I have had horrible headache, neck, and upper back pain for 3 days, and it won't go away. Any ideas or help?

Question

I have tried Advil, asprin, Aleve, and Tylonal. Nothing works. I have never ad this problem before. What could be causing it, and how do I get rid of it?

Answer 1

well, as a massage therapist, I would recommend a good massage from a RMT. :)

however, you may have injured yourself & not know it....yep that can happen :)

Also, yes, it's possible to be experiencing meningitis...if that's the case you need to GO TO YOUR DOCTOR now!

suggestions: see your doctor (he may prescribe some anti-inflammatories....which may harm your stomach, and only masks the symptoms), see a chiropractor, see a massage therapist.

If it is something you did (injury, over working, etc) until then, do some neck stretches ONLY to the point of the stretch feeling....DO NOT do it if it hurts!!
Stretches could include: chin to chest (hold for 30 seconds - do 3 to 4 times), ear to shoulder (hold 30 secs - 3 to 4 times each side), "smell your armpit" (turn your head down so your nose is literally facing your armpit...do each side....30 secs - 3 to 4 times each)....also be aware of posture:
shoulders down & back (like sticking chest out)
chin tucked in, neck straight

try it out...hope it helps.
merlin the cat

Answer 2

you may be dehydrated, soda and sweetened drinks don't do it. They may quench your thirst, but don't rehydrate you, try gatorade or powerade with a few aspirin and lay down in the dark, It also could be that your pressure is up and you may have to reduce your salt intake, drink about a gallon of water in a two hour period, not all at one time. It can also mean that you need glasses, if you don't already, and another reason is hereditary, but that is unlikely. If you headache continues that long see a doctor to find out what is going on up there.

Answer 3

Review your activities for the last week. Have you done anything especially strenuous, lifting, twisting, car accident?

If it feels like it is on the surface, it might be muscle. Ice packs to start might help if it is. Headache pain may result from muscle tension.

If the ice numbs it, and you think it is muscle, then very gentle stretching of the neck and upper back muscles may release some of the tension.

If that does not give you some relief within a day, you may want to get to your doctor.

Answer 4

I know the feeling!
I suffered horrible migraines & Lower back pain for a long time. I didn't want to go to a traditional Chiropractor because of the twisting, popping, etc. I was told their "treatments" could lead to arthritis later on. So I suffered right along. Then I was told about a lady who was an UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTIC doctor. I was assured that she she did NOT treat you by twisting, popping, etc. She worked at the top of the spine to help the body realign itself. I was skeptical to say the least, but I went. THANK GOODNESS I did. After the x-rays & evaluation she asked me if I had ever been in an auto accident. I told her no, but that I had been thrown from horses, etc. over the years. I was sooooooo out of line she thought I had been in a wreck.
Anyway, 100% better!!!! after the first adjustment. I started to realize that certain parts were NOT suppose to hurt like they had been for so long that I thought it was normal. The migraines stopped (except for once a month). If I were you I would seek one of these doctors out in your area. And be SURE to LISTEN to the DOs & DON'Ts they give you. Be SURE to KEEP GOING BACK!!! Just because you feel good doesn't mean you're better.
Like with me, after you have been out of alignment for a time, one side of the body will double it's efforts to compensate for the side that is not working so well. This leaves one side weaker & IT TAKES TIME TO RESTRENGTHEN THE OTHER SIDE SO IT CAN DO IT'S JOB ITSELF!!!! Just be patient & LISTEN. Don't poo poo what they tell you trust me you will Thank yourself for it.
Find info. from : NATIONAL UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH ASSOCIATION, INC.

Answer 5

If you've already tried the drugs then they are not the answer. You need to go see a chiropractor. Your body sounds outta wack and needs an adjustment. Too spendy? Have someone walk on your back to crack it. Be careful up around the neck!

Answer 6

Olive have you been camping, or hiking, or anywhere that you could have been bitten by an insect? Lymes disease (from tics) is supposed to cause a really bad stiff neck and headache. Not trying to scare you. I would go see a doc asap. Good luck to you:)

Answer 7

There is no shortage of headache relief medicines on the market. And painkillers have their place. Take acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen according to package directions at the first sign of a headache. You can often nip it in the bud.

But then again, if headache relief were that simple, you wouldn't be asking this question. Or perhaps you're interested in a nondrug approach. If you have a headache right now, the tips that follow will help you feel better fast. Some will work for tension headaches, others may help your migraines and some just might help you prevent your next headache, whichever kind it is. :) Women doctors agree that it's a good idea to experiment: Headache remedies work differently for different headaches, for different women, at different times.

Thumbs up, pain down. Place your thumbs right in the center of each temple. Massage firmly using a circular motion for a minute or two, or until you feel relief. If I catch it early enough, I find that I can sometimes stop a headache.

Take a hot bath or shower. This may further help your muscles relax.

Visualize away your headache. Imagine that your headache pain is caused by a rope that's knotted and wrapped tightly around your head. Then concentrate hard on seeing it unknot, inch by inch. Watch as it slowly loosens and falls away from your head.

Try necking with a heating pad. When you have a stiff neck, you can get a headache, because the stiff muscles hurt and cause pain that can be felt in your head. Remedy? Apply a heating pad to the back of your neck to soothe the stiffness.

Ice a migraine. For easing migraines, ice usually works better than heat, most likely because of its action as a vasoconstrictor--it shrinks blood vessels pressing on nerve endings. A resealable plastic bag full of ice, wrapped in a kitchen towel, works.

Feverfew for you? For occasional headaches take the herb feverfew. Research on feverfew suggests that it can be effective as a headache remedy; I've used it with success. I recommend taking two feverfew capsules (available at health food stores) three times a day until your headache is gone. Studies indicate that feverfew has anti-inflammatory properties, which is why it might be particularly effective for migraine headaches.

Lie down in a dark room. If you have migraines lying down in a darkened room and napping for an hour or so can usually make the headache history.

Have a snack. You can get headaches from just being hungry, because your blood sugar drops.

Always be aware of when you last ate. Try eating smaller meals, spread more frequently throughout the day.

Take a coffee break. If you feel a migraine coming on, go someplace quiet and have a strong cup of coffee. Take aspirin or ibuprofen according to package instructions. Like ice, caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor, which seems to help migraines.

Or, do the caffeine wean. The surprising thing about caffeine is that either too much or lack of it can trigger pain. Too much caffeine can lead to headaches, because of an increase in tension or a decrease in sleep (or both). Consuming less than the usual amount of caffeine can lead to very painful withdrawal headaches. Frequently, weekday coffee or cola drinkers may drink less on weekends, and they get fierce withdrawal headaches. If you get headaches, give up caffeinated drinks slowly and gradually--by four to six ounces a day--perhaps by diluting regular brew with decaf until you're finally caffeine-free. You should also substitute eight cups a day of noncaffeinated liquids, such as water, juices, skim milk or herbal teas.

Keep a headache diary. Both tension and migraine headaches can have triggers. Your monthly cycle can affect headaches, too. I suggest that you log the time of day and month, the foods, activities, moods--anything that could possibly trigger a headache. After a couple of weeks, read your diary. See if anything obvious is causing your headaches and avoid the source if you possibly can.

It's a very individual thing. For many, chocolate can be a migraine trigger--though it doesn't trigger my migraines--but red wine will immediately send me right around the bend.

Avoid migraine triggers. Avoid the most common offenders: that is, foods that have been aged, fermented, pickled or marinated. Other reputed problem foods are those containing monosodium glutamate, or MSG (such as canned soups), nitrates or nitrites (such as lunchmeats).

And some added help:

Once a migraine takes hold, it's a bugger to relieve.

Restock your magnesium. I read about an Italian study that indicates that people with migraines are likely to have lower blood levels of magnesium than non-migraine-sufferers, and suggests that magnesium supplements for people with migraines warrant further study. Good food sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, legumes, seafood, nuts and whole grains.

Regulate sleep patterns. People who work irregular shifts have trouble with their migraines. Circadian rhythms seem to play a part in migraines. Try to get to sleep and wake up at the same times each day and don't sleep late on weekends. Also, avoid napping during the day, as this may change your circadian rhythms.

Give aspirin a chance. An aspirin a day may keep migraines away. The problem with some of the prescription drugs used to try and prevent migraines (like beta and calcium channel blockers, antidepressants and mood-regulating drugs) is that they are like hitting a little problem with an awfully big hammer. Taking a regular 325-milligram aspirin tablet every other day, regularly, cut repeat migraine attacks by 20 percent. It might not work for everyone, but it's definitely worth trying, because if it works, it's an easy, inexpensive and relatively safe solution.

Hope this helps you. :)

Answer 8

please call your doctor or if you don't have one, go to an urgent care kind of place (let a friend drive, not you) .....it may be a pulled muscle in your neck or upper back. Meanwhile, try a heating pad to the area; it may help :-)
Be careful with over the counter pills....take no more than the recommended dosage to avoid irritation to your stomach.
Also, take the pills with food.

Answer 9

it might be something called torticollis, it is basically a crick in the neck. i had it and i couldnt turn my neck and i was getting bad back and head aches. i went to the doctor and all the advice she gave me was just to rest on it and try not to move too much. find a supportive pillow and just try to sleep or read or keep it still and it will go away soon.

Answer 10

you really need to go to the doctor sound like you have a infection and need some medication to get rid of it and this will also helps the headache you are having.
ask you doctor for a sample pack for your migraines.