Question: Severe headaches.... neuro says tension headache which could lead to depression
Answer:
Full Question:
I am a 28-year-old female, for the past month I've been suffering from severe headache. The episode starts early in the morning and lasts almost throughout the day - head hurts on both sides and the base of my neck, my neck and shoulders get stiff, sometimes it hurts behind my ears too. I was diagnosed with migraine about 10yrs ago. But all these years it has not been so severe. A recent appointment with a neurologist he said that it was a tension headache - which if not treated properly could lead to depression. No other tests were done. My pressure is 120/70, but my weight keeps fluctuating. No family history of any sort of mental illness or migraine. Kindly help. Regards, Mrs. Ramesh.
Answer:
Dear Mrs Ramesh:
You have a history that is not uncommon;
fluctuating symptoms over a long time. Your feature is that the headaches
seem to begin in the early AM, which is quite common for Migraines. Often,
headaches at the base of the neck get called "tension" headaches, but they
may be Migraines, indeed. Have you tried a Migraine-specific therapy for
your headaches? Headaches do not automatically lead to depression,
although it can be co-morbid (i.e, co-exist with) with the headaches. I
can always be glib and suggest that you seek out the local headache expert
in your area, but that would put you in (hopefully) better hands.
good luck,
John Claude Krusz
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