Guest Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I suffer quite a lot sometimes due to my poor bite and teeth grinding/clenching. I've been known to have the same headache for a month when it's bad. First time I've been off work though - yesterday I actually felt queasy most of the day too so last night I took a sleeping tablet to try and minimise clenching in my sleep and today I've stayed home so that I can just shift it. I'm figureing if I clench less all day it will help. I wear an NTI device (hard sort of bite guard - cost a small fortune!) at night but sometimes I still get the headaches - I've been wearing it all day today too. Although even as I type this I can feel how rigidly I'm holding my jaw. Anyone got any other ideas?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Sounds very debilitating. Nothing worse than a headache you can't shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 May I suggest that you visit an osteopath? A friend had something similar and went to see my marvellous osteopath and she's now free of them - she'd been restricting a nerve in her neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggienator Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 May I suggest that you visit an osteopath? A friend had something similar and went to see my marvellous osteopath and she's now free of them - she'd been restricting a nerve in her neck. Or an acupuncturist. If it is a long term thing I'm presuming you have been to see a doc just to check. Cheers Aggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I suffer really bad headaches and sometimes migraines due to stress in my neck muscles and teeth grinding. It doesn't stop the cause but to relieve the symptoms I have found the best painkiller is one called "Syndol", you have to ask for it over the counter. It has codeine in it and relaxes all the muscles that have cramped up. It's the only one that relaxes me enough to stop me being sick. Beware though, you may feel as if you are floating away . (That's the best bit as far as I am concerened though, at least you sleep through the pain). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Thanks all - I'm taking Cocodomol (sp) and when I need to Amytriptylene (sp) to relax me more when I sleep. Trouble is I seem to be doing it when I'm awake! Been a difficult few months I guess, non paying tenants again leaving me extremely strapped for cash, started a new school too - difficult year 11's as is always the case when you are new. (Mind you yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing just how awful they could be in 3 classes simultaniously!). So I guess my stress levels have been kinda high. I can't really run to osteopaths or accupuncture at the moment - things are so tight I can barely get through this month (don't feel sorry for me though - I've just booked a Christmas cruise! New tenants moving in soon!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Sounds like you've tried all the medication options Pengy. What about trying some relaxation techniques to try to retrain your body? Lie in a nice warm bath with some scenty candles and practice clenching and relaxing all the muscles in your face, bit at a time. Combine with a home facial and lots of massage around the neck, face and scalp. If you can run to it, the more expensive option is to pay for a professional head and neck massage, but if you know a few basic techniques you can do it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassett Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Poor you, I'm sending you get well vibes. You have my full sympathy as I suffer with severe headaches and migraines too. I wear a mouthguard during stressful times to protect my teeth from grinding. (I'm on my third mouthguard now - as I've bitten through the previous ones!! ) My headaches are also hormonal and I'm another fan of Syndol which is the only painkiller that works for me. Another tip I got from the Headache Clinic that really works for me is to "live like your Gran!" - i.e. keep to a regular schedule, get up and go to sleep at the same time every day and eat sensible meals at the same time every day. I find that if, say, I have a weekend lie-in or miss a meal then I'm certain to get a migraine. Headaches and migraines are so different to each individual, it really is trial and error to find out what helps yours. It sounds like you've had a really stressful time recently, so hopefully relaxing in the half-term will be the ideal tonic for you. Good Luck, I hope you will be clear headed very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I wear a mouthguard during stressful times to protect my teeth from grinding. (I'm on my third mouthguard now - as I've bitten through the previous ones!! ) I've bitten through the soft ones before the one I have now is solid although in the 2 years I've been wearing it I have worn a little ridge in it. I wear it constantly and TBH I think at the moment the nights are not the problem but I@m holding my jaw rigidly and clenching my teeth during the day. I thought I was feeling better but when I started moving around and talking again it got worse. I have to go to work tomorrow as there is a thing on after school till 9pm that I have to do - always looks so skivy to miss something like that. Still I have 2 frees if I dont get cover BUT I also have PSHE to get through - no idea what on, as per usual they will tell me an hour or two before what the topic is and as per usual I'll have no idea about it. Teaching kids who aren't interested about stuff you don't really understand is a BIG waste of everybodies time. I'll find a video on YouTube or somewhere that hopefully lasts an hour.... Anyway I've taken another of the "sleeping" tablets (they aren't they relax muscles) and I'll dose up on the co-codomol too. I might see about getting a head and neck massage as well, I have a voucher for the salon and one of my New Years Resolutions was to have one beauty treatment every month. Although I really need to spend that cash on infilling my Essex girl nails - maybe I could stretch to both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I sympathise, I get migraines and stress headaches, and have done since childhood. However both have been reduced dramatically since I had Alexander Technique lessons. I went there because of lower back pain, and this was a totally unexpected and wonderful side-effect of learning to relax my neck and jaw. I still get the occasional headache, and like Bassett I find missing a meal is almost guaranteed to bring on a migraine, but I would say they've been reduced by about 90% since I did the AT lessons. It sounds as if you've identified the cause, which is over-tension in your jaw - it's definitely worth finding a way to tackle this, whether osteopathy or relaxation or whatever works for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
