Usually my headache is a 7/10 and dull on a regular day, but when I have a spike it can last from 30 minutes to 4 hours. During a spike, my pain intensity increases, I feel lethargic, and my head starts pounding. After finding out my triggers by recording my headache intensity in a pain diary, I created an effective routine that helps bring my headache back to my baseline.
Disclaimer- This is what works for me and is not guaranteed to work for others as everyone’s pain is different, but I just want to provide suggestions to try.
1. Using a headache hat- this is an ice pack but is created specifically for headaches, and has helped me cool down and decrease my spike
2. Lying down in a dark room- Light has always been one of my triggers and this significantly helps my headache level get back to my baseline. I usually lie in a dark, quiet room for 30 minutes to an hour.
3. Drinking water- this may seem simple, but most of the time my headache spikes are due to dehydration. Sometimes I don’t drink as much water and I notice that my headache starts to increase. I make sure to drink a lot of water during the day. If it’s hard for you, try drinking a glass of water every 20-30 minutes.