Migraines

[Silverfern]

Caffiene helps me too, but only sometimes. I try not to consume caffiene after 4:00, which rules out Excedrine in the evenings. I've also noticed that it depends on the type of headache I have- sometimes Excedrine Migraine works, other times it's Excedrine Tension Headache. And plenty of times neither one works.

By "strong" peppermint tea, how strong do you mean? I've drank regular peppermint tea made from tea bags, but didn't notice it helping with my headache although it wasn't very strong either. I can probably get my hands on loose peppermint leaves to make a pure herbal tea, but would I use the leave straight, or how stronly are you suggesting I blend them with something else (rooibos tea is all I have on hand as far as loose tea leaves). I have a homemade tea blend of rooibos, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and rose, but aside from being delicious I don't feel that it lessens my headache any. There are some herbs I have to stay away from, because either because I have high blood pressure or because they have effects (duiretics) that aren't supposed to be used on my bp medication.

Maybe I do really need to look into where to get accupuncture done here. NJ isn't known for being a health-conscious state and since the nearest health food stores are just under an hour in each direction or out of state (DE) as far as natural practitioners go, I think my area cares even less about natural living. Is it true that usually chiropractors do accupuncture?

O That's right you're in Southern Jersey, I'm up here in the other country known as Northern Jersey (bout 10 mins outside NYC) and I can't walk down the street without tripping over 3 natural food stores. Not to brag or anything ;p . I just hope you don't pay as high property taxes!

But I'd imagine a chiropractor might know where some are. But that's kinda of the opposite of what they do tho, haha.

[ChristineLynnP]

Have you tried figuring out what triggers yours?

Haha, what doesn't? Stress, the cold weather(yes, if it's more than a quick walk to my car, I get a headache just from being out in the cold), stress, lack of sleep, stress, allergies, stress, bloodpressure, stress, blood sugar, and stress. Half the time I don't even know which trigger it is. So usually I try allergy pills and one form of Excedrine. If that doesn't help, try the other form of Excedrine. Somewhere in between all of this, eat a little something and see if that helps, because half the time I don't feel it as hunger and in fact, I tend to feel nauseous instead. If not, try to take a nap if I'm at home. I have noticed, though, that the stress, blood pressure, and blood sugar all seem to be interconnected. I don't know in what order they occur, but usually when my blood pressure is up I have symptoms that my blood sugar is off and the whole world feels overwhelming. I'm naturally a high-stress person, from a high-stress family. It's a hard habit to break. When it's stress/blood pressure though, there isn't too much I can do until I'm able to start exercising again (whole other story as to why I can't at the moment). Since my blood pressure medication is controlling things so much though, I think it's maybe the stress of the holidays.

I will say, though, that last night after I started this post and told Karen what's in the B&B massage cream that makes it so awesome, I took some tylenol PM and my boyfriend rubbed some of the cream on my neck and shoulders, and it's amazing how much it really helped. It didn't completely take the migraine away, but at least it wasn't overpowering any longer.

[ladycattat]

there is a prescription medication called Topamax that they advertise on TV that kills migraines. It is also used in conjuntion with other meds for bipolar disorder(which is what I use it for.) I don't get migraines(just heineous stress headaches) so I can't tell you whether or not it works.
Good luck on your search!
Laurie

[ChristineLynnP]

there is a prescription medication called Topamax that they advertise on TV that kills migraines. It is also used in conjuntion with other meds for bipolar disorder(which is what I use it for.) I don't get migraines(just heineous stress headaches) so I can't tell you whether or not it works.
Good luck on your search!
Laurie

I used it. It worked a little but not enough to justify the side effects. I was always dizzy/lightheaded on it, and my hands and feet were constantly numb and cold with that pins-and-needles feeling. I've been on quite a few prescription medications that didn't work

[ladycattat]

Oh. yah, the *pins and needles feeling*. So familiar with that!......I use it as a mood stabilizer, and it works well enough that I can tolerate the side effects, even the unpleasant ones!

Does dark silence help? I know when I have a bad headache, I need to go into a dark room that is devoid of ANY noise at all. The radio, tv, or especially leafblowers feel like an assault!

Laurie

[Xarata]

After a personal experience enlightening me as to my neck pain, it occurs to me to ask if you have TMJ (jaw clicking)?

My TMJ (mainly stress induced-i also grind my teeth) causes a lot of temporal headaches and migraines as well as bad neck pain. My friend who uses acupuncture for her migraines also has TMJ. I never treated my TMJ because i didn't realize until very recently that my neck pain and headaches were related to my jaw clicking (i don't get lockjaw and very rarely get pain just below my ear- i personally didn't think it was that big of a deal) Realizing now that it may be the cause of other pains in my life makes me want to get it treated- oh to not have neck pain. Sorry if i shared too much if you don't have TMJ, but if you do, i wanted you to be aware that it could be causing your migraines.

[ChristineLynnP]

By jaw clicking, do you mean, you can actually feel your jaw clicking? Because if so, i will say that in the past I've had that sensation. I didn't think about it at all until you said something, but it's been a while since I've noticed anything like that. If I do get the feeling again, I'll have to make a note of it. I see my nurse practitioner at the family practice I go to in 10 days. I might mention it to him if it happens again, but honestly, I can't remember how long it's been since I've felt that. Not to sound stupid, but I just don't know- does that ever just go away on its own? Or maybe just lie dormant for a while?

[Xarata]

it can come and go with triggers (like stress) and there are also exercises that can be done to fix it.

Mine is very blatant, loud, and generally permanent. I- as well as everyone else- can hear my jaw click if i open my mouth wide/yawn or if i eat (chewing). It's the sound of the mandible joint (which is right in front of your ears) moving in and out.I also get ear pain because the joint is right in front of the ear and temporal headaches (headaches that radiate from the temples) because the joint is right below the temple. It's called Temporalmandibular Joint Disorder. It can range in effects- for me, it's mostly just loud- i didn't notice it because it was part of my life, my mom noticed it when i was eating dinner when i was 12- it drives her crazy. For my little sister, her disc actually dislodged and she had to go on muscle relaxants to put it back. Other people have their jaw lock and can't open it past a certain point for a length of time. When it first developed (when i was 12) I would get horrible migraines where i cried myself to sleep and nothing helped. I didn't know until very recently that my headaches, earaches, and neckpain are very probably a result of my TMJ which i generally just considered annoying/loud but not a big deal.

[packgal]

yes, if you have TMJ, it can be the source of many evils. my husband is a dentist and he is always talking about how many issues it can cause. my jaw clicks while eating too and it drives him batty. if you are going to go to get it checked out/treated, try to find a dentist that specializes in TMJ problems. the person will likely be a general dentist who just has an interest in it--if you live near a dental school, that might be the best place to start. some orthodontists are a bit more trained in it too.

[ChristineLynnP]

The more I look into this, the more that it does sound like me. Especially with the sinus pain often occuring when I have a headache, and the pain occasionally being in the temporal area but always, even if it's at the same time, being at the base of my skull/neck/shoulders. I do get jaw clicking occcasionally, and sometimes when I yawn deeply, it's quite painful to open my mouth so wide. Once in a while I do get a faint ringing sound in my ears as well. I get a lot of unexplained tenderness in my jaw and occasionally teeth will hurt for no apparent reason. All of these things are symptoms of TMJ, so when my new dental plan kicks in in January, I will be making an appointment with the new dental practice that's covered, so I'll make sure to ask about this. I do have a follow-up apt with the nurse practitioner at my family practice to monitor my blood pressure and medication as well, so I will bring this up to him too.