Success in treating migraines, upper back, neck... - Thyroid UK

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Success in treating migraines, upper back, neck and shoulder spasms and pain. Vitamin related.

ShootingStars profile image
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I had a migraine for over the last 6 weeks. Every single day except a few days last week, so otherwise 24/7 for over 6 weeks. None of my prescription migraine medication was helping. It was getting very hard to function and to be productive, but I somehow managed. I'd work and then go home and fall asleep immediately. Go to bed with all that pain, wake up with the same exact pain. The worst part about it was the mornings and the horrible brain fog, which I do not normally have. It would take 3-4 hours until my brain could engage. I became forgetful, unable to complete a thought, and unable to type and write correctly. It was very concerning. Until whatever triggered my nonstop migraine and pain more than 6 weeks ago, I normally have 1-3 migraines per month and prescription migraine medication always helps. Not this time around.

My migraines almost always start with spasmed muscles in my neck, upper back, jaw or head, or all at once. Sometimes my shoulders are involved, and sometimes my hands.

I have chronic low red blood cell magnesium, which makes sense for someone who ends up having these types of pains, since magnesium is needed for healthy nerves. I kept taking my magnesium and even increased it, but I did not feel any better. A few days ago I decided to take some apple cider vinegar in water. Well, some of my pain lifted. I tried it again before bed time and woke up with no migraine.

So that got me to thinking that something in my body was very off and that it was possibly nutrients. Two days ago I did a trial of extra B1, B2, B6, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin E, and CO Q10, none of which I'd been taking regularly, except E. Most of these nutrients are in a multi vitamin I take a few days per week. I also realized that I had ran out of manganese and forgot to buy more, so I ate what foods that I had available that contained manganese, garbanzo beans and quinoa. Soon after eating and taking those vitamins, my spasms and migraine slowly went away!

I woke up yesterday again with no migraine. I ate more of the same food and I took more of the same vitamins. By yesterday afternoon my migraine was completely gone and is till gone now. My back spasms are gone. My neck pain is gone, but one side of my trapezius is still very enlarged in spasm, but is not in pain like it previously was for the last 6 weeks.

This experience got me wondering which vitamin deficiencies had possibly caused my migraine and pains? This is what I found. I wanted to share this because I've read on this site about other people having upper neck pain and migraines.

"In a study on children, teens and young adults, the researchers found migraineurs (people who suffer from frequent migraine headaches) were much more likely to have mildly lower levels of vitamin D, riboflavin (B-2) and coenzyme Q10 (a naturally occurring, vitamin-like enzyme made by the body). All of these vitamins are needed for the mitochondria, the energy production centers of our cells, to function properly."newsweek.com/vitamin-defici...

Then there is Pantothenic Acid deficiency, "Participants in this experiment complained of headache, fatigue, insomnia, intestinal disturbances, and numbness and tingling of their hands and feet." lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vit...

B1 and B12 for nerve pain. (I already take methylB12). livestrong.com/article/5172...

B6 and chronic pain and inflammation in the neck. painneck.com/chronic-neck-p...

Vitamin E. theheartysoul.com/vitamins-...

My vitamin D is at the top of range, so I do not believe that that should not be causing me any pain problems. I will be testing my B1, B2, B6 and CO Q10 when I see a doctor tomorrow, and I will be discussing my recent experience her.

I definitely had inflammation, without a question. As always, my ESR is low, my CRP is negative, my ANA is negative.

All that I know is that I am thankful that my 6 week migraine has been gone for the past two days and my neck is no longer spasmed and throbbing in pain. I hope this breakthrough continues!

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ShootingStars
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shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I hope so too. I had migraines when younger and it is disabling and you're unable to do anything.

I haven't had any for years now.

I am glad your vitamins/minerals helped you and we realise how important vitamins and minerals are when symptoms are relieved.

Justiina profile image
Justiina

I am on B1+B6+B12 injection for improving energy levels. It's sort of mitochondria cocktail. Works for me.

B1 is needed to make stomach acids so it improves digestion.

Many get excellent results with B1 for some it needs as high as 1500 mg/day divided doses as B1 is very sensitive to any gut issues and any bacterial imbalance can affect it. B6 also seems to be potent antibacterial vitamin helping to balance gut bacteria.

B1 works with magnesium and helps to absorb it as well as needs magnesium to work optimally.

On going spasm /cramp I had on right side of my back has disappeared but comes back when injection wears out. The pain radiated up to my head but fortunately wasn't migraine just headache. Still, was annoying enough.

Yes it's very possible you found a solution/fix for your migraines! It's not humbug nor false believe, your doctor can doubt you, never know about them! Fortunately you can carry on your own experiment and see which one is it. Could be a combo of all which is more likely than it would be just one.

Justiina profile image
Justiina in reply to Justiina

Need to add that B1 has helped some with hashimoto, for some it lowers the antibodies. For example Izabella Wentz has written about it after trying it. Can't provide link as I am on my phone and doesn't allow me to do so for some reason.

ShootingStars profile image
ShootingStars

It's now been 16 days since I started taking the above vitamins every day for migraines, neck and upper back muscle spasms. My migraines, neck and upper back spasms have not returned. I have reduced my dose from the loading dosage that I did the first few days and I am still taking these vitamins daily. A few times I've had some muscle tension start, which then evolves to the start of a migraine. When this has happened, I've immediately taken the above vitamins and it prevented a full blown migraine from developing. There were two days were the vitamins did not stop the looming migraine. I eventually took a prescription migraine and this stopped it in it's tracks. This is amazing improvement because during the 6 weeks of nonstop migraines, neck and upper back spasms, my prescription migraine medication did not work at all.

HughH profile image
HughH

Thyroid hormones are essential for almost every cell in the body and most of the issues you describe, including migraines, are cause by low thyroid hormones.

With low thyroid the stomach does not produce sufficient acid which is necessary to absorb minerals leading to low iron, magnesium etc.

Low thyroid causes low body temperature. Red blood cells are produced in the marrow of the large bones, especially the femurs in the upper legs. If the temperature is too low less red cells are produced.

The normal range for Vitamin D is based on a sample of people in the UK. Given the average sunlight levels in this country most of them are deficient so the normal range is much too low. An organisation in California called GrassrootsHealth, working with the University of California have interesting research on the levels of Vitamin D in outdoor workers and native peoples. Their findings are that most people in climates such as the UK need 5000 ID of Vitamin D3 daily.

www1.grassrootshealth.net/e...

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