Can we talk about bras?

By Anna Eidt

Allodynia, or “central pain sensitization” can make regular, everyday sensations feel painful. It’s a part of living with migraine for many people, and it can turn pony tails, wool sweaters, and ill fitting socks into an all-out assault on the body, even between attacks.

When my adventures with chronic migraine began, getting dressed after a warm shower was often an intensely uncomfortable event. Putting on my favorite skinny jeans and what was previously a perfectly comfortable, well-fitting bra would make me feel like Mama Bear trying to squeeze into Goldilocks’ pajamas. Within minutes, I would collapse on the bed, sweating, and bracing myself for a tidal wave of nasty, no good migraine symptoms.

Years later, with better all-round management of the disease through medication and helpful daily habits, I rarely experience such intense sensations from the mere act of getting dressed. But -- for me at least -- the bra is still a nagging source of much discomfort, and so continues the never-ending search to find a bra that my hypersensitive brain can ignore.

Here’s a breakdown of my bra issues:Underwire: NEVER. AGAIN. I’ve tried these on but never bought one. I found them excruciating even in my pre-migraine days.Rib-Crushing Elastic Bands: To actually stay in place, the band that goes around the torso needs to be somewhat snug. Although I doubt my breathing is actually physically restricted by the bra, when I feel a migraine coming on at home and whip it off it’s as if my lungs have just been released from an Elizabethan whalebone corset. Not cool.The Itchy Scratchies: Most bras seem to always have some scratchy material on the inside of the clasp, or straps. Why?? I only notice this when my migraine symptoms get revved up, but it’s another reason whipping the bra off is so satisfying.Strap Pressure: Again, in order for a bra to stay in place and do what it does, it has to be a bit snug. When my traps are aching and the pain starts, those snug-fitting bra straps feel like they are deliberately egging on the shoulder and neck pain.Bandeau: Band-no. With no straps, the bandeau seems like a comfy idea in theory, but go about my normal day for three minutes, and rubber non-slip seams or not, that thing is either scrunched up under my armpits, or hanging down around my belly button.Bralette: This is the best solution I have found yet. Being relatively flat chested, I can get away with a sports-type bra that is all made out of the same layer of stretchy material. The straps still give me grief sometimes, and the shape is rarely as flattering as something more structured.Nipples on Display: Clearly the logical answer is to just go without. While I admire the bra-burning hippies, I have been raised in a culture that is just not encouraging of the loosey-goosey look, and I feel a bit exposed leaving the house without my most hated undergarment.Of all the things migraine brings our way, one little undergarment may seem like a trivial matter, but in this life with too much pain, I’m determined to find comfort wherever possible.Do you also deal with this discomfort? What solutions have you found? (Really, I must know.)

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lfn5
I am large in the chest, and have found a product called the BreastNest that gives great relief in the home and even outside in the winter--it's too warm in hot weather for me to wear in layers. For me it is soft and gently supports the girls without the tightness of a bra but reduces the pull of gravity on the upper chest. Thanks for this piece--I did not even equate those squirmy feelings from tight clothes and hair elastics with my migraine--which is a new diagnosis for me. Such a complex set of issues. thanks again.
1. thebynes
 Hi LFN5- I looked at the BreastNest on your recommendation, and I must confess I'm intrigued, but also confused. I've had camisoles with under-bust seaming that don't provide any "nesting" - my breasts just fall out underneath. Perhaps there are 2 layers? Also, I don't see how the seam over the breast itself could possibly be comfortable. If you (or anyone else) can address these questions, I'd so appreciate it!
minddoctor
My husband just sent me this article and asked if I wrote it! I never imagined that clothing sensitivity could be related to chronic migraine, but it certainly fits. Ever since my car accident 5 years ago left me with this disorder I've grown increasing irritated by tags, zippers or buttons, anything tight on my skin, but most especially, bras! Victoria's Secret recently had a bralette sale and I bought five and threw out all of my other bras. Granted, I still peel off all of my clothes as soon as I get home and essentially exist in loosely fitted pajamas. But when I'm out, the bralette is the only option left for me that doesn't provoke insanity. Thanks for the article!
ado6d6
I gave up on bras .... they just hurt! I layer up with a little tank top or tshirt and hoodie ... limits my clothing options but less pain is worth it. 😀. I do hate the nipples showing but slowly getting less self conscious and how to layer over them. The bra shoulder straps seem to cause my muscles to seize up.
1. DonnaFA Admin
 Hi Tamara! Thanks for weighing in! I'm with you, bras - especially underwires (shudders) - could have been Medieval torture devices! Thanks for being part of the community! -All Best, Donna (Migraine.com team)
zpierpont
I have recently found a bra that doesn't feel like a barbed wire torture device. It works for me because it has a very soft section under the cups which doesn't dig at all. I think it comes in a wired version also, but wires ceased to be a possibility for me years ago. The bra is by Olga, and is called the Play It Cool Wirefree Contour Bra. Not only is it super comfortable, it is also inexpensive. Before I found this bra, I would buy expensive Lane Bryant bras and pull all of the wires out before wearing them - I have a very large, heavy bust, but a small band measurement and tiny shoulders. As always, I wear the Olga bra with a 'shelf bra tank' on top for additional support because it helps to keep the girls in place. Previously, I had tried the Breast Nest (not enough support) and practically every other bra on the market. My deal breaker was always the band under the cups. No matter which bra I chose, it always dug in. This bra is a much better fit for my easily-bullied ribcage. If it gets to be too much, I quite often undo the bra strap and let the shelf-bra tank hold everything in place over the top. Short of adapting to an aquatic environment, this seems to be the best solution for me.
pechesnut
I've found that the "Ahhh" Bras by Rhonda Shear work great for me. They are available on HSN & I'm sure on other web retailers as well. I find I can even sleep comfortably in them & she has several styles to choose from. Good luck finding something that works for you!
chronicillnessfighter
I have struggled to find a bra I can tolerate for many years. I have chronic migraine, fibromylagia, and some other conditions. I am a G-cup. Yeah. Tough to find a bra. I finally found Decent Exposures, an online store that sells something called an "Un-Bra." You can customize it in several ways, which is where a big part of the comfort comes from. The rest of the comfort level comes from the materials you choose (among several fabrics, including organic cotton, and different thread and elastic types). They also allow for alterations if the fit isn't right! I can't say they are perfect, and I still don't want to wear one 24/7, but I can manage to wear their Un-Bras when I have to be in public, etc. without having to to the bathroom for a 15 min. "bra break." I can't remember if we're allowed to post links to businesses...so I hope this is okay: <a href='https://decentexposures.com/Bras/Detail/Un_Bra' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer nofollow'>https://decentexposures.com/Bras/Detail/Un_Bra</a>
peacock27
Wow! It's idly reaffirming that others can feel my pain. I can't wait to try some of these bread that you do mention.
sarbear
 Hi Anna, I feel your pain. I couldn't understand why I'd get headaches just before leaving the house. Then I realized, the only change I make from my bedroom to the exit is change and put on a bra! Bras are not considered a structural piece. They are classified as cosmetic. This is unfortunate because what bras try to accomplish is engineering and all physics. Neglecting that is why we get headaches from bras, which is bad news for those of us that get migraines. Your breasts are fat + tissue with nothing underneath to support them. So gravity keeps pulling on them and overtime they sag, but what we don't see are the muscles and tendons holding them as well. Your chest muscles are responsible for carrying your breast weight. When women work out their chest, they think they're losing their cup size, but actually they're helping to perk up their breasts by giving their muscles the strength to carry their breasts. Your chest, shoulders, neck, and postural muscles are all responsible for helping your breasts defy gravity from pulling them down and hence, you forward. Breasts can be very heavy. Imagine a laptop tied to your chest. Without strong muscles, you're shoulders, jaw, and head will be strained forward all day, creating tension, which can lead to migraines. So we women are kind of lucky. We get a chest workout every day just by existing with our breast tissue. The issue is we don't know that. Now imagine all that weight of your breast tissue being held up by piece of fabric. If you just take a t-shirt and try to pull your breasts up, your breasts will lump together or spill on the sides. That is why bras need to have strong shaping capabilities. Two, your hands are holding the weight of your breasts. That is what your bra is supposed to do the entire day. Can you keep your hands their all day without feeling a slight workout? Your bra needs to help breast tissue defy gravity and stay upright the whole day. That's fine, but the issue is how bras accomplish that. Bra specialists falsely claim that the shoulder straps shouldn't carry weight. They will tell you all the support is in your band, but if you take off your straps right now, what happens? Your bra can't stay up and it sort of loses shape. That is because your straps indeed are supportive and help anchor your band. So as gravity pulls your breasts, the band also gets pulled. Your straps are helping your band keep your breasts upright. So they do have a structural/ supportive purpose. Unfortunately, straps are designed with thin and weak material. So as your straps get pulled down trying to help anchor up your band and breasts throughout the day, it digs into your shoulders and pulls your shoulders down. Then because bras are not supportive, your shoulders/ neck/ back/ and chest are being pulled forward again, but now with more force because you're trying to accomplish the impossible by making your breasts appear weightless, aka perky. If you want to continue wearing bras, the only way you'll reduce the tension is by strengthening and conditioning your chest and postural muscles (shoulders, back, abs, glutes). You can ask for physical therapy to help with neck/ shoulder tension or just start working on strength training now. Eventually you'll lighten the load and feel better. I can't promise it will stop bras from causing pain, but I do remember that when I was young and met with an athletic trainer to help my shoulders and neck, it made it so much more comfortable to wear a bra, not for the whole day, but at least for school. The second thing you can do is change your bra mid-day. Fabric is flexible and as gravity pulls on your bra, the bra loses integrity causing more strain on your shoulders and neck. Relieving yourself of the overworked bra and wearing a new one might help. The only types of bras I can wear that don't give me headaches are real European bras. In Europe, they know support is comfort. After wearing them, I can never go back to American-made bras, like Victoria Secret or Target. In America, comfort is sweat pants. Unfortunately, their isn't much inventory in the U.S. of real European bras and I don't mean Panache, although I do prefer Panache to Victoria Secret b/c of their proper sizing. I only found one store with European inventory, but I moved away 🙁. I gained weight and can't wear the ones I bought. I compensated by buying bras with less lift, like yoga camisoles. This way, the straps are doing less worked and it has helped somewhat. Really, the only thing that has ever worked for me is working out.