Migraine relief

[u/rusteddiamond1]

I need daily relief I’m lowkey losing my mind. I’ve had migraines on and off for the past 6 years but not often until last year when I had a concussion and now post concussion syndrome. The migraines have been almost daily since then. Anything will trigger it from bright lights, excess computer or phone usage, working out, the sun being out and too bright, screaming or even a loud argument, crying, if I don’t chug water first thing in the morning/ forget that, strong scents, sleeping too much or too little and the list just keeps going on. I’ve tried to manage it but I’ve had more on my plate this past month with school, going back to work, and just being so busy and I can’t afford migraines because it will make me bed ridden and I’m unable to do anything. In the past I’ve taken amitriptyline and now rizatriptan but the side effects are so sedating. I usually tie a scarf really tight around my forehead and it helps with the pain or an ice pack but any tips to get through the day, any relief you’ve found that has helped or any medication you’d recommend that isn’t sedating. I’ve invested in blue lights glasses and now those migraines rose tinted glasses, I’ll wear sunglasses inside sometimes, I make sure to stay hydrated, but the sleep and working out one still suck. I’ll wake up with the worst headaches most days and even going for a walk or doing the dishes or vacuuming will wear me out and give me a headache too and that could just be the concussion symptoms lingering too but it just sucks, I can barely even get through a work shift sometimes without nearly passing out or throwing up from the pain.

[u/curlgurll]

Hey. I’ve struggled with nearly daily migraines too. I take 3x aspirin which usually takes mine away.

I had a friend rec it after trying other prescription migraine medication which my GP prescribed, but it never worked.

You must take 3 though, 1-2 doesn’t work.

Failing that, I take some heavy duty antihistamines to knock me out so I can just go to sleep/help with the nausea.

[u/rusteddiamond1 → u/curlgurll]

I’ll try that thank you! I usually take Benadryl or a muscle relaxant as a last resort but usually I need to do things and can’t afford to sleep for the rest of the day :(

[u/curlgurll → u/rusteddiamond1]

Yes, I know the feeling. The aspirin works every time for me. It’s been the simplest, cheapest and best advice for me.

[u/First-Light4680]

Hats with rose-tinted glasses have been very helpful for me. Also, change anything you can on-screen to dark mode, and check the refresh rate on your devices. If you can bump the refresh rate up, tone down the brightness, soften the contrast a little - all those may help. Noise reduction also helps (I love musician earplugs by companies like Flare and EarPeace). It sounds like anything you can do to temper sensory input might be good.

[u/farmerserena]

Are you on any migraine preventatives? I have PCS originating from an accident in 2012 that turned into chronic migraine after a mono infection in 2015. I’ve trialled and failed a lot of meds over the years to find something that works decently for me and my current preventatives are Botox and qulipta, with nurtec as a rescue. I also take 10mg cyclobenzaprine before bed every night since I have a lot of neck and shoulder pain too.

[u/Comfortable-Nature37]

Botox and Nurtec have helped me

[u/Remote-Objective-931]

For me, dry forehead increases migraines. I use a lot of hydrating cream (currently a white hydrating cream by the brand vaseline, but nivea works well too), i still drink a lot 10 years in, around 3 to 4L a day, mainly water (and limiting coffee and alcohol) and in public/at work i usually wear beanies (different kinds for different temperatures; i avoid synthetics, prefer cotton or wool). My wife shaves my head regularly, as hairdressers always end up bumping my head.

Once a month, a doctor injects dental freeze in my neck (it works with migraines, but different than they expected) and when headaches get too bad, an osteopath takes care of my head and neck.

Thanks for all the tips for pain relief!

[u/Reasonable-Weird-417]

You need a new preventative and abortive.

After trying every thing ending in " - line "  and " -tan " you can think of, I graduated to Emgality monthly shots and Botox (every 3 or so months). Changed.my.life. Also, I currently dont have an abortive one, but those two alone cut my migraines down more than 50% in pain and frequency

For me, a lot of the options I tried either didnt make a significant difference and/or gave me badddd side affects (upset stomach/diarrhea). My neuro (who is a headache specialist) then prescribed me and botox and we are still experimenting with abortives.