What else can I do when everything else fails?
Hey guys, I’m a female in my mid 20s battling different kinds of migraines for over a decade. I just want to know, when all the prescriptions don’t work or stop working, when you’ve tried over the counter medicine and home remedies and the expensive massages and chiropractor visits, even the excruciating painful neurologist visits with receiving injections all over my face, head, and trigger points and still end up in the hospital a few times out of the year with a IV in your arm feeding you a migraine cocktail, increasing your debt to all of your medical bills trying to figure out a cure for all your migraines.. what else can you do or try?
HI Alex279,
Thank you for your question. Many of us have been where you are, it's SO frustrating. The first thing that comes to mind is that even though it feels like we've tried everything out there for migraine prevention, it probably isn't the case. There are over 100 medications and supplements that can be used to treat migraine disease! When you get a moment take a look at this article; https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-preventives-start/.
It may be time to seek out the expertise of "true" migraine expert rather than a general neurologist. Neurologists may be fine doctors, but have a hard time being experts in one area because they treat so many different conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and others. These expert migraine disease/headache disorder doctors are board certified in headache medicine, which is different than being certified in neurology. You can read more about how these doctors are different and how to find one; http://migraine.com/blog/how-are-migraine-specialists-different/
and https://migraine.com/blog/really-find-headache-specialist/.
Please let us know how you are doing,
NancyHey Alex279
I understand what you’re going through I’m in the same boat. My physicians are basically starting back at step one for another attempt. Medications that used to work for me have either changed their classification, or have been discontinued. I haven’t found a medication that works to get rid of my migraines only ones that keep me from having to go to ER. I went to see a “New to me” migraine specialist and her exact words to me were “you’ve exhausted everything I can think of, I don’t have any idea of a treatment plan.”
The best advice I could give is to do what I had to do a couple years back and pick one physician (talk to them about it first) and make them all talk to another so there is at least one person that can try to help to direct the next step. I got fed up as the doctor I requested to be my primary director of treatment/medication (he isn’t the only one that writes the rx) but they all discuss prior to making a change or trying a new idea, it’s worked out better then before because I at least feel that the doctor I’m working with knows me and what my body does so there isn’t any confusion in trying to move forward. As I stated earlier my primary physician looked over her notes and was less then impressed, but it’s nice to know that you have someone in your corner.
Hello Alex279. You mention you have been to a neurologist and received injections, which sound likely to be Botox. If your neuroligist is not a Headache Specialist, I suggest you see one. There are so many medications, treatments, and combinations, that a headache specialist is needed to guide you. I was at my wits end when I was referred to my headache specialist. I still have migraines more than half the month, but that's down from 24/7. We are still experimenting, or "tinkering" as he calls it, but I have hope, and I am grateful for every migraine free day. I hope you find someone in your area who can help you. So sorry for your suffering and discouragement. Best wishes for an effective treatment plan soon.
