea per se is not of concern. It is the vomiting, without nausea (what we refer to as projectile vomiting), OR repeated vomiting OR vomiting early in the morning on awakening, which are of concern.
In your case, nausea is most probably unrelated and may be due to anxiety.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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