I seem to carry a pretty big muscle knot, in my right shoulder, that never quite goes away and when it clenches, it sets off a chain reaction. A good massage, over that spot, by someone who knows what they are doing helps. But I've also left a massage table in more pain than when I started. Ice or something like Tiger Balm, right on that muscle knot, also helps. Fortunately, when they get too bad, I can take an OTC migraine tablet.

I have noticed, though, that since I started taking CBD, those headaches seem to be few and far between.

and then goes up my neck into my head. I use this thing called a "TheraCane" which is a wide cane shaped thing with knobs at the end that you can use to dig into your back (using leverage) and it really helps to work out the knots, but the tension comes back after a little while.

I am interested in hearing more about CBD. Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots has been on TV here locally talking about it's amazing pain relieving properties. Where do you get it from? I would prefer something like that instead of OTC meds that bother my stomach. Is it expensive?

They only carry the tested and verified types like Charlotte's Web. I went to a class, last Saturday, at a local place and the information was great.

CBD isn't inexpensive so I always ask if they have any discounts (senior citizen or veteran) and the places, by me, all do. I also order via Lazarus, which is a place recommended to me by someone on DU, where I get a substantial veteran's discount. I take the full spectrum rather than the broad or isolate because I'm not worried about having to take any tests where THC might show up. Even though the amounts are VERY low, even in the full spectrum, there always a slim chance that can happen, if that's something one needs to worry about.

That is the closest place to me that would sell "health remedies". Unfortunately, downtown Boston doesn't have a lot of places like that, but I suppose Cambridge might. I should look around.

Thanks for your advice! I appreciate it.

at a time), best taken with a meal. If Ibuprofen works for you by all means take it with a meal to avoid any discomfort and get rid of that headache. You could try alternating hot and cold compresses or even acupuncture...sometimes there's a placebo/beneficial effect even if a procedure doesn't have any actual benefit.

better. It seems like heat would feel better, but the cold will reduce inflammation. I suppose I could alternate. If I still feel like this on Monday I will go into our company health clinic to see what they can do. We have an on-site PT clinic so maybe they could do some massage therapy or something.

Thanks for your input!

horrible anxiety. I do not do pills and did not want to but had to something. When the docs asked me what was causing my horrible anxiety I said "Donald drumpf" ! And I damn sure meant it. They gave me a funny look and I said "don't act like I am the first to tell you that because I know better." They just kind of nodded and looked down. They gave me a low dose of Celexa and so far has helped a lot. Also my blood pressure had gone up which has never been a problem for me so they told me to get "Blood Pressure Support" (on Amazon) and it is awesome. I take one a day and my blood pressure is down so low sometime i worry it will go too low. I try to do alternative medicine and homeopathics whenever possible but sometimes it just takes more. Do whatever you need to do. Only you know your body. Many of these doctors just don't give a damn about most people. I worked for Cardiology for many year and I know.

I see you have over 500 posts, but I haven't run into you before, so nice to hear from you! I think the problem is that Trump/Republican stress is keeping me up at night - I'm not sleeping - The lack of sleep is causing stress/headaches. There is really nothing else in my life that is upsetting me right now. I can feel a change physically whenever I click on a DU post about him or read about him in the news. He is toxic.

I might have to go on a politics break for the sake of my own health. I have great doctors here in Boston and they are really caring. Fortunately, most of them are also very liberal so that makes it easier when I try to explain why I am so stressed. They get it.

Hope you are feeling better as well!

I've been around about 9 years but try to keep my big mouth shut. LOL.

Hang in there baby. I had migraines for all my life until after I went thru menopause. Was HELL because I HAD to work. This anxiety honestly started November 2016.

Take care and you are in my thoughts always. Do whatever you need to do.

and migraines. Once I had a phys therapist who told me to lay flat with a thick phone book under my head but not my neck such that the edge of the book is where the skull ends. That never worked for me. Another therapist told me to try a cold soda in that same location. Sometimes that helped.

I use a salve that I make from comfrey and sometimes I smear it at the base of my skull, down the bask of my neck and upper torso. That really helps a lot.

Also there are a couple exercises that sometimes help: If you can concentrate, place one finger the top of your forehead and another at the base of your skull and imagine a straight line connecting them passing through your head for several minutes. That actually works for tension headaches. some say you can try to imagine a straight line passing from the arch of one eyebrow to the other.

Another could be to find someone to give you an upper torso and neck massage.

Regardless drink water, get magnesium in your diet, take a break from the news for an hour or two or go for a stroll and get some rest.

I will try some of your suggestions. I was taking calcium/magnesium for a while and stopped so I think I will start that up again. I should also take a break from the computer/news/politics. I think it would be much healthier!

I was helping a friend on his farm all summer so outdoors is big for me. But I have had to go for a walk every day since the farm thing ended. This is very stressful and it's hard to look away but you have to so it doesn't kill you.

Also, along with the magnesium, phosphates are helpful too. Hope you feel better soon.

You really should watch for signs of stroke.

"A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a stroke that lasts only a few minutes. It happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly blocked. Symptoms of a TIA are like other stroke symptoms, but do not last as long. They happen suddenly, and include. Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body."

I ignore my headaches till I had a stroke in 2012. A Doctor asked if I had headaches often and suggested that I had Mini-strokes that led up to my big stroke. He said that they were warning signs and I need to be more careful.

He also said if I don't change my attitude that I would become a risk for a followup to a second stroke.
That was seven years ago..,

I think I should probably get this checked out. I do not have a history of headaches. This is unusual for me. Thanks for your advice. I am going to take this seriously. Thanks again!

Do you know? That's kind of scary.

when they are going through stuff.

That is very sweet! I am hoping it is just sleep deprivation and Trump stress, but I have never had a headache for this long. You are a very kind person!

If it is extremely high, calmly go to the emergency room. I’m not trying to scare you, but that sounds like it could be the precursor to something worse than a headache.

I have been on a beta blocker to lower my BP, but if things aren't any better by Monday I am going into the health center at work. I swear, every time I see or hear him, I can feel my BP go through the roof. Thanks for your advice.

time. So-called air "fresheners," super strong smelling laundry dryer sheets - you name it. My new neighbor from "the fiery place" has this one particularly nasty chemical stench she likes to use - it kinda smells like a novocaine shot tastes - ie NOT PLEASANT.

That one gives me a pounding headache every time.

I was wondering why I was always getting headaches from that stuff so I googled "air freshener toxic symptoms" and wow, was it ever eye opening.

I had vicious headaches before menopause too.

A nurse told me to take 400 mg each of tylenol, ibuprofen and aspirin (together) and chase it with a Coke. (real not diet) It actually works.

Another thing I would do (not healthy but helpful) when my headache began to make my stomach queasy was have a plate of french fries with a Coke. That carb load settled my stomach and the caffeine/sugar load helped with the headache

800 mg Ibuprofen, 1000 mg Tylenol, and a 200 mg caffeine pill gets rid of all headaches. I know you said you don’t like pills but they may be the answer.

On the more cautious side, make sure your BP isn’t crazy high.

Right now I am using the pain patches and Vicks Vapor Rub since I am out of Ben Gay, but I'm going to get my BP checked at work tomorrow. The external pain thing works pretty well for me and Ibuprofen helps as well, but I don't like to take it often. Every now and then it's fine.