Journal Prompt: List everything you have tried to find relief from migraine.
Ah, the infamous, "Have you tried...?" question. It feels like you've tried everything, doesn't it? We want to know, what have you tried? What's worked and what hasn't?
Physical therapy
chiropractic treatments
Botox injections
several different scripts: Pamelor, Topamax, Skelaxin, Nurcept (sp?) and Norco
I'm allergic to NSAIDS, nothing in that area
Head On, an OTC stick wiped across forehead
TENS unit
Ice wraps and cap
Heating pad
CBD gummies and creamYou Are a Fighter!!
For me
(Allergic to Triptans and Ergotramine)
PT, Chiropractic, Myofascial Release, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Massage, Biofeedback, Hypnotherapy, A Dental specialist who ground down parts of molars to help with clenching…(I don’t remember much about it as I was also in ECT treatments for depression), chugging 4 double shots of espresso at onset, elimination diets (all at some point in the past 40 years—but recently (last 2 years)-Relafen (strongest nsaid I have tried and when I take it along with Ubrelvy I feel like it gives it a boost)
-Aimovig, Emgality, Ajovy
-Vyepti Infusion (every 3 months-have only had one but…🤞🏻)
-Prednisone burst and taper (as a way to break migraines lasting longer than 4-5 days)
-In really bad migraines—IV Infusions of 1 liter saline, 75mg Benadryl, 1000mg Depakote, 75mg
Thorazine.Unfortunately, as we all know, there is never 1 thing that guarantees relief. Looking forward to more ideas!!
Hi, Annie! I just saw your list and there are quite a few interesting things on there, in addition to some of the common meds most of us are familiar with. I'm really curious about the myofascial release experience ... do they mostly work on your neck? And hypnotherapy, that sounds really cool, too! Do you feel like that's been helpful? We don't have a lot of articles on hypnotherapy, so if you want to talk about it, feel free to start a new forum topic. I have a million questions but don't want to overwhelm you, haha.
Generally it seems that migraine treatments are as unique as we are ... people who are experiencing migraine from a longterm injury might respond better to certain treatments, like massage or myofascial release, than those who have hormonal migraines, for example. So glad you have this broad list of possibilities to explore. Thanks for sharing! -Melissa, team memberHypnotherapy was the key for me. I was taking more and more painkillers (fiorinal with codeine) and it was worrying me. As a child if I got a headache and could lie down it would go away, but if I couldn't, it would last for days - that is where I got the idea to try hypnotherapy. At the time I was getting 1-2 migraines a week.
Turns out that my type A personality had me stressed all the time. A lot of the therapy was learning what stress felt like when it was first starting and learning to shut it down. Then we did directed sessions where I would imagine a calm situation where my hands were hot and my head cool. It redirects the blood away from the head. I can't say that I used that method to stop a migraine in its tracks, but the frequency went way down and the medicine worked again. It also helped me not freak out when an attack was coming which also lessened the severity of the headaches. It really improved my quality of life. For many years I was down to 2-3 migraines per year. Full disclosure, I recently moved to an area with tons of juniper which sheds pollen almost all year round and heavy pollen is another trigger. I am now on Topomax which has me back down to a few per year. I am lucky in that. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Barb Walsh
Healers
MediumsVery interesting. Were these helpful for you? -Melissa, team member
Hello 👋🏻,
Neurologist prescribed
1. Topiramate - not worked
2. Candesartan - not worked
3. Propranolol - not worked
4. Duloxetine - partly worked
5. Pizotifen - most worked but not fully
6. Botox inj for 1 year 90% worked. Complex headache clinic at UCLH-London
I had to come off Botox due to inj later started to flare up and aggravated FND seizure.
As an alternative I was put on 7. new medicine - Venlafaxine
Botox was amazing. I have not tried heat or cooling pad but will give a try...
However, recently I started to develop no clue why more severe head /migraine pain that also gives me horrendous frontal headache with more severe weakness mainly on my left arm. eye pain with more droopy right eyelid too that I couldn't see well.
A week ago this more severe migraine was triggered by flashing light during eye check which caused me a seizure with loss of consciousness. According the ED doctor and paramedics I have had tonic-clonic seizure.
I read on an australian website that some people in rare cases with hemiplegic migraine can experience severe weakness, nystagmus, ataxia. Coordination issue which can become permanent and cognitive issue. For some people between migraine attacks can accompany epileptic seizure.
Anybody has had experienced such an event as my one .??? 🤔when I was 35 years old I had a complex partial seizure at work. After that seizure I started having them regularly, several a day or week. It took more than a year, many scans and tests and a visit to a specialty clinic to confirm they were brought on by my migraines. Today I am seizure free but must still take anti-seizure medication. I have hemiplegic migraines. Only about 1% of the population get them. There is no abortive at this time and nothing to prevent them as well. I get them about 4 times a week in various strengths. They can last from 10 minutes to 20 hours. Most of mine effect my right side. It usually starts with my tongue. A numbness on the right side that garbles my speech. Then I lose sight in my right eye. I may or may not get bells palsy on that side. I lose the strength in my right arm and leg. It looks like I am having a stroke. If I am at home I simply take my meds ( ketamine 50 mg and magnesium, B6,b2 concoction) and go to bed till it passes. If I am out, (especially alone) I spend my time trying to convince the well meaning passerby not to call 911 and send me to the ER. I can not tell you how many stroke alerts that I have been through. Even though I have a medic alert bracelet saying I have atypical migraines. One year I had 12 CT scans until I had my sister designated my medical power of attorney. Now she fights my fights with the hospitals. I guess one day I may really have a stroke since people with hemiplegic migraines are more prone to strokes than others. But I am not going to the hospital 4 times a week. I have had 2 on my left side and I went to the hospital on those occasions because they were different. If these symptoms continue, get a neurologist familiar with hemiplegic migraines. It makes all the difference.
