Chronic migraine relief

[ck1995]

What are people using to treat their chronic migraine? (I have aura) I’ve tried so many things that have provided little to no relief and I am wondering about any lifestyle changes, holistic practices, or medications that anyone has found helpful? Also are their any books people have read on migraines that are like a self help book? TIA

[Cat00]

BOTOX is the only thing that has helped my chronic migraines nothing else had any impact. I tried 13 different drugs, GON injections, acupuncture and a chiropractor, a cephaly device and tens machine and a few supplements and probably other things that I forgotten.

[ck1995 in reply to Cat00]

Thanks! BOTOX isn’t working for me 😭

[Clair-Connor in reply to ck1995]

I am on a waiting list for Botox. Have aura, sickness and chronic pain. Takes me 4/5 days for me to feel normal again.

[Cat00 in reply to ck1995]

Awe poor you! I guess your only option left would be Erenumab/Aimovig then? If you've tried everything else.

A lot of people take Magnesium and other supplements like CoQ10 but the evidence for their efficacy is inconclusive so personally I wouldn't waste my money. Of course if nothing works and youre getting desperate I'd probably give anything a go though!

[purge63 in reply to ck1995]

I had Botox 4 weeks ago and it has actually made my migraines more frequent.

[Louie_Rgg in reply to ck1995]

Botox didn't work for me either - I only did it twice though... how many times do you need to do it to take effect?

[fran2]

Hi, I’ve had every and any treatment ranging from Propanalol etc at the onset to acupuncture, tech devices and then DHE and now Botox. They’ve all reduced at the onset however after a while no longer work. Botox is new - I’m on my 2nd lot now and am again hopeful this’ll work, if not I don’t know what alternatives are left.

I have migraine and chronic daily headache and would try anything.

[ck1995 in reply to fran2]

I hope it works for you!

[headachequeen]

I used to take a lot of triptans which made them manageable, but didn't help the menstrual migraine. I now take Aimovig shots and hardly have migraine at all. I get menstrual migraine still, but less severe and the triptans will help me get rid of them now, along with ice on my neck and/or volteran gel (diclofenac).

[monster05]

I have been lucky enough to be on a clinical trial for Ajovi - one of the new CGRP drugs - and am virtually migraine-free. I was a chronic migraneur and had tried just about everything. Botox did change things for the better for me as I used to only have 2-3 migraine-free days a month and they weren’t great days as I was so shattered. Life really was difficult then. Botox reduced the number and severity of attacks but I was still a chronic sufferer with 18-20 days a month. The new CGRP drugs are is life-changers. I never thought I’d live a normal life.

[Cat00 in reply to monster05]

Wow! Sounds wonderful, Botox really takes my frequency down so im a lot better than i was but im still having too many, hopefully the NHS will let these CGRP drugs through this August, fingers crossed!

[monster05 in reply to Cat00]

They are really are game-changers. I never thought I'd be able to live life like I do now. I was told at the beginning of treatment that the fact that I had responded well to Botox boded well for the CGRP drugs and that I was likely to benefit from them which has certainly been the case. It sounds as if you would too and I can't recommend them highly enough. Hopefully, the price will come down enough for the NHS to approve them.

[Cat00 in reply to monster05]

Ooh didn't know that responding well to Botox boded well for CGRP drugs. I had 13 days of migraine out 30 which just takes me out of the 15 day a month threshold for various treatments but that is when I'm on Botox so I'm still worn out plus it's not the only chronic pain condition I have so any hope is wonderful really. Thanks for letting me know I'm seeing my neurologist next week so I'll mention it to her.

[LMor]

Have you tried removing gluten from your diet? I removed it due to thyroid disease as my body became very intolerant to it and it’s had a massive impact on my migraines. I still get them, but they’ve gone from five or so migraines with aura a month to maybe one every six months.

[ck1995 in reply to LMor]

I tried once years ago I’m gonna try it again

[Bev38]

I've have been having everyday chronic migraines for over 10 years now, no medications have helped me. I got the dhe infusion through the drip for 3 years which helped reduce my pain alot, but now started to get botox treatment which hasn't been as successful for me they have made me really sick and migraines a lot worse, everyone responded to treatments and medication differently so will help some people but unfortunately not me.

[michelet808]

I found a cure to my migraines with aura. I always used to say, "Who knows when I will have the next one??" But now I know the answer to that question, that answer is ME. I am in control of what I put into my body, which is being able to have control of the effects it has on my body. I changed my mindset of eating/health and I have not had a migraine with aura for the past couple of months. You can check out my previous posts crying for help, but I am happy to say that I am out of that zone. Please let me know if I could help any of you.

[ck1995 in reply to michelet808]

I would love to hear more about this my migraines are not hormonal or menstrual migraines however, not sure there is much of a difference, I saw one of your posts saying you spent a lot of money for the help unfortunately with all these copays right now I’m struggling financially so it is hard

[michelet808 in reply to ck1995]

Right. I had to take out a loan just for my medical, that is when I said no & went all in with my woman’s health nutritionist because her clients only had the same things that I get to say now that I dedicated myself to this lifestyle/mindset change. You could e-mail me : [e-mail] OR I think there is a chat option here?

[purge63]

Have you tried drinking a can of full fat Coke at the first signs of an attack? I discovered this last summer when I was suffering in the heat with daily migraine and couldn't use painkillers more than 2/3 days per week.

I was dubious but amazingly it stopped the attack within 30 mins!

I have combined this on occasions with yoga ( legs up the wall) and it has been my greatest non medicinal tool.

My headache nurse thinks it's the caffeine but I don't.

I have tried espresso, which has a lot more caffeine than Coke, and it gave no relief ; also Coke only contains 35 mg per can which is lower than caffeine content in tea.

Coke was originally marketed as a medicine and one of its claims was to help " sick headache ".

Try it out you may be as surprised and delighted as I was and still am!

Ps Diet Coke has the opposite effect for me as it contains aspartame (artificial sweetener) which is one of my triggers.