Posted by Andrew Mytys (136.1.1.101) on June 09, 2000 at 16:40:29:
In looking over this site, it seems that there is a lot of "head banging" going on out there.
I know the pain... It feels like something is trying to push its way out of your skull, and relief is in site by pounding "it" back into your head, where it belongs.
I've never actually done this, because I know that the pain will go away in an hour or so, and I don't want to have additional pain in the morning from all that head-banging.
Instead, I do the following:
. Fill a 1/2 gal zip-loc with ice
. Wrap a washcloth around the zip-loc
. Press that in the temple/eye area where the pain is centralized
The combination of multiple pressure points (each cube of ice) that momentarily hyper stimulates (that ice is COLD) areas around the pain center seems to help.
It's like two sensations (the cold from the ice touching the skin and the headache) canceling each other out, at least momentarily.
After about ten minutes of "ice" technique, I put on a tight-fitting winter hat (knit or fleece, children's size). The pressure of the tight fit around my head combined with the aftereffects of the ice allow me to go back to sleep.
Going by the "Kip" scale, if I'm above a #8 this won't work anymore - I'm stuck looking like Dr. Bruce Banner (Bill Bixbey) turning into the Incredible Hulk (although I'm still 160 lbs...)