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Original poster

Acupuncture for migraine?

39 replies

wowfudge · 11/01/2021 09:50

Has anyone who suffers from migraine tried acupuncture to help treat it? How did you find it? I suffer from chronic migraine and am considering trying acupuncture for prevention. I already have sumatriptan prescribed and have tried a number of preventatives, which haven't worked completely or beyond a couple of months.

OP posts:
Original poster
wowfudge · 11/01/2021 20:47

Hopeful bump

OP posts:
Christmasfairy2020 · 11/01/2021 20:48

Hi yes. Read nice guidelines it is recommended. Also ask gp about botox in neurology xx

Lottieis44 · 11/01/2021 20:53

My DM suffers badly from migraines, Botox is the only thing that works, she had tried loads of things.

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General health
Christmasfairy2020 · 11/01/2021 20:59

Read nice guidelines for migraines.

It is very strict for botox and if it works you still need to have migraines but less of them for further treatment.

Mindfulness as well xx

duggeeismynewbestfriend · 11/01/2021 21:03

Osteopath completely resolved mine. Highly recommend

marmitepasta · 11/01/2021 21:38

Tried it. Didn't work.

I got a daith piercing a year ago which didn't initially work. It has just healed properly in that last month or so which has coincided with a marked reduction in my chronic migraines and headaches. Could be a coincidence.

Original poster
wowfudge · 11/01/2021 23:29

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Kitkat151 · 11/01/2021 23:51

My DD got acupuncture on the NHS ( she under care of neurology)....it didn’t work unfortunately..land she moved onto Botox which has really worked well....been having it for 2 years now.

rach2713 · 11/01/2021 23:57

Wowfudge I'm watching with interest as I suffer really bad with mirgrains and have been referred to neurology for mine. Im also on sumatriptan for mine and a new preventative. Was also thinking of getting the ear piercing to see if that helps..

indemMUND · 11/01/2021 23:59

@marmitepasta

Tried it. Didn't work.

I got a daith piercing a year ago which didn't initially work. It has just healed properly in that last month or so which has coincided with a marked reduction in my chronic migraines and headaches. Could be a coincidence.

Daith piercings preventing migraines is a myth. Been there, done that. The only problematic piercing I've ever had to remove in 20 years of being heavily pierced. I put up with it for years. Didn't help at all, just caused different issues.
Grumpasaurus · 12/01/2021 01:53

It didn't work for me

Botox has changed my life, however.

I have had to just accept that I need to pay privately for it.

Original poster
wowfudge · 12/01/2021 08:53

@rach2713

Wowfudge I'm watching with interest as I suffer really bad with mirgrains and have been referred to neurology for mine. Im also on sumatriptan for mine and a new preventative. Was also thinking of getting the ear piercing to see if that helps..
Would you mind sharing what preventative you are on please?
OP posts:
Original poster
wowfudge · 12/01/2021 08:54

With Botox, where is it injected?

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 12/01/2021 09:05

I’ve had it and it was very effective. However, I’d highly recommend a consult with the National Migraine Clinic because that’s been an absolute lifesaver for me.

I’ve had terrible migraines for years. I take 3 preventatives and have 2 Triptans. I, also, have Botox every 3 months and pay for acupuncture. As a last resort I contacted the National Migraine Clinic and had a telephone consultation in November. The doctor went through everything, lifestyle, diet, the medication I take and then set out a treatment plan for me. Since being on that and adding in all what she recommended my migraines have greatly reduced and the days where I get a fuzzy head are gone.

It’s a charity so they like you to give a donation if you can but you only have to give what you can afford.

*the recommendations were Magnesium 600mg citrate, Riboflavin 400mg, Co-Enzyme q10 100mg, and a Pro-biotic called Migrae.

TheFairyCaravan · 12/01/2021 09:06

@wowfudge

With Botox, where is it injected?
Botox is 32 injections. They go in your forehead, round your head, in the back of it and in your neck. I’ve had it in my shoulders too because my muscles are tight there,
rach2713 · 12/01/2021 18:54

@wowfudge

No I don't mind saying at all they are called nortriptyline. I have been upped to 50mg a night just now. I must admit they seem to help a lot don't get me wrong I have still had a sore head but not as intense since being on them ..

Christmasfairy2020 · 12/01/2021 18:56

Just ask for a referral to neurology for botox x

spiderlight · 12/01/2021 19:04

I'm not sure if it's the same all over the country, but where I am (South Wales) you have to have tried five preventatives before they'll refer you for Botox. Botox has helped me a bit but not really enough, so my neuro is trying to get me onto Aimovig, although it's apparently only available on the NHS for 'exceptional cases', in his words.

Original poster
wowfudge · 12/01/2021 19:16

Thanks Rach I've had amitriptyline, which is similar but one up from nortriptyline, and it worked for a few months then stopped doing anything for me. Propanol did nothing before that and I had a high dose.

OP posts:
Original poster
wowfudge · 12/01/2021 19:18

I'm working my way through them spiderlight. Triptans do shift the headaches, but it's so grinding to have so many and mine usually wake me up in the early hours so then I'm sleep deprived and it goes round and round.

OP posts:
rach2713 · 12/01/2021 19:25

Most of December was a washout as I just had headache after headache after headache to the point I had had enough rang the doctors and cried to be told by a snooty nurse to take paracetamol I asked her to refer me the neurology and she wrote a little side note to the doctor saying I had asked to be referred to get seen by neurology but she thinks I don't need to and just take paracetamol. Doctor was going made as she left me a week with out even passing on the message..

rach2713 · 12/01/2021 19:28

I have also had amitriptyline but that didn't help me eithrr. My doctor says we have 3 and a half more treatment to try if this one isn't working after we are at the max dose.but like i said there is nothing to take them away for ever but something to manage them and not let them be so intense is better than nothing I think..

rach2713 · 12/01/2021 19:31

Another thing you also have to be careful of is medication headache's aswell. Im lucky as the sumatriptan works really for me normally takes 10 mins to work but you have to give it at least a hour to work. I also don't help myself as I don't drink a lot which can play a big part in it as well..

lonelyatchristmas · 12/01/2021 19:34

I went at the start of dec for acupuncture for migraines and back pain and oh my god.. I'd 3 sessions before they broke for Christmas and was due back this week but because were gone to level 5 in Ireland sue understandably cancelled until a later date.. my first session she used something on my neck and back that literally looked like I was covered in love bites and did the needle thing.. the relief was instant.. I went from literally eating painkillers for my migraines as well as having had to increase my migraine tablet from 1to 2 as they were so severe to taking only 4 paracetamol in a week and that was for my back.. I'm also waiting on an app with a neurologist to see what's causing my migraines as I was getting at least 1a week if not more..I got my first migraine in 5 weeks yesterday but thankfully not as severe as they normally would be and was able to manage it where's before one out my left eye is game over for 3 days..

Definitely couldn't recommend it highly enough, my only regret is that I didn't try it sooner..
I also went from being in constant pain with my back and back spasms to still constant pain but not as severe as before..

rach2713 · 12/01/2021 19:40

@lonelyatchristmas

I wouldn't be surprised if your back was given you most the headaches as that can sometime happen as well. So glad it has worked for you there is nothing worse than the pain of a migraine..