Headaches. What's your cure?

Question

I have migraines. They make me vomit, that "aura" of lights in my left eye, can't stand noise/smells/light. Have tried the strong pain meds but doctors are so reluctant to prescribe them. I have a really bad one about once per 3 or 4 weeks. Regular meds for migraines such as Imitrex, Maxalt, Axert, Midrin, Frova, Depakote, Inderal, Darvon, Darvocet, etc will work for maybe 1/2 hour but then it's back to this crushing pain. I've had MRI's, CAT's, tests ..........all of them but they find nothing wrong and say I just have a migraine problem.

One thing that does help is to stand in a very hot shower with the water spray over the left eye where the pain is located. It helps for about 20 minutes but obviously I can't stand in the shower all day.

Answer 1

The most important thing is to stay hydrated, drink lots of water. I've found that I am migraine prone and try to avoid triggers such as msg (monosodium glutamate), nitrates, wine and chocolate.

MSG can be found in more than Chinese/Asian food. Look on the packages of processed food such as Hamburger/Tuna/Chicken Helper, chips and snacks. Nitrates can be found in hot dogs, bolongna and cold cuts, in addition to dried meat like beef jerky and sausages.

The shower is good. I like to take mine in the dark, but I have to lock the door or light a candle. Another trigger is sleeping too much or not enough. I always take medicine when I oversleep as a preventative. I've also discovered that listening to a certain song actually makes mine go away, it has to be played in a cool, dark room.

Answer 2

I sympathise with you. I have been getting migraines for about 8 years now. Got one coming on now, but as it's 6:20am and I have a full day ahead of me, I have tried to nip it in the bud. I have taken two standard strength painkillers with a strong coffee. Caffeine opens your blood vessels and allows the blood to flow better, which is why it is really good to have it with or in painkillers. I get about 4 a year and I find that prevention is the best cure. The last major one I had, had me laying on the floor, in too much pain to even find the painkillers (not that I would have kept them down by that stage anyway). I try to get enough sleep, eat well and don't allow myself to get too stressed. As they seem to be my triggers. And I so get the thing with the shower, not only do I have a shower when I have a migraine, but I had showers while in labour with both of my children to help manage the pain. Hot water is very effective. Not sure if I have been any help. Good luck.

Answer 3

Ok... I get migraines several times a week, and am not allowed to go on the meds as they conflict with other meds I am on. What I do, is if it I can catch it in time, is take 2 extra strength advil, or 4 regular advils (same amount of mg). I also stand in the shower. I find it helps alleviate the pressure from my head. And seriously, sit in the shower until you fall asleep. Then when you wake up, go to bed and sleep for a few hours. The only other thing that works for me is an ice-pack around my eyes, pillow blocking the light, and sleeping it off. Then don't overdo it after it's "gone away". Stay away from bouncing your head around, like in sports or horse-play.

Answer 4

I spent the last 10 years on preventatives for just that same problem. I was on 1000 mg Depakote (which DID help -- kept them down to 1 per week or so). When that stopped working, we did a cocktail of Depakote & Topamax. That also helped for about 1 year. I found that ICE-PACKS over the affected area helped a lot. Or sitting in the tub with HOT water and an ICEPACK. I even wore the icepack at work sometimes.

But the thing that finally seemed to help was when we discovered the final trigger (I knew a LOT of them -- perfume, cigar smoke, hormones, diesel exhaust, etc.). Mine REAL killer turned out to be SULFITES! They are EVERYWHERE in food and in places you would not expect, like on the "fresh" vegetables at the salad bar, in salad dressing, MANY chicken products (even "fresh" chicken), etc. Between them and PHOSPHATES, we have virtually eliminated my migraines. I am off the daily meds and only use Axert once in a while. I sleep on a VERY regular sleep schedule (over tired or over sleeping BOTH can cause a migraine!) and eating schedule (hunger can trigger one, also) and watch my food intake like a hawk -- as does my husband. It has been a blessing to go from daily migraines to one every couple of weeks.

Hope you can find a way to do the same yourself. Email me if you want to talk about it more.

Answer 5

I'm so sorry for you, all those medications must be maddening with no relief :( Have you tried an ENT? I just ask because my neurologist CT'ed & MRI'ed me to death when I had migraines, but they never ever thought to look at my sinuses... Bingo! I had surgery done and I feel atleast 90% better aside from migraines brought on by common allergies. Best of Luck to you, cheers!

Answer 6

I'm in the same boat except mine are a little less severe and a lot more frequent. Using Fiorinal and Tylenol 3 as needed.
Can't take the Imitrex.....scripts, done the neuroligist run of blockers.

Pain meds are all that work.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

There is no medicine for H/A OR MIGRAINE. Not only these but for almost all painful diseases. Hence they become chronic. Doctors don't tell it as a part of their business.
Acidity, excessive wind, cold , heat, sour food and sinusitis,
Blockage in the flow of Vital Energy are their causes. None of them can be treated with medicine. Our 100% success proves it.
Acupuncture is the best treatment. I can treat it with naturopathy and YOG, but how can you manage pl see.
Avoid late sleeping if possible;spicy, sour, stale bakery foods and alcohole.
Sweet foods, sweet fruits, milk, rice and good sleep will help you.
But you try one herbal remedy- two drops of drumstick leaves' juice in opposite nostril if one side pains and both nostrils if full H/A will give you rescue. Betel leaf helps but it isvery strong.

Source(s):
SHREE SWASTHYAYOG TREATMENT, TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
R.H. – 19, Jhulelal Society, Sector – 2/E, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, INDIA.

Answer 9

Once when I forgot my prescription migraine medicine, my friend gave me Extra Strength Excedrin for Migraines. It worked better than the prescription medicine! As people mentioned above, I think it has something to do with the caffeine. It also helps when I sleep with a humidifier that gives off hot steam. I never wake up with a headache when I sleep with the humidifier on.

Answer 10

This may sound strange, but a neurologist recommended this to me. Place an ice pack on the bottoms of your feet and lay there, completely still for 20 minutes. It takes about 20 minutes for your blood to circulate throughout your entire body. Migraines are a result of dilated blood vessels in your head. Blood will begin going to your feet, as they are cold, pulling excess volume from the vessels in your head.