To wonder if any of you have found a migraine cure

[TracyLords]

I started having migraines when DS was born 5 years ago. Since lockdown they have increased. I take propranolol, sumitriptan and some other thing which I’ve forgotten.

They had been improving for a month: still occurring but going away quicker with meds. But today was a stoater and my head was pounding. Slept around 16 hours and I’m still knackered.

It’s impacting my work, family life and social life.

Has anyone found a cure for them?

Rizatriptan works every time on mine - but only the Maxalt ones (for some reason the other brands don’t work anywhere near as well for me)

I take daily amitriptyline now and that has hugely reduced the frequency and severity of my migraines, although not eliminated them altogether. It was prescribed by a neurologist though, not the GP

@inthekitchensink

Botox injections by neurologist every 3 months has reduced them from near daily to just a few a month. There’s a lot of hoops to jump through with the GP before referral though

Same I have suffered from daily migraines for 10 years after I had a fall & banged my head. I have been getting Botox for almost 5 years and it has been a godsend. I have tried all the meds listed above z but it wasn't until I was put in Topiramate, pregabalin & Botox injections every 3 months that I got some release. I still get bad headaches and never a day goes by without some kind of pain, but not on the same level. It is hard to get Botox through the NHS, but if you've tried most medication then speak to your Dr and asked to be referred.

I was prescribed propanalol 3 years ago as a preventative, before that I was getting 2 or 3 a month, haven't had one since

Topiramate works for me. You need to be on contraception for the gp to prescribe it but gone from twice a week to none for over 3 months

I worked out what was causing my migraines. Sumitriptan etc didn't touch hormonal migraines, only those caused by certain foods. I established which foods I needed to avoid (including anything with caffeine, bananas, sweet potato, Quorn), avoided those and bingo, it changed my life.

I take a Pink Migraleve when I feel one coming on, and then I take the Yellow one if it persists. I have a face mask that I keep in the freezer which I place on the back of my head which helps. Other than that I just try and make myself as comfortable as I can and sleep. I might try the Daith piercing though.

I saw a migraine specialist and I take beta blockers (atenolol) daily and it changed my life. I went from 4-5 migraines a week since childhood, to about 5 in total in the last 10 years.

Early to bed, avoid bright lights, red meat, chicken fat, salt, alcohol, smoke, stress, dehydration, manage negative emotions. Running has been a complete game changer. Supportive mattress and pillows to keep spine correctly aligned.

For those who had their daith pierced... did it hurt? (I cried when I had my lobes done, but didn't flinch when I had my belly button done.) And did you hear the cartilage 'crunch' or make any noise?

If you think they’re hormone related then it’s worth trying the mini pill. My hormone related migraines were getting worse & worse as I’ve got older, to the point I’d have to have time off work. Triptans made them worse. A friend suggested trying the mini pill as it had worked for her. So I did & have not had a migraine since, 3 years later…and even better no periods!! I still get headaches if I’m tired etc but what would have been a show stopping migraine has become a mild headache easily knocked on the head with ibuprofen. Definitely worth a try.

DH had horrendous migraines and was eventually hospitalised over a decade ago. His neurologist prescribed soluble aspirin (hold each mouthful in your mouth for a minute or so before swallowing and it'll absorb through your cheeks for v quick relief) as well as caffeine at the same time. If that doesn't work, he takes ergotamine tartrate.

Triptans and opiates made bog all difference to him.

Maca root. I used to suffer terribly, ended up on beta blockers but they just made me feel weird. (I could run upstairs and my heart wouldn’t pound at all? Really strange)

Since I found maca root I don’t suffer anymore. It’s amazing. It’s hormone related obviously as maca root is supposed to help with time of the month and such. The only time I get a migraine now is I e forgotten to take it for a few days!

Low carbing, sinus medication and freezing cold Coke.

Sympathies OP i suffer too. I tried amitriptyline but it didn't work but of course it does work for some. I got a daith piercing, I still get them but they have maybe reduced a bit since this. I also am trying to reduce my sweetener intake a bit (I mostly drink tea with sweetener and diet pop! Gone from 3 sweeteners per tea to just 1 now). I've tried proponolol and it worked a bit but made me feel a bit funny and dizzy. I take rizatriptan on migraine onset and it sometimes works. It worked amazingly at first now it mostly only works if it makes me fall asleep. If you find a miracle cure let us all know!

@delusionsofadequacy

Topiramate works for me. You need to be on contraception for the gp to prescribe it but gone from twice a week to none for over 3 months

I wonder why that is? I never had to be on contraception when I was on Topiramate.

Feverfew, it saved my life quite literally as I was ready to do something permanent to stop a temporary (but regular and crippling) agony.. The relief from the pain made me cry.

This app is great for tracking and identifying triggers:
n1-headache.com/patients/tutorials/

Plus this is a great source of info:
www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk

No cure as such, lots of treatments and management. I find GPs are generally more informed and sympathetic thsn they used to be. I have found stuff that works through trial and error. Behavioural/diet, vitamins, preventative pills plus stuff for when they hit.

Migraines are miserable. Speak to your GP.

@CiaoForNiao yes it really hurt (although full disclosure I am a wuss with these things) but it is only for a few seconds that's it's really bad. I did not hear anything scary though

Acupuncture. I was skeptical but it helped the frequency and severity hugely. I need it again but I am learning to drive so lessons and acupuncture are more than I can justify spending. Mine are triggered by not drinking enough during the day and hormonal - even though I have a coil they occur mid cycle and when Iget pms and a slight period. They have become more frequent and worse over the last few months as they did when my previous coil was in its last year.

I also go with ibruprofen, caffeine, sugar, plenty of water and cold and sleep if I can. Triptans dont always work.

Chinese Acupuncture. A few sessions cured mine for about 2 years. So unfortunately you do have to go back and have more done. It is relaxing as well.

As as a PP said - hormonal contraceptives can help. I'm going to ask for my coil tobe removed and go onto a mini pill I used to take.

I take s/triptan but not often as it makes me feel spacey for days afterwards. I get to sleep.

Several things have changed since and I’ve gone from vomiting and halos regularly to far fewer. Firstly I had a lower tooth removed that had had a deep crack for several years. This has a HUGE impact and they diminished and since removal id only has one episode (18 months)
Secondly I started hrt.

Not that these things were causing them BUT things have changed since the tooth/ hrt.

I’m sure it’s just me though!

YES!! Magnesium 500mg every single day. Honestly life changing. 8 months and counting now without a debilitating attack

I'm on topiramate (& botox) & I've not been on contraception for many years. It was the pill that initially caused the migraines. Just been on the mirena thread & I was thinking, at least my GP doesn't hassle me about that, I don't think they'd dare!