Chronic tension headaches for 1.5 years, nothing working – any advice?
Hi everyone, I’m 32.
I’ve been dealing with chronic tension-type headaches for about a year and a half now and I’m kind of stuck on what to do next.
So far I’ve tried:
Amitriptyline 25 mg – didn’t help
Currently on mirtazapine 15 mg – no improvement so far
Gabapentin and Cymbalta – had to stop both due to side effects
Some background:
I work in trade finance, pretty high stress, and I sit in front of a computer around 4–5 hours a day
I have Crohn’s disease and take Stelara 90 mg every 2 months
I feel tired all the time
I’m overweight (130 kg, 192 cm)
Problems with my Jaw possibly TMJ and i’ve got no idea how to deal with it.
I’ve seen multiple doctors in different countries (I live in a developing country, so healthcare is a bit limited)
Tried about 30 chiropractic sessions, no benefit
Limited head movements and mild pain in the neck area.
Eye exam came back normal
Next step I’m planning:
Seeing an ENT because my sleep study showed \~45 events per hour (sleep apnea) to see other options other than Cpap.
Questions:
What should I try next for chronic tension headaches when meds aren’t helping?
Could sleep apnea be causing or worsening this?
Are there other treatments or approaches I should look into?
Do you think I should be checking for something else entirely?
Honestly this has been really affecting my day-to-day life, so I’d really appreciate any advice or suggestions.
Thanks 🙏