Pain

Chronic Daily Headache
Most of us get headaches from time to time, but some people have a headache more days than not, and may be suffering from a chronic daily headache. The definition of a chronic daily headache is when you have a headache at least 15 days each month, for at least three months, and the pain is not as a result of another condition.

There are three main types of chronic daily headaches: chronic migraine, chronic tension headache and new daily persistent headache. The differences between the types is that the migraine type of pain is generally on one side of the head and usually involves sensitivity to light and sound, and is usually accompanied by vomiting or nausea. Chronic tension headaches usually only last a few hours, the pain affects both sides of the head and nausea or sensitivity to light and sound does not always occur. New daily persistent headaches continue as a constant pain on both sides of the head from the moment they start, with similar symptoms to the tension headache.

All of these types of head pain affect the sufferer from carrying out their normal activities, preventing them from working to their full potential. They are regarded as disabling because they produce such a poor effect on the quality of life.

The cause of chronic daily headaches is unknown in many cases, but for some people it is the result of overusing pain medications. Taking prescription pain medicines, or even over-the-counter analgesics, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen several days each week, may cause what is known as a rebound effect. This happens when a treatment starts to cause the problem it is being used to treat. Other sufferers of this condition have also reported difficulty sleeping, anxiety, depression, as well as caffeine overuse or sudden withdrawal of caffeine containing drinks.

Treatment for chronic daily headaches depends on the type of headache. Ideally, you need to remove the cause of the problem, if possible and if it has been identified. The first step is generally withdrawing all pain relieving medicines and any likely substances that may be causing the head pain, such as coffee. Treating underlying conditions, such as anxiety, may help to prevent the condition occurring, so antidepressants are often the first treatments used as they have a dual effect. Low doses of migraine-preventing medicines, such as beta blockers, may also be helpful as preventers of these headaches, and if these are not successful then specialist intervention is required for more complex medication to prevent and relive this condition.

If you or your family are affected by chronic or persistent headaches, then talk to your pharmacist. Your pharmacist will be able to talk to you about what you may have used to treat the pain, what the possible causes might be, and refer you on for further diagnosis and treatment if required.

Chronic daily headaches limit the quality of life for all who suffer from them and they are distressing for all to see. Don’t rely on self-diagnosis and treatment for common pain problems - consult your community pharmacist. They are trained and able to help you with both treatments and advice.

 

Headaches
Most people can get headaches from time to time. Some people are unlucky enough to get a headache nearly every day. Headaches can be caused by a number of different reasons, including lack of sleep or stress. They can also come about after consuming the wrong food or drink, or too much, or too little, of either.

More serious headaches occur very rarely and are generally the result of an injury, such as a fall or knock to the head. This, in turn, causes bleeding in an area of the brain that leads to a build up of pressure. Headaches associated with these types of injuries are often very severe and are generally accompanied by other symptoms, such as loss of consciousness.

Severe headaches may be a sign of a serious condition such as a brain tumour. These types of headaches cause intense pain and are often preceded by other symptoms like seizures, changes in vision or loss of strength in the arms and legs.

Somewhere in between these two extremes are headaches resulting from sinus pain, such as when you have an infection, a cold or influenza. When the sinus cavities fill up with infected liquid, sudden head movements often cause a deep throbbing pain.

If you get headaches frequently, then you need to seek advice from a health professional. Your community pharmacist can help you identify situations that cause your headaches. Often it may be as simple as avoiding the activity that causes the headache – some people get a sharp headache after eating ice cream, others from over exertion. In both these cases, avoidance is the best treatment.

Some people are unfortunate enough to suffer from migraines. There are many effective treatments available to treat and prevent migraines. Ensure you get your condition diagnosed by your doctor and follow their advice about treatment options. You can also talk to your community pharmacist about managing your lifestyle to lessen the effects of these conditions.

Treating most headaches is generally simple. If the pain is so severe that you do not believe that a simple pain relieving medicine will fix the problem, then get medical help immediately. Pain relieving medication, such as paracetamol, will ease most headaches. But if you have tried paracetamol, and it hasn’t helped, then your pharmacist will be able to advise you on the next step to take to resolve your symptoms.

If you are unsure of the cause of your headache, and don’t know whether or not to get help from a doctor, then talk to your local community pharmacist. They will be able to guide you to a likely cause and give clear advice about whether treating the headache, or the cause of the pain, will be enough.

 

Neck Pain
Neck pain can affect all of us at some stage of our lives. It may occur because of a number of reasons, but for most of us it may be simply treated and prevented.

Mild pain in the neck may occur from sitting in the wrong position, particularly when looking at a computer or screen, putting your head, neck and shoulders in an unnatural position for too long without regular changes of posture.

More severe or persistent neck pain may also involve injuries to the shoulder or collarbone, or from pinched nerves in the spine. Whiplash injuries, usually from motor vehicle accidents, are another major cause of persistent neck pain. Wearing an approved seat belt is common sense to help minimise whiplash or more serious injuries.

Neck pain may be described as dull, cramping, stabbing or a range of these, depending on the cause of the pain. Pain from pinched nerves is often described as burning or stabbing, whereas muscle injury pain is usually cramping, and often worsens on movement, particularly after a period of rest.

Neck pain as a result of arthritis in the spine can also pinch nerves as the vertebra collapse or change shape. Neck pain may vary in type and intensity, and may cause pain to spread or radiate to other areas of the body, such as the shoulder and further down the backbone. Pain may also cause muscle weakness, both from limiting movement in that area to prevent the pain occurring and from actual damage to the area.

If neck pain, or any pain, is severe or crushing, then it is important to consult your doctor or go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital at once in order to rule out the possibility of heart problems or other conditions that may cause pain to radiate out from the heart to other areas.

Your community pharmacist can advise you if any neck pain that you may be suffering from may be treated with treatments from the pharmacy. They will also refer you to your doctor, a physiotherapist or other health professional if needed.

Rest is helpful for mild neck pain or an injury so try to limit uncomfortable neck positions for two or three days after it first occurs. If you must work at a screen, have regular breaks, at least every 20 minutes. Use this break time to rotate the neck and shoulders or take a short walk for a minute or two before returning to the screen or keyboard again.

Mild pain relieving medicine is helpful, your pharmacist can advise on the best medicine and the correct dose for you in order to relieve the pain. It is important to not use pain reliever medicines to allow you to continue to do what caused the problem in the first place. Your pharmacist has the treatment and advice that will help you to manage and prevent neck pain.