92 year old Mom is still suffering from chronic headaches. Any ideas?

Maybe find a pain clinic, but definitely find a doctor who is willing to help her. I know that currently there is a huge push back against narcotics but that is no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water; those with chronic, debilitating pain need relief and with careful monitoring I can't see any good reason to deny them.

I had chronic headaches. Once I started using a cpap machine I have ZERO headaches. My sleep apnea was the cause. If your mom has dementia it may be hard to get used to a cpap though. My mom was unable to use hers.

Update:  Last week I took my Mom to the ER because she was in agony with a horrible headache.  They did a CT-Scan which came out normal and the ER doctor explained that we need her pain managed so he prescribed a narcotic called Norco (10 tablets), yes I heard about this drug and the side effects.  It is hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Tylenol).

The ER doctor had a long talk with me about this medication and the possible side effects.  I started with half a tablet and watched my Mom like a hawk.  The next morning I gave her a full tablet and she didn't have any side effects, only relief.   She didn't get dizzy, her personality was the same, etc.  

Then I made an app't with her family doctor and showed him the paperwork from the ER.   He would not write a prescription for the Norco.  He words were to me "I do not prescribe narcotics"... 

I lost my temper and said to my Mom "we are wasting our time here" and we walked out. 

I do understand the family doctor's concern but my Mom took this medication for 2-1/2 days and she was fine.   So what is the family doctor's problem?   Or I am being naïve here?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.  I am in the process of changing my Mom's doctor after I received an excellent recommendation for this new doctor. 

I don't think my Mom has food allergies (except for being lactose intolerant).  I give her very plain food, no spices, etc.  She doesn't consume caffeine. 

Her pain is above her eyes and after doing some research I think it's possible she could have a sinus infection but I'm not a doctor.  I have used a netti pot on her and that gives her relief (irrigating her nasal passages). 

I'm going to heat up some ACV (apple cider vinegar) with water and let her breathe that in and see if that helps her.  ACV is supposed to be good for sinus infections. 

She also has an eye app't the end of this month.   Hoping she gets relief soon!

Does she have migraine's? I'd see a doctor who specializes to see. I've heard that Botox injections are a new, effective treatment for them.

Jenna, have you considered food sensitivity? I am a chocolate lover but as the years have passed, I get TERRIBLE headaches from the food I love and have always eaten.
Study the foods she is eating and see if there are any common ingredients that are in them. MSG? Caffeine? Soy? all can be headache triggers. You can google common ingredients. My friend's daughter was so laid up with headaches. And stomach issues. It was MSG .
You can try an elimination diet process where you cut out certain foods for a period of time. Good luck.

The fiorinal with codeine is a very strong medication and we had to discontinue it when mom became frail. Mom knew it was addictive and used it sparingly but she often said that it offered such relief to her chronic headaches. Something that has helped mom in recently is the OTC muscle pain ointment Myoflex applied over her forehead and temples and around her neck and shoulders.

Thanks so much cwillie!  I am going to research the meds you listed and print them out for her doctor.  I also can't believe her doctor won't prescribe her medication that is stronger then ibuprofen!   If my Mom gets relief from a prescription pain killer at her age what's wrong with that?   I just don't understand doctors... 

Jenna

If it is bad enough that you went through all of those tests then it is bad enough for more than simple over the counter treatments, has no one offered anything more effective than ibuprofen? My mom got some relief from the beta blocker propranolol (which was serendipitous since she was originally prescribed it after heart attacks and surgery), and for years she relied on fiorinal (a combination of ASA, butalbital, caffeine and codeine). Although these specific meds may not be indicated for your mother I've included them to give you a starting point in searching for more effective solutions.