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Suggest Treatment For Headaches And Lower Back Pain
Question: I am a male, 64 years old, 6'1, 185 lbs. I woke up with coughing attack with intense lower back pain that lasted 12 hours with a migraine and blurred vision. I took one Tramadol which helped the back pain but didn't help the migraine. Now I have a residual headache and the back pain has started to relieve to a tolerable state.
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. If after coughing, you developed severe backache, it could be
: Back muscle sprain
: Acute prolapsed disc
If you have got complete relief in back, follow few tips
: Avoid weight lifting
: Avoid forward bending
: Avoid exertion
: Apply painkiller gel like Diclofenac gel over pain site after prescription.
: If pain on movement, use lumbar corset for few days to give relaxation to muscles.
: If your pain radiates to lower limbs, sharp, shooting, better consult neurosurgeon for disc prolapse. He may advise MRI of lumbar spine to confirm it.
Now coming to headache, Migraine can be treated by
: Abortive therapy - It aborts attack of Migraine. You can take either drug from below list
Triptans like Sumatriptan
Ergotamine
NSAIDs like Diclofenac/Ibuprofen
Opioids like Morphine/Oxycodone (After proper prescription by your local physician)
: Preventive therapy - It prevents attack of Migraine.
Avoid factors which can cause migraine like Cheese/chocolate/bright light/mental stress/exertion
You can take either drug like Propranolol/Amitriptyline/Gabapentine/Pregabaline to prevent attack of Migraine. Consult neurologist for prescription of drugs.
Hope it will help you. As you have taken Tramadol, you can take Diclofenac for relief. If still in doubt, do let me know, I would be happy to help you.
Thanks. Take care.
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. If after coughing, you developed severe backache, it could be
: Back muscle sprain
: Acute prolapsed disc
If you have got complete relief in back, follow few tips
: Avoid weight lifting
: Avoid forward bending
: Avoid exertion
: Apply painkiller gel like Diclofenac gel over pain site after prescription.
: If pain on movement, use lumbar corset for few days to give relaxation to muscles.
: If your pain radiates to lower limbs, sharp, shooting, better consult neurosurgeon for disc prolapse. He may advise MRI of lumbar spine to confirm it.
Now coming to headache, Migraine can be treated by
: Abortive therapy - It aborts attack of Migraine. You can take either drug from below list
Triptans like Sumatriptan
Ergotamine
NSAIDs like Diclofenac/Ibuprofen
Opioids like Morphine/Oxycodone (After proper prescription by your local physician)
: Preventive therapy - It prevents attack of Migraine.
Avoid factors which can cause migraine like Cheese/chocolate/bright light/mental stress/exertion
You can take either drug like Propranolol/Amitriptyline/Gabapentine/Pregabaline to prevent attack of Migraine. Consult neurologist for prescription of drugs.
Hope it will help you. As you have taken Tramadol, you can take Diclofenac for relief. If still in doubt, do let me know, I would be happy to help you.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for your response to my individual symptoms. My concern was that it all happened at once while I was asleep last night. I don't drink alcohol or use drugs and I had only taken my blood pressure medicine. I woke up out of a sleep with intense coughing, that went into intense back pain and the migraine which I don't ever have. I went to bed feeling fine and had done nothing unusual yesterday and today I felt like I'd been beaten up by the pain. Would these three things happening all at once be suggestive that something else might have happened?
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
It is good that you don't abuse any drugs or alcohol.
The cause of your symptoms could be the sudden thrust which can cause muscle injury or disc in back. Headache may occur due to vigorous shaking of head. Regarding possibility of Migraine, it can occur after coughing.
If you are thinking about some serious problem, it can only be suspected if
: Headache is progressive
: Backache does not decrease in intensity
: If you develops any deficit like weakness in limbs, sensory loss.
: Headache leads to vomiting, blurring of vision.
If you experience any of above mentioned signs, better consult ER as soon as possible. The doctor must rule out any bleeding in brain, acute disc in back.
If no above symptoms, do not worry. You should wait and watch. It should subside.
If any new updates, do let me know. Thanks. Take care.
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
It is good that you don't abuse any drugs or alcohol.
The cause of your symptoms could be the sudden thrust which can cause muscle injury or disc in back. Headache may occur due to vigorous shaking of head. Regarding possibility of Migraine, it can occur after coughing.
If you are thinking about some serious problem, it can only be suspected if
: Headache is progressive
: Backache does not decrease in intensity
: If you develops any deficit like weakness in limbs, sensory loss.
: Headache leads to vomiting, blurring of vision.
If you experience any of above mentioned signs, better consult ER as soon as possible. The doctor must rule out any bleeding in brain, acute disc in back.
If no above symptoms, do not worry. You should wait and watch. It should subside.
If any new updates, do let me know. Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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