Chronic daily headache treatment

Headache is a common problem that affects almost everyone once in a while. There are different types of headache but most of them go away soon either on their own or with the help of medication or alternative treatment. However, there is a type of headache that is persistent and recurring, or even constant and incessant, and that particular kind of pain is called chronic daily headache.

The nature of this type of headache makes it particularly difficult to cope with and it soon becomes a source of great stress and frustration. Fewer or less intense chronic daily headaches can be achieved with aggressive initial treatment and regular, steady and long-term management.

Treatment for chronic daily headache

It is necessary to determine whether there is an underlying disease or condition causing chronic daily headaches. If there is one, the treatment for headaches will consist of treatment for that particular disease. However, if there is no underlying disease or if it cannot be cured, the treatment for chronic daily headaches will focus on preventing the pain before it starts and on alleviating it when or if it starts.

The problem with these headaches is that people suffering from them often take too much pain killers. The first step in a successful prevention strategy would have to be stopping taking those drugs. After that, the doctors may recommend antidepressants, tricyclic ones like Pamelor or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac.

Beta blockers can also be prescribed, individually or in combination with antidepressants. They are believed to be quite helpful in prevention of various types of headache, including migraine.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended only for those people who have not had problems with drug overuse or abuse, or for those who are going through withdrawal from another type of drug.

Another option is to inject certain medications in points recognized as trigger points. The substance injected can be a numbing agent or corticosteroid drug, and there is even some research examining the effectiveness of Botox injections in treatment of chronic daily headache.

Alternative treatment

Alternative medicine offers a wide choice of options for treating chronic daily headaches. Acupuncture is a treatment option with long tradition and great reputation in treatment of different medical issues, including migraines and other types of headache.

Relaxation techniques, yoga, meditation and breathing exercises are also an option available for those who suffer from chronic daily headaches. Other alternative treatments include biofeedback, in which a person learns to control and manage headaches by controlling certain bodily responses, chiropractic therapy, homeopathy, herbs, vitamins and minerals and massage.