Whats the difference between a tension and a migraine headache?

Question

i went to the er last night and the er dr said she thought i might be getting tension headaches instead of migraines. i plan to call my dr on monday. but the thing is i still had a headache on my way home from the hospital. they gave me 2 shots. and my nauseousness went away but my headache is still there. even today. i am at my wits end. has anybody else dealt with a similar situation? and does anybody know anything i might can do?

additional info:

i am hypoglycemic.

i have been being treated for migraine for a little over a year.

when i get one it last for at least a week at a time. (constant)

i experience aura's. (not only b4 they start but during also)

and yesterday wa the first time i was nauseous.

and i found not found a medicine that will make the headache go away.

i am beginning to wonder if it is not some kind of medical problem that is causing my headaches.

Answer 1

First of all you have my deepest sympathies.  Your headaches sound like migraines to me but from my experience most doctors know little about what causes headaches or what type of headache you have.  I had frequent headaches for 14 years after a spinal myelogram and was told it was and wasn't a migraine by different doctors.  In fact dealing with doctors who were sceptical and who wrote wacky off-label prescriptions was almost as bad as dealing with the headaches.  It would be helpful to know what meds you have tried in the past and what triggers your headaches.  Pay close attention to what you put into your body both medication and otherwise.  Research every med they give you and remember that you are the best judge of what works and what side effects you are willing to put up with.  When they give you a shot find out what it is and the dosage.  Take control of your health by learning as much as possible.  Also consider asking to see a headache specialist.

Answer 2

Tension headaches are caused by the muscles in your neck and head tightening and tightenings until the strain of the muscles causes a headache..... a muscle relaxer will cure them

Migraines are caused by inflamation of blood vessels along the outside of the brain, and can be incredibly painful even deblitating, needing far more than a simple muscle relaxer to cure

you can work through a tension headache, a migraine will put you down the rest of the day...

note: most people who say "i have a migraine" have no idea what a migraine is really like....  if you are getting them you have my deepest sympathies