Migraine help?

Question

My son is 14 and has had migraines since the age of three. Any ideas on alleviating the pain???? he is having 3-5 a week and doctor's have not been helpful. I am hoping there is an 'old family secret' somewhere out there that can help him!

Answer 1

I know that others asked if your son has had MRI's of the brain and possibly the neck. Has he seen a neurologist or just a pediatrician? I have had migraines since I was a 14 and that was 40 years ago. Initially, asipirin would help, then they put me on Midrin, then floricet and then finally Imitrex or Relpax. I started the Imitrex a year-a-half ago and by March of this year, it was not working and I was having either a migraine or a headache everyday. My doctor sent me to a neurologist after I had a MRI of the brain. Thankfully, there were no tumors or anything dangerous. What it did show was scaring from the past migraines. I was started on Topamax (see link). Topamax ws originally developed for seizures and it was found that it helped to prevent migraines. I started it and within 2 months the frequency of my headaches and migraines had decreased to app. 1 every 2 weeks. In addition, the medications I used when I did get a migraine started to work better and would resolve my break trough migraines. I have now been on the Topamax 6 months. During the last 3 month, my migraines and headaches have decreased even more. However, I have discovered some triggers and have eliminated those from my diet (for instance lots of caffiene, chocolate, alcohol). My neurologist also had me start an exercise program, as that will help to decrease migraines.

Until I started the Topamax, I had tried ALL kinds of things and nothing really worked. I did accupressure, herbal remedies, presription meds, and was ready to stand on my head if that would have helped, so I understand your son's pain. If you have not consulted a neurologist, then I would suggest that as your next step. The Topamax may not be the drug of choice for your son, but there are others used for prevention and not just treatment. The way my neurologist explained is that the migraine lowers your resistence and so you get more migraines which lower your resistence and so more migraines... and so on. In addition, the treatment medications don't work because your resistence is lower. Build up your resistence and the treatment meds will start to work once more. At this point in my treatment, I can use motrin and the floricet instead of the Imitrex or Relpax.

Answer 2

I have suffered from migraines since I was 10 years old-I am now 50 so I have had 40 years experience. I do know a bit about them. First, you can have a migraine at any time. There is no set pattern-I have gone months and even years without having a single migraine. There are many migraine triggers. Hormones play a big part. That is why women suffer from migraines 3 times more than men. A week before your period is the worst time. I found that birth control pills helped me. Also, sinus problems and allergies as well as hot weather can trigger migraines. Certain foods can also be a trigger-chocolate and sugar are the number 1 offenders. Cheese can also do it. Watch your stress level too. Ask your Doctor about the triptan drugs such as imitrex and maxalt. These are very effective-they are expensive though. I have found that 2 regular excedrin works pretty good most of the time-the trick is to take medicine before your headache gets to bad. Good luck.

Answer 3

No one really knows what causes migraine. There is some evidence that migraine is an inherited condition. The medical community believes migraine attacks are almost certainly triggered by a combination of factors, such as:

Diet - cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, alcohol (especially red wine).
Sleep - too little or too much.
Menstrual cycle - migraine occurs two to three times more frequently in women than men.
Physiochemical - excessive heat, light, noise or certain chemicals.
Emotional - stress, excitement and fatigue.
Relaxation (weekend migraines) - often triggered by a period of stress and overwork followed by relaxation.

Migraine is a complex condition because the exact causes are not known, which makes prevention difficult. However, there are treatments available to help reduce the number of attacks for migraine sufferers.

In the past pethidine was used to treat a migraine. This is no longer the best treatment. Pethidine is a highly addictive drug and there are now medications available which are far more effective than pethidine.

Migraines vary greatly from person to person and so does the treatment. There are four treatment options available to migraine sufferers:

Avoid the trigger factors - this can be difficult, since migraines are often triggered by a combination of factors.
Drug treatment - including pain killers and drugs to alter pressure on blood vessels.

Preventative treatment - medication taken on a daily basis to reduce the number of attacks.

Non-drug therapies - including acupuncture, biofeedback, goggles, hypnotherapy, exclusion diets, relaxation, yoga, meditation, herbal or homeopathic remedies.

I hope this helps your son...

Answer 4

Diet is an important aspect of migraines, though for temporary relief, I have found the HOT bath, ICE PACK on head does help somewhat. I am a 10 year sufferer with constant migraines, about 40 years total sporadically. The severe ones started when I was perimenopausal and I was assured that they would get better when I was postmenopausal. Not so much!

What finally worked for me was two-fold. I was on a daily medication of 500 mg. depakote and 50 mg topamax. The doctor said this SHOULD NOT WORK -- cocktails like that don't usually for migraines. But the depakote alone was no longer working for me and I could not tolerate the topamax and it was not working.

Turns out that cocktail worked JUST FINE for me, for about 1 year. Then, we discovered (by pure accident!!) that many, if not most, of my migraines were no longer coming from my hormones, as they had been before. It seems I had developed a severe reaction to sulfites and phosphates that I'd never had before or even known about! The surprise was WHERE I was getting them from -- the salad bars at restaurants, salads at fast food places, chicken -- both fresh (check the labels to be sure!!) and from fast food places, fresh pork (again, check the labels), balsamic vinegar, most salad dressings, etc. etc.

Since we began scrupulously watching my diet, my migraines are down to about 1 every 6 weeks -- TOTALLY tolerable with Axert to knock it out!! One tablet does the job. It means a little extra work picking out food and watching what I eat when I go out, but it it SO worth it.

Anyway, maybe this information may be of some help to you. I know that being on pills a lot is a trouble -- it was for me. But I found my answer, it seems. Hopefully, you will be able to find yours. Good luck!

Answer 5

Hi,
Treatment for migraine is aimed at providing immediate relief from pain in the attack. For this, drugs that reduce the constrict the blood vessels (Sumatriptan or ergotamine), anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, are prescribed. Other pain-relievers (analgesics such as paracetamol) with anti-nausea medications such as metoclopramide may be used.

Some drugs can be used to prevent attacks occurring in those having frequent attacks (more than one per month). Drugs that work in this way include Propanolol (a "beta-blocker"), Pizotifen, Sodium Valproate and some types of anti-depressants (TRI-cyclics). These drugs are taken continuously rather just during an attack.

Since a migraine attack cannot be totally avoided, the patient should take care that of the precipitating factors are reduced to the minimum. They must avoid foods that trigger an attack. Regular exercises and stress management are helpful.

Dr.Mojo

Answer 6

omg that's horrible. I get them too and have tried everything. My dad went out and bought me this stuff that comes in a stick and smells like menthol. I was like "yeah right" but it REALLY helps.


I found this but haven't tried it yet.

CAYENNE Sprinkled in juice or on food to relieve pain.

DONG QUAI Tincture helps prevent migrane attacks.

FEVERFEW For migraine relief & prevention.


PASSIONFLOWER Has been used since the 19th century for nervous conditions. Modern research supports traditional usage and clinical trials have demonstrated the relaxing and anti-anxiety effects of Passiflora.



GINKGO Used to increase circulation to the brain.


TILDEN FLOWER For migraines associated with high blood pressure


They don't mention primrose oil but I read alot that rubbed on the temples, this will help. This stuff is all better because taking so many pills is bad for the kidneys. You can buy this stuff at vitamin shops like gnc. I'm going to try the primrose. I'll see if I can find some more for you

Answer 7

I'm a life-long migraine sufferer, and my youngest son, who is 10 started getting migraines at 3 years old also. It just kills me to see him suffer with one, as I know exactly what he's going through!

If you're not getting results from your doctor, get a second opinion.

Good luck!

Answer 8

My husband used to suffer terribly from cluster headaches. Until a very wise and appreciated Dr. suggested oxygen. Here in Canada we need a prescription for it but it certainly works. My husband tried every drug and treatment out there and this was the only one that worked. And continues to work as needed. It would certainly be worth your time to look into it. I guess the next concern I would have is to wonder how in the world does a three year old get migraine headaches and have you had more than one Dr's. diagnosis??

Answer 9

Here's 2 great leads -- Go to your local library or bookstore or online bookseller and request the book "Prolo Your Headaches and Neck Pain Away! Curing Migraines and Chronic Neck Pain with Prolotherapy" and read it! (or any of the other books by by Ross A. Hauser and Marion A. Hauser) Then consult with the author and maybe get advice for choosing a prolotherapist in your area. (His contact info is in the back of his book) The other great thing, but harder to scource out perhaps, is a proper adjustment of his top-most vertabrae. I just had this done and it's amazing and permanet! (one-time!) Visit www.atlasprofilax.ch from there you can find the two practitioners in the states and call them up to consult with them.

Answer 10

I suffer from a lot of bad headaches myself. The best thing I have found without taking medication, is to lay in a hot bath, with an ice pack around your neck. A nurse once told me this, it has something to do with slowing the blood flow to your head, thus releiving he headache.
Another way is to massage the area in between the thumb and the index finger, it is a pressure point that sometimes helps releive headaches.