Headache help!

How do I get rid of this crappy "illness"?

It’s not like my tooth hurts, so I don't go to the dentist. It’s not like my stomach hurts, so I don't eat something or take a pill. It's my head.

I was pretty dehydrated today. Had school this morning and then two hours of gym class at the end. We totally went hard in gym... we played 6 on 6 then switched to 3 on 3. Running, falling, sweating... ouch.

And then there's me, being "smart," hitting the bathroom for water every 30 minutes. Thought I wouldn't get dehydrated if I did that. Then, thinking I'm so clever, I bought some thick juice with multivitamins because I know the brain "runs" on glucose, so why not help it out?

And now, being "smart," I get home with a massive headache.
Any way to fix this? (Going to sleep now, but I doubt it'll just vanish)

It works best when I have had only thirty minutes of sleep...
It always seems to take effect for me...👍

I've had this headache dragging on all day. It isn't exactly excruciating, but it's just enough of a nuisance to make studying impossible, and I really need to get some work done. I took some Motrin about an hour ago, but it hasn't touched it. I managed to catch a quick nap this afternoon, but the pain is still hanging around. Any ideas on what I should do?
I'm also running a bit of a fever, and I really need to get it under control by tomorrow. Does anyone have any advice?

So, what exactly is Motrin used for when it comes to a headache?

Motrin is pretty much my go-to for just about anything, and honestly, it usually does the trick.

For me, Motrin works wonders for headaches—honestly, better than most other painkillers out there.

Gerald Palmer3, try eating a decent meal first and then lie down before taking a pill.
However, if you’re running a fever, it might be some kind of virus—in which case, Motrin alone won't cut it. You should have someone give your neck and cervical spine a firm massage; personally, I find that helps immensely by improving circulation toward the head. 👋

Arthur Barnes said:How do I get rid of this crappy "illness"?

It’s not like my tooth hurts, so I don't go to the dentist. It’s not like my stomach hurts, so I don't eat something or take a pill. It's my head.

I was pretty dehydrated today. Had school this morning and then two hours of gym class at the end. We totally went hard in gym... we played 6 on 6 then switched to 3 on 3. Running, falling, sweating... ouch.

And then there's me, being "smart," hitting the bathroom for water every 30 minutes. Thought I wouldn't get dehydrated if I did that. Then, thinking I'm so clever, I bought some thick juice with multivitamins because I know the brain "runs" on glucose, so why not help it out?

And now, being "smart," I get home with a massive headache.
Any way to fix this? (Going to sleep now, but I doubt it'll just vanish)

What kind of pillow are you using? Sleeping in a bad position (like 8 hours every single day) doesn't just mess up your spine; it causes shoulder and neck muscle spasms. That leads to reduced blood flow to the brain, which results in headaches, vision issues, dizziness, and feeling off-balance.

Alright, first things first, I’d really love to get an actual doctor's perspective here..
So, I've been dealing with these headaches.. at least once a week.. and they get so intense I'm practically in tears from the pain.. I already went to see my primary care physician and they told me they can't find the cause.. I've done the EEUs, seen an eye specialist, and everything.. but nothing. Has anyone else dealt with this? Also.. pills don't even touch the pain.. about an hour ago I took two painkillers and felt zero relief.. I've tried various ones over the years, but nothing works. The pain is right at the base of my skull. Thnx.

Olivia Lopez41 said:Alright, first thing's first—I’d love to hear from an actual doctor here..
Basically, I get these headaches.. at least once a week.. they can be so brutal I’m practically crying from the pain.. I went to my doctor and they said they don't know why.. I've done those EEUs, seen an eye specialist, etc.. and nothing comes up.. Anyone have experience with this? Also.. pills aren't doing squat... took two painkillers about an hour ago and zero relief.. tried plenty over the years but nothing helps. The pain is right at the base of my skull. Thnx.

Not a doctor, but... have you had an MRI or a CT scan yet?! Or maybe a color Doppler (VCD?)—you know, checking the blood flow through the back of your neck... maybe that's a bit restricted...?!?! I used to get headaches and just pass out... turned out that was the culprit...

Ethan Patel6 said:I'm no doctor, but... did you get an MRI or a CT scan? Or maybe a color Doppler? That's where they check blood flow through the back of the neck... maybe things are a little restricted there. I used to deal with headaches and passing out, and that turned out to be the culprit.

==============
That's a solid suggestion. I've had an MRI, a CT scan, and a color Doppler done myself.
In this case, I'm leaning more toward a musculoskeletal issue. Check out the link I posted under the thread about pain under the shoulder blade.

Somatic issues

Sometimes, the root cause can be psychosomatic.

🙂 😉 😎

How am I even supposed to get an appointment when my neurologist won't refer me? I've already complained about these headaches four separate times. Every single time, I have to go in for an EEU and see an eye doctor just for them to tell me they don't have any answers. It started yesterday morning and it’s still going strong tonight. I'm losing my mind here. Honestly, the pain is so bad I feel like sticking a knife in the back of my head just to make it stop.

I am not entirely certain, but I suspect there is a significant difference between performing an EEU when one is asymptomatic versus when they are actually in pain. You should probably check in with your doctor first, then perhaps attempt to get mapped on an EEU privately, provided you coordinate that with them beforehand.

Hmm, I didn't catch all the details, but let me give it a shot...

Look, if your EEU results and your eye doctor are both giving you the thumbs up, there’s a really good chance you aren't dealing with any kind of intracranial growth—like a tumor or anything—that would be triggering those headaches. Honestly, if there was a major neurological issue going on, a neurologist would have picked up on some sort of deficit by now.

That being said, I wouldn't rule out getting a CT or an MRI just to play it safe and rule out one more nasty possibility that an EEU can't spot: an aneurysm. It's basically a bulge in one of your cerebral arteries, and it can cause those vague, hard-to-pin-down headaches. If it turns out to be something like that—though it most likely isn't—you'll want to be seeing a neurosurgeon pretty much immediately.

You might also want to ask about a TCD (transcranial Doppler ultrasound) or a vertebral artery ultrasound. It helps check the blood flow through the two main pathways supplying your brain: the vertebral and the carotid arteries. Sometimes, the vertebral arteries can get a bit "clogged" or restricted, and that lack of steady blood flow to the brain structures can lead to those nagging headaches.

But hey, before you jump into all those heavy scans, my best advice is to check out a pain management clinic. They deal with these kinds of vague, migraine-style pains all the time, and they have some really effective ways to handle them. Most major hospitals in the States have specialized clinics for this stuff, so maybe do a little digging.
They offer things like acupuncture (either traditional or laser), TENS units, or even fentanyl patches and other targeted treatments. Trust me, you won't go wrong exploring this route; you'll probably find a method that actually works for you, which means you won't have to keep popping pills all day long.
👍

The pain is at the base of the skull—so this is definitely not some "undefined migraine pain."

My advice? Go straight to the emergency neurology ward at your local hospital precisely when the pain hits... that’s what I've come to realize now.

Make sure you bring all your previous test results (the EEU and your ophthalmologist's report) with you.
It is critical that a neurologist examines you while you are actually experiencing the headache, because certain neurological episodes only manifest during those specific moments and remain invisible otherwise.
From there, they will decide which tests are necessary based on their physical exam, and determine if those tests need to be performed immediately.

I've been dealing with headaches since my teenage years. It happens almost every single day. And the sensation in my head... it’s never quite the same twice.
If I don't get some coffee or something to boost my blood pressure, the pain starts hitting me first thing in the morning.
Over the last ten years, I have undergone every possible medical test imaginable. I've visited every specialist and clinic out there, wasting a massive amount of both time and money... and absolutely NOTHING has worked.
It’s just a constant, simple headache.
The doctors claim it's due to low blood pressure. My mother suffered from chronic headaches her entire life too. After fifty years, those headaches eventually led to a brain tumor, which literally took her life.
Naturally, that sent me into a total panic. I went right back to consulting with doctors. I know I probably sound foolish or even ignorant regarding all of this. I am both. We all get a little irrational when we're in pain and dealing with health scares.

For me, coffee and eating something small every few hours is what helps.
If it isn't coffee, then at least half a dose of Nurofen. I really hate relying on pills, but unfortunately, every other day I have to take at least half a tablet. It's terrible, but it's better than letting the pain destroy me.

Eh... they aren't just going to hand you a referral for an MRI or CT scan on a silver platter. Especially with an MRI—I'm pretty sure there’s actually a board that has to sign off on those... My EEU was a total disaster (honestly, it was awful), and only then did they finally send me for a CT... and when they didn't find anything there, I was left waiting indefinitely for an MRI that never happened.
Honestly, it's probably better not to say much...
If you truly believe this isn't psychological or related to low blood pressure or something (my mom, my wife, and I all get massive headaches from low BP whenever we skip our morning coffee)... you should start by asking for a scan of the carotid arteries. It's a "cheaper" scan and it'll actually get them to give you a referral... just ask for it!!
And if everything comes back fine and they still won't give you the green light for a CT or MRI... well, if you can swing the cash, just go to a private clinic. It'll likely be way more comfortable than the hospital anyway—it takes maybe 10 or 15 minutes, whereas at the hospital, where the machines are a bit dated, an MRI can drag on for nearly an hour. ...

Ethan Patel6 said:It’s probably actually more comfortable than getting it done at the hospital anyway. It only takes about 10 or 15 minutes here, whereas at the hospital, where they’re using those older machines, it drags on for nearly an hour...

So, what's the actual difference—is it the fuel quality?
cornmeal versus kerosene

I suffer from those same debilitating headaches—essentially whenever I’m on my period, lacking sleep, skipping meals, or missing my caffeine fix, among other things.

What is my routine? — I make sure to eat, get enough rest, drink coffee in the morning to manage my blood pressure, and stay active with exercise.

Massages also tend to help quite a bit.

When the pain hits, I take some Motrin—I try to take it the moment the discomfort begins.

I’ve dealt with these exact same issues myself, and based on my experience, I suspect you might be dealing with migraines. They come in all sorts of varieties, but for me, they usually drag on for up to 72 hours. When they hit, I find it much more effective to take something containing ibuprofen rather than relying on acetaminophen or aspirin. Wishing you nothing but the best.

Anthony Harris14 said:So what's the actual difference—is it like the fuel in a car?
cornmeal vs. kerosene

Honestly, I haven't a clue... even though I dabble in biomedical electronics... but tech is definitely moving fast. Just look at how digital cameras evolved... for example...
all I know for sure is this: my scan at the public hospital took 45 minutes, while the private clinic knocked it out in 15.
I was just as still both times, and the images looked identical?!?!?!?