SmileyG3

Anyone have any kind of non-drug victories over long and painful migranes?

I have suffered from migranes for over ten years now and have tried EVERY suggestion thrown may way. Nothing has worked over time. Pills only work if they are new to me, but once I have taken them on more than a couple of occasians they are use less. i am to the point where medications are starting to effect my liver. Any suggestions?

pinklily

You might want to think about changing your diet. Stress and your blood pressure can be a big factor with regards to migranes. There are some medications that you inject that can be better than pills, and less damaging.
If you want to go alternative talk to a massage therapist. Not only could this help your stress level, if that is a contributing factor, but certain stretches and pressure points can help relieve your pain.

SmileyG3

Thanks....I have tried all kinds of diets and injections, but never a massage therapist. The thing is I live a pretty stress-free life, at least I think I do.

Pellaz

I've had migraines since I was six years old, and like you have ran the drug gauntlet till I can't run no more. Triggers and causes vary drasticaly for everyone, and there really isn't any blanket advice that will help that's true.

Have you kept a food journal to make sure you've got no triggers there? This is the first place many people should start, I think. If you've tried that with no results, have you kept just a migraine journal? Recording what's going on in your life, the weather, where you've gone can all help to spot what causes your particular migraines.

Have you been properly diagnosed with migraines? And by this, I mean not by your GP but a neurologist. Many things can be misdiagnosed as migraines, and there are many different types of migraines.

One of my largest victories against my migraines was actualy brought about by my optimologist. Although I've got fairly good vision, and don't actualy need glasses, he found a link in a journal somewhere linking migraines with strain on the eyes. We tried a script to reduce the strain on my eyes, and it's worked wonders for me.

As I've grown older, my migraines have decressed in frequency, from 2-3 times a week at their peak to less than once a month currently. The severity hasn't let up one bit, however. So that's something you might be able to look forward to there, also.

Have you looked into preventative medications? They didn't do squat for me, but I've known several people with good responses to them.

Sorry for being so long winded here, hope that you can find something to help.

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VF19

I used to get serious sharp pains in my head, and other 24-7 head aches about 4 months ago, then I started walking 45mins/day and drinking more water.

I still have constant head aches but they arent as painful and I can go about my day with out too much trouble.

So I guess just exercise and drink more water.

Nancy

here's an old discussion about migraine, there might be something you can use:

Migraine

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jgp

What specific medications have you tried? There are lot of different categories of meds available. Unfortunately the underlying etiology of migranes is not well elucidated. If you are that handicapped by your symptoms, try a diet/life style modification. Try exercise. Caffine may help as well. If none of these work, go on a prophylaxis therapy of the triptans (i.e. Imitrex), alternatively, some antidepressants have also shown to relieve migrane symptoms. If you do in fact have liver impairment, avoid tylenol. And also cut down of alcohol.

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raeanna74

Try reading up here
Migranes

My personal experience may not be anything like what happens for you but what I've discovered may help you be more aware of what to look for. What I've found is that when I monitored my body very closely prior to my migranes when the aura first hits me that I've found a distinct drop in blood pressure. I mentioned this to my Dr and together we've found that my migranes are pretty much caused my anemia and adrenal exhaustion. I tend to be a little anemic so when my blood pressure drops it affects me a bit more than a person with a normal hemoglobin. By taking iron suppliments I've found that a drop in blood pressure affects me less severely and doesn't always cause a migrane. Also I've learned that when I allow myself to stay in a stressed state for an extended period of time - ex. allow the kids that I watch in day care to drive me nuts all day without forcing them to be calm and quiet even for a while - that the moment something startling happens I feel that drop in pressure. I have checked my blood pressure and confirmed that it happens. As has been explained to me this is from adrenal exhaustion. When something startles you your body puts out adrenaline. It also triggers other hormones that calm you and kill pain. When you have adrenal exhaustion your adrenal glands don't produce the adrenaline but the other hormones still flood your system. For me this means that my blood pressure drops instead of raises because there's a lack of adrenaline.

I know this was a bit long but I thought that possibly the things I've discovered may help you find the root to your problem. The more aware you are of your body and it's feelings the easier you can help your Dr pinpoint the source of your migranes.

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Apache

I also suffer from migranes and my doctor had put me on some medicine but told me he wanted me to get my eyes checked also which I did and was told that wasn't the problem. But a friend of my moms who had suffered from migranes all her life had told her, (which my mom passed on to me), was that hers were being caused because her jaw was not alligned correctly. This was a couple years ago but a couple weeks ago i was reading in a magazine an article on migranes that listed several causes and among those listed there was mentioned about the jaw. This is something that I need to check into because my jaw will sometimes lock on me when i go to open my mouth to where i will have to shut my mouth move it side to side and reopen my mouth, this could be the cause of my migranes and so i just thought it was someting i could pass along since it is non-drug related (I just hope I made sense)

slacker00

For me migranes come in about 4 different forms. Some so bad nothing I have been able to do has helped (these usually result in at least one invitation to meet the porcilen god). But I have found that mine are mostly related to barometric pressure changes, odd feeding times (like if I don't stay in a regular eating pattern), and stress.

I since I have had some issues with preventative drugs and drugs which you take upon onset... I now lean toward understanding my own body. I know what my triggers are and work around that. I have learned to meditate a 1-4 headache (1 being weakest and 5 being worst ever) away with clearing my mind of thoughts and concentrating on moving the pain. I move the pain from my head to my stomach. Once at my stomach I can either take meds for that or attempt to move it else where.

Understanding me and the way I function and relaxing has been my biggest help.

ariekitten

my mother has had migraines now for about 20 years......medicines don't work too well for her, and she can't afford costly prescriptions that will only work for awhile and then quit. usually she has my dad or one of us give her a massage (it works somewhat) or takes a hot bath.
note: her migraines are the kind that could put any normal person in the hospital, but she's dealt with them so long and has had so many other near death experiences that they're not as bad.....
she puts on soothing music......or drinks herbal tea.....basically just sleep or dark undisturbed rest do her best.
i mean, you've gotta get familiarized with your body to find a more accurate method of relief. good luck.

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hunnychile

I got accupucture from a trained specialist from China and after 3 treatments, I was cured. I used to get migranes often esp. after many hours drawing on the computer day after day. The needles didn't hurt at all, but it was strange to watch! One spot activates your natural opiates and the Dr. usually engages that location first to numb you to any pain some people might experience. It's important to have a very well trained licensed practioner. And be willing to return since some treatments need reinforcement.

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Beefimator

A herb that helps with that would be Feverfew. You can get it at any nutrition type store.