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Question:
Most times when I get migraines, it is the classic one sided pain right behind
the eye (for me, the right side seems more prevalent than the left -- FYI, I'm
right handed). Light nausea is common, as is spaciness (sometimes though the
extreme form of these).
However, some of my worst H/As start at the back of the head (like the one that
started yesterday at 4:30am). I usually describe it as if somebody took a
baseball bat and swung it at where my head joins my neck. It almost always
includes extreme nausea, and grogginess as as well.
From what I recall about the literature, a migraine is typically described as
the first type of headache. Do others get the second type of headache? Is it
migraine, clusters, or something else?
Answer:
Many of my migraines include that back of the neck pain. I
think it's just the migraine in my case. Usually a shot of Imitrex will
take care of it along with the eye, side of head pain.
I frequently get the back-of-the head symptoms as well -- sometimes along
with the one-sided iron spike through the skull, sometimes alone. Makes
it difficult at times to tell whether it's a migraine or tension, at least
when it starts.
Imitrex works pretty well for me, at least 75% of the time. have found that sleeping on one of those neck-support pillows helps my
neck. Now, when my neck is sore (with or without a migraine), I can
usually identify things I may have done which hurt it. However, when my
neck hurts as you describe, with the pain in the temple to boot, I know
I am in for a really bad migraine. I treat them with Tylenol #1s.
Sometimes I take an anti-nausea pill as well, which helps me to relax
and let the tylenol work better.
My mother gets the back of the head symptoms too. She has been using Midrin
for years - I'm sure there are newer better pills now. But as
soon as the back of the head hurts - she knows to take
something immediately or she will get the full symptoms you've described.
Hot washcloth on face followed by cold washcloth on neck also
helps her.
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