Acupuncture for migraine

[TenacityWins]

Should I be looking at a traditional Chinese practitioner or medical acupuncture at a physiotherapy practice for my teen's migraine?

You should be looking at going back to the GP and asking for migraine prophylaxis.

She's already on Propranolol, I was hoping to wean her off if acupuncture works

When I last looked at the data acupuncture doesn't work well long-term although may be good at giving short term relief.
Lots of new treatments are available/coming to market now - visit GP again if current treatment not working.
Also consider visiting an osteopath?

I’m an acupuncturist and 100% of the patients with migraine that I have seen have found more than 80% relief. It works wonderfully for it. Please make sure you see someone who belongs to either the AAC of BAcC and who practices TCM or 5 element - preferably both. Please don’t see a medical acupuncturist or physio, they are taught dry needling which is different.

I found pizotifen a better prophylaxis.

There's nothing wrong with using medication to manage a condition. No one would ever talk about weaning an asthmatic off their inhalers.

We tried accupuncture and it didn't work. That's not to say it won't help your daughter, of course.

Have you looked into a Cefaly device? You can get them second hand on ebay.

Also check out thismigrainelife on instagram. She focuses on chronic migraine, but a lot of it will be helpful for episodic migraine too. She gives a lot of extremely helpful advice.

Medication always has side effects, so if possible, I would wean her off. There are quite a few alternative evidence-based treatments available for migraine by now.

Medication always has side effects, so if possible, I would wean her off.

FFS. If the beneficial effects outweigh the side-effects, stay on the meds! I don't understand this med-shaming that I see all over the place.

There are quite a few alternative evidence-based treatments available for migraine by now.

And yet three medical opinions agreed that I should use prophylaxis and not turn myself into a pincushion or strap electrodes to my head. What makes you think that sticking pins into yourself or sending electric currents through your brain is side-effect free? Perforation injuries carry the risk of infection, for starters.

I've tried multiple acupuncturists over the years. None worked. Triptans (( in my case eletriptan) are pretty good at the onsert of an attack with anti sickness pills and a painkiller if i need these too, but if by any chance that doesn't work, my osteopath can shift it within 20 mins of a manipulation which is beyond astonishing. She has a special interest in neuro issues but many osteopaths treat migraine. I was referred to a migraine consultant in London as mine were so bad at one point and he recommended stating to take high dosses of vitamins which are easiest to take in a supplement called dolovent from amazon ( it's hard to get the b vit in a high enough dose otherwise) as well as one feverfew tablet daily. This is a newly researched area of neurology known as neuroceuticals. Its incredible. The difference is life changing. It takes 3 months for the body to reach maximum consistent saturation but it starts to work before that absolutley worth a try and definitely recognised by those in the mainstream as a treatment now

@VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia I said "if possible". I am not against medication if it helps and side effects are manageable.

However, propanolol has the following possible side effects: Common or very commonAbdominal discomfort; bradycardia; confusion; depression; diarrhoea; dizziness; dry eye (reversible on discontinuation); dyspnoea; erectile dysfunction; fatigue; headache; heart failure; nausea; paraesthesia; peripheral coldness; peripheral vascular disease; rash (reversible on discontinuation); sleep disorders; syncope; visual impairment; vomiting
Uncommon Atrioventricular block; bronchospasm
Rare or very rare Hallucination
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/propranolol-hydrochloride/#side-effects

Cefaly has the following possibly side effects: Common side effects from using the Cefaly Dual may include sleepiness, and a small percentage of individuals reported headaches after using the preventive mode.
Other uncommon side effects may include:

• forehead redness
• skin allergies
• nausea

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cefaly#safety

I know which one I would choose, if both help.

If your doctors told you to stay on preventitive meds, stay on them. Lucky you, if they help you. However, this isn't about you. My daughter has had so severe side effects from meds, that she had to discontinue everything she tried. She is now using the Cefaly device which seems to help without noticeable side effects. Not everyone is the same, and I think it is best to try to find the mildest possible treatment that works.

Not what you asked (but hey might a week join in 😏) but had she tried acupressure? I expect this is linked to type/cause of migraine.... mine were I think linked to muscle tension but I have a faux version of this mat and neck pillow from Lidl (which was under life £20) which has been life changing for head and neck pain https://www.shaktimat.co.uk/?tw_source=google&tw_adid=484786740659&tw_campaign=2061306682&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8J6wBhDXARIsAPo7QA-z0Dbbv9Kikerto7h6UI3Q1RF3ZAkwo3M5zbAA5wGvn6GEU6cSBQYaAquOEALw_wcB

I would say I don't get migraines anymore just headaches. I was massively skeptical but I love it now

These are great - I always recommend them to my patients. Moving your blood and energy in this way is a great way to deal with the kind of pain migraine brings. You don’t need the expensive Shakti mat either, the ones on Amazon are just as good.

It is migraine season at the moment I think. This time last year mine just went up a gear from chronic to acute. I pretty much had them one after another.
I use the cefaly device but I also take one of the new drugs atogepant. Which changed my life by taking away my migraines. Whilst I was seeing a specialist before starting on these drugs I asked about alternatives like acupressure , my consultant shut that down! She is a total professional and very polite but the gist of her message was you can't mindfulness your way out of this shit it's a medical condition!
I'm not saying don't try the acupuncture but it may be your daughters condition like mine is genetic and needs the good drugs!

@Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit We are considering Gepants for my daughter. May I ask if you have experienced hair loss? She is very worried about it. Did you get Atogepant via the NHS? I was told they only offer injections so far. Thank you.

The only side effects from atogepant I have experienced were feeling a bit nauseous and tired for a short while when I started taking them. Both limited to a few hours in the morning. I take my tablet with breakfast. The tiredness wore off after a week but I did notice that my appetite was a bit suppressed for some time, several weeks even.
No hair loss. They do make you a bit constipated as well, but I just increased my fruit intake.
I had to go private for the treatment but I believe the NHS is going to do the tablets if you try 3 other treatments that don't work. That is drug treatments.
For me they are a bit of a miracle, I was literally having migraines back to back and I was exhausted all the time. I am very lucky I can afford the cost.

TBH fromtrying pretty much everything the only acupuncture that makes any difference is the botox injections the neurologist uses.

There are other preventative drugs your daughter could try. If she gets more than two migraines a month that really will impact on her ability to focus and study in school. If she gets weekly migraines then a preventative drug really is her best bet. Call the migraine trust and speak to one of their phone advisors. they also have info on managing migraine in school and treating under 18s.