Happy Fibro Friday! The weather is getting warmer each day, and I find myself feeling happier and more energetic. The summer season is HERE!

June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. As someone that has dealt with chronic headaches for almost 20 years, I know a little something about a “mal à la tête” (one of the few phrases I managed to retain decades after taking my last French class). However, I was not aware there was a month dedicated to all of us that have to deal with headaches and migraines on a regular basis. I’m fortunate to have never experienced a migraine (though my mother used to have them when I was younger), but I often have tension headaches and other pain patterns.

The weird thing that I’ve noticed about having that chronic headaches is the fact that I almost always have a low level of pain going on. It’s very similar to how fibromyalgia works: pain is a fairly constant companion, but the level of pain is what makes the difference. My headache may be (on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain at all and 10 being severe enough to warrant an emergency room visit) either a 2 or an 8, but never 0. The pain is minimal on some days, but never completely gone. I’ve gotten really adept at functioning without pain medication on any day that’s less than a 5. That may sound awful, but when something has become your normal, you almost don’t recognize it. And, in the case of days where my pain level is a 1 or 2, I often feel ecstatic and like I can conquer the world!

A big part of how I manage chronic headaches is that I have an arsenal of things I do BEFORE I choose to use a pain medication. After years of using over-the-counter medication in an attempt to manage neurological and musculoskeletal pain, I became concerned with the long-term effects of these substances. Therefore, I try to avoid them for as long as I can comfortably manage. When I feel a slightly stronger headache, I don’t immediately reach for ibuprofen or acetaminophen anymore. Here’s what I try before I reach for pain

• Check my hydration levels: I drink some water, because 9 chances out of 10, I’m dehydrated. Starting my day with a large glass of water is a great move that works well when I remember it. I usually keep a large glass of water on my nightstand, so I can sip before I go to bed and finish it in the morning.
• Use my weighted eye mask: I’ve reviewed my eye mask over here before, and I still love it. There’s something about the counter pressure that really gives me relief. It’s a pretty inexpensive investment (I got mine from Amazon), and I find that laying down for a few minutes with this mask can really help with the pain.
• Do some jaw and neck stretches: since most of my headaches are tension related, gentle stretching can relieve some of the tightness that contributes to the pain. This may not be particularly helpful if you suffer with migraines, or if your headaches are not tension related. But if you find that you clench your jaw or otherwise hold your face or neck muscles tightly, stretching them gently may help to loosen up those muscles and take off some of the pressure.
• Pay attention to my triggers and actively avoid them: sometimes seasonal allergies, certain foods, or even particular daily routines can be headache triggers. If I recognize a trigger, I avoid it as much as I can. That can mean avoiding trips outside of the house during the peak pollen or poor air quality days, refraining from bread and other starchy foods, or getting extra sleep so that I don’t have an exhaustion-induced headache.
• Eat something, and make sure it’s the right food for me: sometimes, the pain comes from eating too late in the day, not eating enough throughout the day, or eating the wrong food. A huge helping of fresh fruits and vegetables tends to give me a little relief. I’m sure it’s because these foods are more easily metabolized by me, but also, fresh fruits and vegetables tend to be very hydrating.

I discuss my practices for dealing with chronic headaches in one of my recent Fibro Friday videos. You can see it below:

Do you have chronic headaches? What have you found that works in helping you to manage them?