Migraines? Tension Headaches?

Question

I am having the WORST headaches (over the past week or so). They extend from the crown of my head down my forehead and into my eyebrows (and do not feel like sinus headaches). My head feels like there is a HUGE weigh pushing on it. I assume they are migraines, or tension headaches from stress.

I have been trying to get enough sleep (8 hrs a night), and trying to relax (which doesn't happen much). I also try to eat right, but working so much doesn't give me much to cook.

Let me add that right now I am working about 8-12hrs a day 7 days/week, and don't have a day off until October 20th. So taking a day off is not an option. (And the upcoming days I have off are for a wedding I am in, so it's not like I can just lay and relax.)

I have taken Excedrin. Doesn't work.

I have two questions:

1) What's the difference between a tension headache and a migraine? Which do you think mine are?

2) Any suggestions to alleviate them? (And no, I cannot take time off work. So that's not an option.)

If it helps, the headaches hurt worse when I cough or bend over.

Answer 1

Migraines tend to be more "one-sided" and in the temple area, but a long-term tension or sinus headache can also end up becoming a migraine. Although you may not think this is a sinus headache, a sinus infection can feel like this and needs to be treated, so if the condition continues, you may need to MAKE time to go to a doctor to have that checked.

For tension and migraine headaches, I find that ice packs applied to the area often help. I frequently take a hot bath and put an ice pack on my head -- the two extremes seem to work best! Also, for a tension headache, a good neck massage can often loosen the muscles inducing the pain. You might also try taking a decongestant along with your pain medication -- this often helps me even when I don't think it IS sinus related.

Good luck and I hope it gets better!

Answer 2

Well if u wanna know more about the difference between tension headache and migraine or any other type of headache, i advise u to check this site:

http://www.headachetest.co.uk/headache-types.htm

and about the cure, well in migraine, u can take some medications to relieve the pain, but in tension headache, even pain killers won't help u much, as all u need to do is to relax and take some rest, meditate, or anything like that..

but from what u have described about ur headache, i advise u to take some blood tests and check for iron level .. cuz I'm anemic, and every time my iron goes low i feel exactly the way u said .. my head feels so heavy, and it gets worse when i bend, i also feel like my eyes are about to come out! and the back of Ur head would feel the worse..

so if u have such symptoms, do some blood tests..

hope u feel better soon

Answer 3

Usually the difference between a tension headache and a migraine is that the migraine does not go away with over the counter drugs.
Migraines are also usually accompanied by:
Sensitivity to light
Sensitivity to sound
Nausea
Vomiting
"Auras"...sometimes seeing strange visual things, like light streaks, halo's, spots...or just a general strange feeling before the headache sets in.
Since you didn't mention those things, I'm inclined to think yours might be tension headaches. You sound like you're overworked and overstressed. I don't know what to tell ya, other than keep taking excedrin, and maybe some hot showers to try to relax your tense muscles.

Answer 4

IANAD If you answer "yes" to any of the following, the headaches may be a migraine:
1. Do your headaches throb?
2. Do you experience any mood change (paranoia, claustrophobia, etc.) before the headache?
3. During the headache do you experience a lack of will, an inability to act on decisions, apart from the pain?
Now, a sudden onset of severe headaches is serious. Your job is not that important. The wedding is not so important if you could have a serious illness. See a doctor and schedule some tests. It is probably nothing, but don't you owe it to yourself and your friends that you need to take care of yourself. Take this from a long-time headache sufferer who knows these things.

Answer 5

Well, i used to have tension headaches from my head to my neck. I had them about 3 times per week for 3 years when i was younger, because my vision was bad which caused me to strain my eyes and migraines to appear. I didn't take pills, because back then i couldn't swallow them!:( To get rid of them i tried many things. Some things that worked were: 1. sleeping.i found that when i slept and woke up, the headache dissappeared. 2. lots of water. i know that you drink a lot, so you might want to drink more, or it might just not work for you. 3. massage. i would massage my neck and temples (on the side) to help get rid of the headache. 4. Lastly, i would drop everything that i am doing. instead, i would just hop into bed and try not to think about anything that would create more stress. I would recommend taking asprin. I take it now, and it really helps. Also, i got contacts, so my eyes dont strain. I learned from my eye doctor that the headaches were caused by me streesing my eyes. Maybe if you go to your doctor, he can find the cause of your headaches, maybe its stress or it might be something else. I hope you get rid of your headaches, i know how much pain they cause :[

Answer 6

Does it hurt your eyes sometimes too??? like if there is sun glare or if colors are really bright???

I get really bad headaches like that all the time and when i take aleve it doesn't really help. Sometimes it feels like my head is going to explode, other times it feels like someone is tightening a belt around my head...Mine all Come from too much pressure build up in my head though...and they are definately migraines.

What i do to relieve the tension is message my temples in a circular pattern, not too hard but not real soft...it usually helps to tone down the pain...that and pinch the bridge of my nose....it helps alot! sometimes it even helps if you just close your eyes for a little bit or wear sunglasses....i wear sunglasses at my desk in my office, and it helps alot!

Good luck, im sorry...i know it totally sux!

Answer 7

http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html