Hoorah!

Ever since I was a wee boy, I've suffered from horrendous tension-headaches. They always start in my neck and work their way into the lower rear part of my skull and occasionally one (or both) of my temples.

I literally want to puke when I get one... only cure was to close the curtains and lie down for however many hours it would last. Talk about miserable!

However!

Don't know what prompted me to do this, but had one a number of weeks ago and for some reason I put generous dollops of Deep Heat (well it was Tesco's own brand, but you get the jist!) on the affected areas of my neck / head.

Pain gone within 20 minutes.

Fluke?

Done it half a dozen times since and it's worked every time!

Just thought I'd share it here

PS - Next week on Scootz's Top-Tip's... how to make the perfect beans on toast!

I am sure you will have already tried this if you have always had them but I find if I get a tension headache its because I haven't done any exercise.

Feels wrong to phys with a headache but a quick run/cycle/swim always sorts it out!

I've tried it, but it makes me feel like my head wants to burst when I start to exercise. I just can't push through the pain barrier.

Sounds very reasonable. Tension headaches are just that- tension within the muscles. Deep heat (+ generic versions) work by increasing blood flow to the effected area. Increased heat can make the muscles relax....

Lets hope it works from here onwards!!!

Just make sure you wash your hands well before getting jiggy with anyone otherwise we'll hear the screams from here!!!

I'm married Ben... those days are long gone!

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I'm married Ben... those days are long gone!

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Interesting concept!

PS - Next week on Scootz's Top-Tip's... how to make the perfect beans on toast!

You read my mind Adam!

*But there's a trick to the toast preparation!

ive been suffering from stress recently, the only effect being im grinding my teeth at night worse than usual. Which wouldnt really matter, except i chewed one up the other night! So now i have a shattered molar to sort out

why am i laughing?

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Originally posted by JoelP
why am i laughing?

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I once thought it would be amusing to use the deep heat spray on the inside of my mates underwear in his drawer. Turns out he is allergic to the stuff...

Was very amusing for me... and mostly itchy for him!!

Whilst I'm not a 'grinder' in the true sense, I do have a tendency to clamp my jaws tight most of the time (notice it most when in bed).

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Originally posted by scootz
I do have a tendency to clamp my jaws tight most of the time (notice it most when in bed).

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A bit nookie-obsessed this evening, Ben?

looking at your x ray the teeth must be in a glass next to the bed ! you must grind them by Telepathy!!

Nope - I just have chubby-chops!

have u tried Beta Blockers to lower blood pressure ??

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Originally posted by tomblyth
looking at your x ray the teeth must be in a glass next to the bed ! you must grind them by Telepathy!!

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Have you tried looking into alternative therapies? Just wondering if acupuncture or similar could work. Do you have a soft tissue injury in the neck or something similar. Might be some massage techniques that could ease it. might be worth getting in touch with someone who is into this sort of thing.

Yep - I take Beta Blockers due to a rampant Ectopic Heartbeat (great fun... not!).

Not noticed it having an effect on my headaches.

I have found in the past that sometimes I can 'tease' the stiffness out of my neck muscles by applying hard pressure and this eases the headache. Unfortunately, it can also go the other way and send me to full blown armageddon head!