Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

I suffer of almost daily headaches for years now. I am 65 yrs old. I tried everything and nothing helps. I take lots of pain medications and it's a vicious cycle, rebound headaches and so forth. I'm also overweight and have a non alcoholic fatty liver, because I have a very sedentary lifestyle, because of my headaches. I don't know how to help myself anymore and my neurologist doesn't either!!! Does anyone have any suggestion? Thank you very much, Mia

I feel your pain, Mia. I have had a daily persistent headache/migraine for 27 months every minute of every day. I have been treating at Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia with no luck. I am seeing a cervicogenic neck doctor now. Tomorrow I will be trying a vagus nerve stimulator. Hang in there and keep searching. Mikayla

Hi Patricia @angiedani, Welcome to Connect. Here is some information I found that may help answer your question.

"Can baclofen make muscle spasms worse?
Take as directed. Baclofen oral tablet is used for either short-term or long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don't take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don't take it at all: Your muscle spasms won't get better and may get worse."
-- Baclofen, Oral Tablet - Side Effects, Dosage, Uses & More: https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/baclofen-oral-tablet

"Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted ... legs, feet, or sex organs; loss of appetite; muscle ache or pain ..."
-- Gabapentin (Oral Route) Side Effects - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/gabapentin-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20064011

Have you discussed you severe muscle cramps with your doctor or pharmacist to see if gabapentin or baclofen may be causing the muscle cramps?

Hello Mia @renatami, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @mikaylar and others. I know it must be extremely difficult when you've tried a lot of different things and nothing seems to help with your chronic headaches. The American Migraine Foundation has some Patient Guides that you may find helpful - https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/patient-guides/

I know it can be difficult to make lifestyle changes when you are not feeling good and struggling day by day. I lived most of my adult life being well overweight and only the past few years decided to try making some changes to improve my health. You might want to view the following discussion to see if it is something you might consider trying as a lifestyle change -- Low-carb healthy fat living. Intermittent fasting. What’s your why?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-carb-healthy-fat-living-intermittent-fasting-whats-your-why/

Have you tried any type of exercise that might help? Here's a video with some easy things to try.
https://youtu.be/w8uH9c5WpX0

Thank you, John

How do you deal with chronic ibs pain ?

Hi Patricia, I asked about this yesterday too. If you search gabapentin you should see quite a bit of information. But I started gabapentin and severe muscle cramps began within a few days. I stopped taking it. They were really bad. I am seeing others with same experiences.

I'm guessing if you're seeing neurologist that they have done testing that your neck is structurally ok. No discs out or vertebrae issues. The other thing that I know of that has caused migraines is TMJ. These are just thought from my own experiences or know about TMJ from a friend.

Thank you and yes I am aware of it. I do not have TMJ and additionally I am wearing the custom made night guard to prevent grinding my teethes a night. I was diagnosed with the fatty liver about a year ago. I am overweight, I do not exercise and I've been taking statins for cholesterol and other pain medications for my headaches. I am aware that all of that could contribute to my headaches. Today I already woke up with severe headaches, now feeling better after taking 2 different medications, and was unable to work. Nothing really helps. I was getting botox shots every 3 months, 3 different monthly injections to prevent headaches and now I've been taking Nurtec 75mg every other day to prevent headaches and I still have headaches. I found something called fatty liver migraines. However, I've had headaches for years now and my liver was ok. Since March I've been going for myofascial therapy every week, even today and I still have headaches, which are totally debilitating.

What is ibs?