Instant migraines and Icepick headaches

[objectivebread]

I have fibro but also suffer with my TMJ joint (under investigation atm with hospital) When something stressful is happening, or not even that I just feel a little stressed, a band of tension will envelop my head and I'll get an ache behind my eye on one side and it will travel down my jaw, and feel like a vice grip. My vision blurs and I get lights.What is really alarming though is it is now instant pain, not a slow build up to a headache. I also get 'flashbang' migraine, or icepick headaches as my Dr calls them, my GP is aware and I have seen neuro, they diagnosed me with chronic migraines and it fed into my fibro diagnosis, but I can't be the only one who can be walking into a supermarket and bang, it's like a few seconds of sharp intense pain, my vision temporarily goes tunnelled or hazy and it's gone. Really scary when it happens.

I am on preventative migraine meds but they seem to have stopped working. Just wondered if anyone else gets this as it's a nightmare as a parent, I often get these attacks in the morning trying to get my son out the door.

Wondered if anyone has discovered any hacks to keep these attacks at bay/fibro warriors out there have any tips for me

Have you been checked for a Chiari Malformation? Check the symptoms and see if they fit. I get these icepick headaches, they are horrendous, you have my sympathy

My daughter has ice pick headaches and very intense headaches that have a focus behind the eye. You have my sympathy too. It is truly awful.

Which preventative are you on for your chronic migraine? Even if one CGRP blocker no longer works, another might work.

Paced breathing has been helpful for my daughter to better deal with stress and anxiety. Do you know about pain reprocessing therapy? A lot of people with chronic migraine find it helpful. EMDR for pain is also gaining traction. Have you tried a Cefaly device? It did improve my daughter's migraines a bit.

I love Amy Mowbray from the underscore migraine underscore life on instagram. She is fantastic and her course is excellent. She gives a ton of great advice.

Explain Pain by Lorimer Moseley David Butler is very good too, if you have not come across it before.

Do not solely rely on medication as they can have drawbacks as well. Try to spend some time every day in dim light, avoid triggers such as bright light and I would recommend you have reduced exposure to screens as well.