Valsalva Headache

By arj395

1 min read

Hi everyone, My name is Linda and I have been suffering with valsalva headaches for the last 18 months. They started very suddenly, brought on by laughing and coughing. The pain stops me in my tracks and lasts for about 5-10 seconds each time. They are excrutiating and it terrifies me socialising with friends as when I laugh (which is often) I end up practically screaming in pain. My neurologist has recommended I take Indomethacin 3 times a day and also a stomach protector at the same time. Please tell me I'm not alone. Does anyone have any alternative remedies that may help? Many thanks.

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jennlMember
Hi Lindyloo- Thank you so much for sharing your story - and we are so sorry to hear what you've been going through! You're certainly not alone here. To answer your question, in addition to the treatment you've been prescribed by your neurologist, these articles on complementary alternative therapies may be useful: <a href='https://migraine.com/complimentary-and-alternative-therapies' target='_blank'>http://migraine.com/complimentary-and-alternative-therapies/</a>. Additionally, this article is an intro to complementary and alternative medicine and may be helpful as well: <a href='https://migraine.com/blog/migraineurs-guide-cam-introduction' target='_blank'>http://migraine.com/blog/migraineurs-guide-cam-introduction/</a>. Please do feel free to keep us posted on how you're doing. We'll be thinking of you and sending you our best. Warmly, Jenn (Community Manager, <a href='https://migraine.com' target='_blank'>Migraine.com</a>)
n28eidMember
Hi Lyndyloo. I had the same problem almost a year ago. I sneezed and suddenly I had this splitting headache, like if something bursted inside my skull. It lasted a few seconds, and the next time I sneezed or coughed it was the same. It was accompanied by lightheadedness and blurry vision. I checked with a neurologist and diagnosed the same Valsalva headache. I had a MNR done and everything was negative. The doctor gave me indomethacin for a few weeks. Since there was no organic origin (no tumor or anything similar) he said that normally as it appeared it would disappear. Now I have it once in a while, but I'm not on meds anymore. I've suffered also from migraine since I was a child (I'm 42 now), and this was a completely new kind of headache. I hope your's will solve soon.
whizbang71Member
I'm suffering from the exact same symptoms, valsalva headaches which come on strong with exertion, laughing, coughing, sneezing, raising my voice, or bending over. Negative cranial MRI and MRV tests. No apparent cause. It's been 3 solid months. Though it's been getting better, it's still awful. As a professional actor, it's life-altering and negatively impacting my ability to do my job. My neurologist just prescribed a beta-blocker, which makes no sense. I feel like I'm in the woods. Just looked up "valsalva headaches" and found myself here. Did anyone get an actual diagnosis?
Melissa ArnoldMember
Hi, whizbang. Sorry you're going through this! We certainly understand how aggravating and scary it can be to be dealing with headaches of any kind, especially when it affects your ability to function. The headaches you describe are also called "cough headaches." Maybe this article about them would be useful for you: <a href='https://migraine.com/headache-types/cough-headaches' target='_blank'>https://migraine.com/headache-types/cough-headaches</a> We can't give medical advice for your own safety, but have you ever had migraines prior to these experiences? Are you working with a headache specialist? Not all neurologists are experts in headache treatment, so we encourage people to see a certified headache specialist whenever possible. Have you been given any medications for your headaches that helped? Of course, we don't know your full history, and with headaches like these it's important to make sure they rule out other medical conditions. Ultimately, migraine is considered a "diagnosis of exclusion" because so many other things must be ruled out first. As far as the beta blocker goes, they are actually part of migraine treatment for many people, including those here on the site. While they are most often associated with heart and blood pressure conditions, it turns out in some cases they can also help with migraine. Here's an article about that: <a href='https://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/beta-blockers-for-migraine-headaches' target='_blank'>https://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/beta-blockers-for-migraine-headaches</a> I hope some of what I've mentioned is helpful. We're glad to have you here -- please keep us posted on how you're doing and ask as many questions as you'd like. Take care! -Melissa, <a href='https://migraine.com' target='_blank'>migraine.com</a> team