Pain relief?

[Jackinpain]

Is there anything that I can take that will get rid of my headaches so I can get back to having a normal life?

[actressmouse]

It depends...everyone's different, so what works for me may not necessarily work for you.  I have found that it's trial and error.  I have something PRN that doesn't get rid of the headaches entirely, but takes enough of "the edge" off so I can function.  Then again, what works now, may not later on and there may need to be a change in meds.  Make sure you have a good pain MD who will listen to you describe your pain without interrupting for 5 mins.  No one can describe your pain better than you, and a good MD will listen as you put it into your words.  Good luck!

[zygy2]

I don't know why but my headaches during the chiari journey seem to be helped by Excederine and I have tried so many different things, both prescription and not and for some reason it is the caffine that seems to help me the most.  It stinks because I like to sleep at night but when choosing between pain or not sleeping I choose not sleeping when I get bad headaches.  

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Well it all depends on if u have chiari HA's or if u have a diff type of HA., I will assume that since u r here in the chiari forum that u were dx with chiari.

I also see u r in the state of Washington...and from other members I spoke with up ur way, there r not really ne chiari specialists up there that we have been able to uncover. So u may have to travel a bit to get to one that will do all the testing in order to see what is best for u.

Most will do a CINE MRI this is to check if u have a CSF obstruction and overcrowding...and a MRI of the cervical spine, thoracic and lumbar spine this is to rule out a syrinx, and possible tethered cord, and ne disk issues.....they will do other testing as well to check for conditions with similar symptoms like lupus, MS, and lymes. Hashimotos thyroiditis, etc....

Chiari  is a life altering condition...and u can live a "normal" life with some parameters...so u do not trigger symptoms...but it all depends on what u classify as "normal"..."normal" for u will be with the parameters...and u may have some residual symptoms that u have to manage....

What r ur other symptoms besides HA's?

    "selma"