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What To Do About Morning Headaches


I wake up from sleeping (after a night of sleep or a nap) with a headache. I know it’s from the pain in my neck and positioning but I’m really starting to hate sleeping.

Anyone else have this problem and what do you do about it?

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  1. Thank you, I thought it was me or the Ebrel but I get what starts off as a tension headache (base of the neck/or front forehead) then turns to a full blown migraine that will last for days. The only thing that helps is to treat it like a migraine and limit lights, sounds, etc and add some acetaminophen.
    Also, fyi, I tried to stay away from the biolic meds as long as possible. Changed the foods I ate, complet 180 to an anti-inflammatory food plan. It definitely helped for a while. However, I wish my doctor would have pushed a little harder on how much the biolic meds halt, sometimes stop the progression of the painful symptoms. I still try to keep my food straight on the same food plan but the meds were definitely more helpful and I wish I knew more sooner. Good luck!

    1. I thought it was just me and my neck. Thank you for sharing. If mine is really bad I take ibuprofen with my coffee and it usually takes at least an hour to dissipate enough to function.

      1. Often times it is not exactly what works for others that helps the most, rather it is what works for us that matters. I am glad you found something that works well for you !!

    2. Hi all,
      I’m new to the site and chiming in as I searched on morning headaches w AS. I was diagnosed 13 yrs ago and Humira has helped take off the edge. But for past 3 yrs I wake up w splitting headaches 3 out of 4 nights, generally around 3:00 AM. Advil helps after an hour or so but hate taking so much. I think it’s from neck stiffness? After two cups of coffee it feels better but often exhausted due to poor sleep by of headaches. No answers, just sharing..,
      Thanks,
      John

      1. Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm glad you found our community 😀 Welcome!

        -Anthony (Team Member)

    3. Thanks for the response, Katie! Sorry to hear of your allergy to Humira, especially because it was working for you. I have opted to not go the medication route. It’s a tough one for me as I’m a nutritionist and feel like conditions often can be controlled by healthy diet and lifestyle. Because much of AS is due to inflammation, I have tried very hard to reduce it. Unfortunately, despite my efforts, I have finally succumbed to muscle relaxers and 800mg ibuprofen to control spasms and pain. This helps with my headaches a lot except in a flare which then is not enough to stop the headaches. Like you, usually once I get up and have coffee, the headaches dissipate some but they usually come on about 2am so it makes for a horrible night of sleep! Ugh! Interested to hear how other people respond as well and maybe it’s time I decide on other meds as well.

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