How can I achieve severe migraine relief after trying so many medication combos?

Question

I have at least 2-3 severe migraines a week. Over the past 3-4 years they have continuously increased in frequency and severity. I have been on numerous combinations of medications to stop and prevent the pain with no relief. At my neurologist's request I have even tried Botox. I was hospitalized for 5 days in November with a Dihydroergotamine (DHE)(migraine med) and Reglan(antinausea med) IV hooked up to me. I'm tired of taking meds that don't work and I don't want to start taking pain meds on a regular basis just to get through the day. My quality of life is next to nothing. A few weeks ago I had a day where I woke up before 7am on my own, I felt great and was full of energy up until around 8pm when my migraine cam back with vengence. I have become so accustomed to feeling bad that I wasn't aware of how bad until I had that day. I want my life back. What other alternatives may be out there to help me?

I've tried several low dose antidepressants, low dose blood pressure meds, low dose anti-seizure meds and other preventitives. I've tried Imitrex, maxalt, epidren, fioricet, DHE injections, Zomig as well as others for the migraines and they don't help. I was put on actual antidepressants before thinking it might help the situation and it made it worse. I became emotional and moody as a result. The low dose antidpressants were the same. Pain meds are a joke! I take them and they don't really touch the pain, just make me dopey if even that and that's only the first few times I take it then it doesn't work and I would need to take more each time to feel any effect. I refuse to go there. It seems to me that my body adjusts to any meds so quickly that it's not effective or I will have a reverse effect.

Answer 1

First I just want to say I am so sorry for your pain. I don't think anyone knows how much migraines can mess up your life unless you have them.
Mine started lightly when I was 8 years old. At 17 they got bad enough to start the testing/doctor/drug part of my life. Like you, nothing worked and they kept getting worse. At 21 I moved to Germany. After my bf watched me suffer 3-4 migraines a week for months, he made me go to a homeopathic doctor. In Europe homeopathy is thought of as well as western medicine. Let me tell you IT WORKED!!! I was very skeptical, in the US we are taught that homeopathy is a bunch of herbs and silliness. It really is about finding the root of the problem instead of treating the symptoms. I now only get a migraine when I get sick and my body is tired from fighting. Please look into this. If you find a REAL homeopathic doctor who knows their stuff, I promise your life will change as mine did. I got my life back, I hope you get yours too.

Answer 2

You don't say what combos of meds you have been on. Alot of stuff gives rebound headaches that are as bad as the migraine. You need a new neurologist . Having request you get Botox what an idiot. Have you tried any preventive meds to take before bed like Topomax? I used to use it and helped plus watching everything I ate. I still get migraines but not as bad as when I was taking all the crap for them, You may need to try a anti-depressant to keep you from silently stressing over these, people who have never had a migraine have no clue what they do to us. I wish I had better advice. Just know you aren't alone

Answer 3

I'm so sorry you've been dealing with all this. I, too, deal with crippling migraines. I've tried about all the medicines you've tried. Most recently I went to a pain medicine anesthesiologist who gave me an occipital nerve block and trigger point injection. It seems to help, and I'm going back to have another one. A pain medicine doctor might really be able to help you.
I tried chiropractics but it only made my headaches worse (I tried two different practitioners). However, acupuncture has been a LIFESAVER! I go often enough to get my migraines under control, then I taper down on how often I go. If you went to a traditional chinese acupuncturist they would be able to give you herbs as well. Some physicians and chiropractors practice acupuncture, but their training is not as long and I wouldn't recommend it (and I'm a physician myself!).
Best of luck. Please find a good neurologist who specializes in headaches -- you'll most likely find one at a big University medical center.

Answer 4

There's no such thing. You don't have actual migraine if you can sit in front of a computer and drink coffee right now. Migraines will put completely incapacitate you. You wouldn't even be able to tolerate the smell of coffee if you had a migraine.

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Answer 5

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 6

Obviously you have been unable to determine the root of your migraines. I used to get them every Monday & thursday morning, until it was pointed out; I was dancing and eating cookies after 9 pm. Try keeping a journal to determine any common trends in case you already haven't. Then find yourself a good chiropractor, that was the ONLY thing that finally made mine go away. I see him now 3 or 4 times a year for a "tune up" (more if I've done something I shouldn't) and no longer have debilitating migranes & a safe job.

Answer 7

I have been having migraines for the past 20 years...but not as severe as yours. I too ran the gambit of medications you describe. Each time a new one came out my doctor wanted me to try it. He even put me on Vicoden and then Percocet with no real relief. The only medication that works for me...and I still use it... is a combination analgesic called Fiorinal with codeine. I see where you have tried Fioricet. I too use Fiorinal and Fioricet as a single analgesic without success. But the combination of butalbital& codeine was very successful in aborting the migraines.

Sorry, but that's the only thing I can suggest. Oh, and I did tried a chiropractor with absolutely no success.

Answer 8

I have to tell you, in my 23 + years of practicing medicine, the majority of the diagnosed migraines I saw were not. They were typically muscular tension and on the odd occasion, I'd see a cluster. This is to say, that most physicians don't REALLY understand head aches and tend to misdiagnose them if for no other reason than to satisfy the patient. Try keeping a journal to determine precursers and possible contributing factors.

Answer 9

Try going to a chiropractor! The Dr. I used to work for solved many people's migraine symptoms. One woman had migraines for 25 years, and after a few treatments they are gone and have stayed gone. Beats the heck outta taking all those medications.

Answer 10

Geez. Sorry to hear about the severity and frequency >,< If the legal pres. don't work I can attest that THC provides substantial relief, at least in my experiences with migraines, not nearly as common as yours. Not a recommendation to go that route *cough*, simply providing alternative suggestion ;)

Good luck man