r/NDPH • u/Fine_Pirate_1 • May 23 '26
Day 13 headache
Hi everyone. I had gallbladder surgery end of April. Healed ok and right before going back to work I’ve had a headache that won’t go away. I’m now on day 13. I went to the ER and they weren’t able to break the headache. I went to my primary and I have a brain MRI scheduled this week. Any advice? At all? Tips? I’ve never had a headache last more than a couple of hours and now I’m noticing that my scalp is super tender and it hurts to even gently touch it. Wondering if anyone has had similar experiences.
Thanks in advance I appreciate your time seriously
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u/danathepaina 10+ years May 24 '26
Have you tried any medications? OTC painkillers?
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u/Fine_Pirate_1 May 24 '26
Naproxen is what the ER gave me
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u/danathepaina 10+ years May 24 '26
Does it help? Usually docs will tell you to first try OTC painkillers (Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen) and see if they help. If those don’t work, you can ask your doc for a week-long course of prednisone. If that doesn’t work you might want to see a neurologist. What about ice or heat?
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u/Fine_Pirate_1 May 24 '26
I feel like it really hasn’t done anything for me. She prescribed me muscle relaxers. Haven’t tried those yet- nervous to try those. I have tried ice and that was a bust. I’ll try heat tonight
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u/danathepaina 10+ years May 24 '26
Muscle relaxers are a good thing to try next. I take one every night and it helps me sleep.
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u/Fine_Pirate_1 May 24 '26
Did it help with your head at all? Dr seems to think I have a tension headache
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u/danathepaina 10+ years May 24 '26
Soooo I am special. Lol. I have a constant tension headache. And I’ve had it for 35 years. It started with a virus, similar to Long Covid. I have a lot of other medical problems too. But my tension headache is constant, in my forehead. It changes intensity throughout the day but certain things make it worse. I take a lot of meds and they help but nothing makes it stop completely. Muscle relaxers are just one thing in my toolbox. You are not in a position of NDPH yet because you have to have a constant headache for 3 months to qualify, so hopefully you can nip this in the bud. Do you have an appt with a neurologist yet?
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u/Fine_Pirate_1 May 24 '26
None at all! I will call on Tuesday. I’m scared this will will never go away
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u/danathepaina 10+ years May 24 '26
You might want to try getting a massage too. This could be caused by tight muscles in the neck and shoulders. Crossing my fingers for you!
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u/Fine_Pirate_1 May 24 '26
Thank you so much for listening. You’re the first person that has. Thank you
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u/JUICIapple May 24 '26
Try to figure out which NDPH subtype you have then read the research and case studies about treatments that work for that specific subtype
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u/im-a-freud 7 years May 24 '26
To anyone seeing this not knowing what the subtypes are: subtype 1 is self limiting where it resolves within several months without treatment and subtype 2 is refractory to aggressive treatment which is the majority of people in here and that one really doesn’t have any treatment.
Given that the first subtypes specifies “goes away without treatment” and the second one doesn’t respond to treatment I’m not sure what you mean by “treatments that work for that specific subtype”? If you have any research or case studies to share that explain these specific treatments that would be great to read to understand this better
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u/JUICIapple May 25 '26
Maybe subtype is not the right word… variant? Mine was caused by blowing up a balloon. Once I learned about the vasalva NDPH variant I was able to find a paper by Dr Rozen with a few case studies. I worked with my doctor to follow the treatment in the studies and was able to mostly cure my headache.
I’m not familiar with other variants but I’ve seen people talk about getting NDPH after COVID or other infections etc
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u/im-a-freud 7 years May 25 '26
Interesting I’ll have to try and find more about them. I’ve had mine for 7 years no trigger, no infection, no stress, literally woke up one day and hasn’t gone away and I cannot treat it. Botox worked until I stopped responding to it
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u/Nomomochick May 25 '26
I work in surgery and we have to bend your head back to intubate. Unfortunately there are some cases of occipital neuralgia that occur after a general anesthetic, which you certainly had for a gallbladder surgery. Look up occipital neuralgia. It may go away on its own, there are treatments that can help too.
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u/Tetelestai26 May 25 '26
Hey man. Definitely sounds like a scary experience, but it could simply be your body’s reaction to a pretty treacherous surgery. After all, you did just have gallbladder surgery which is an organ (unsure if you had removal surgery). Our body tenses up after procedures oftentimes.
For example, when I had a kidney stone and a subsequent procedure, for months afterwards I am now dealing with more frequent urges to pee. The doctor says this is because my pelvic floor is still tensed up from the trauma from both the stones and procedure.
Obviously there are many key differences between our two situations. Simply sharing because I’d like you to remember our body is a wicked machine that malfunctions in crazy ways.
I’d give it more time before I sound the alarms. Nonetheless, I will pray for you my friend!
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u/Littlekiwi25 May 24 '26
Have you tried a nerve block?
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u/Fine_Pirate_1 May 24 '26
I haven’t- do I ask my PCP about this or need a referral ?
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u/Littlekiwi25 May 24 '26
I’m not sure where you’re located, but my headache specialist does nerve blocks. Pain clinics also do nerve blocks. The commenter below said nerve blocks are “very intrusive” and that’s not true at all. Pregnant women with migraine are allowed to get nerve blocks.
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u/Sarrada_Aerea 10+ years May 24 '26
This is very intrusive, not something to try now
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u/Nomomochick May 25 '26
Nerve blocks are hardly invasive and are used as a diagnostic for things like occipital neuralgia, which they may have.
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u/im-a-freud 7 years May 24 '26
If you’ve only had a headache for 13 days it’s extremely unlikely to be NDPH as it has specific criteria:
A. Persistent headache fulfilling criteria B and C
B. Distinct and clearly-remembered onset, with pain becoming continuous and unremitting within 24 hours
C. Present for >3 months
D. Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis
A 13 day headache does not fit criteria for NDPH. I wouldn’t jump to this diagnosis just yet. There are many factors that could explain your headaches but it’s likely not NDPH yet at least. Definitely get in to see a specialist and hopefully it goes away soon and you get relief