Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group do you get recurring headaches???

Wonderful explanation Sue since I'd think my headaches are very similar.

Massage and triggerpoint acupncture have helped me immensely. I have a TENS machine at home but never thought to get home ultrasound or try trigger point injections.

Thanks

Yup, I'm plagued with headaches too. And I have the 'crunching ' neck (sounds like a box of broken biscuits )I really thought I was alone in that one, so good to know I'm not...well, not good exactly

yes. it's good to know that that we're not alone. headaches actually rule my life, every day.

some days i can't even think, it hurts so bad.

i'll try those suggestions about pain patches and heat.

thanks.

Sure do LAK, wicked stabbing pains behind the eyes are just about the worst I find. Other, more standard migraine type stuff with aversions to light, sound or movement, a band of pain around the hat-brim area and waves of intense pain and light that can knock you off your feet (or the feeling that someone has managed to place their fist into the back of your skull).

On Valentine's Day (another St. booted to the curb along with my personal favourite, St. Christopher) I went out during one of these episodes (usually, I'd go straight to bed) to get my wife and daughter some stuff for Valentine's Day. They were up-island for a good part of the day and if I hadn't gotten flowers and chocolates, etc. before they came home, I would have to endure the repercussions for years to come. The taxi driver kept asking me if I was alright because of the way I held my head (trying to apply pressure to both temples with one hand) and moaning in pain constantly.

When the girls got home, I didn't hear any negative comments...that's how I know I've done real good. So I suppose it was worth it in the end?

Short answer is YES.

Chris

yes, usually late in the day. They were really really bad my senior year of high school, after I cracked c2 and c3 . . . the headaches were the reason I didn't finish high school. Took over a year to figure it out (everyone was treating me for migraines and hormone problems). Now they're not nearly that bad, but if I get my neck out of whack I can have the recurring knock-out headaches for weeks at a time.
They suck.
In me at least, they are definitely neck-related. I'm told Fibro causes headaches as well. ?
-Bridge

Hello LAK

I am chiming in to say that yes I had awful headaches and neck pain for about 6 months prior to my AS flaring up again a few weeks ago. I didn't make the connection between the headaches and neckpain being a symptom of AS (DOH!) as I am forever carrying my kids about and blamed that!

I too found massage gave temporary relief but it wasn't until I got my familiar AS symptoms back that I realised what was going on. Since going on NSD again the headaches have disappeared - so I'm sure it's was the AS and not anything else.

Before this I tried anti-inflammatory tablets from the pharmacy and like you they gave temporary relief but were not a solution.

Hope you find a way to sort your headaches out - it's not fun is it?

Hello Bridget
I agree with you - if I do anything silly to my neck - the headaches are never far behind. Sometimes it's not until the pain of the headaches has lifted a bit that I even realise that it's my neck that's the problem!

THANKS ALL for great replies..

headaches are more than just annoying as you all know. you wake up with it, you go to bed with it, you even wake up in the middle of the night and it's still there.

as if we don't have enough pain to deal with everywhere else in our body.. just not fair.

you are all so supportive and kind. having someone understand is the best medicine of all.

leslie

Hi Leslie, just wanted to give you a hug.

Warm hugs,

hi kat:

thanks sweetie. i needed that. somedays i throw my hands in the air and say, "what did i do in my prior life to deserve this?"

then going on kickas makes it so much better because i'm not alone.

leslie