My biannual Migraine bitch-fest

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 2:16 pm

I've discussed infrequently that I have PTSD and a migraine condition called Status MIgrainous. The two are interconnected and SM is usually accompanied by nausea and puking. I've been dealing with the migraines on a bimonthly basis with lidocaine shots to trigger points in my neck. Aside from giving me serious stiff necks, they seem to be the most helpful. As in give me 6 hours to 2 days of relief.

I'm in the middle of a mother of all migraines at the moment and I'm running across the truck-tubes of the interwebs trying odd relief techniques. White noise seems to do nothing but annoy the fuck out of me. Binaural tones calm me which helps alleviate other stressors created by the migraine or that were already present. Caffeine has never done anything for me. I'm on the verge of giving up and maybe going to the ER. But going to the ER is just a pain because they shoot you with a bunch of shit and send you home. So aargh.

If you have anything helpful to say - please do say.

Otherwise .... /rant

erik · Post by **erik** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 3:32 pm

For me I need a quiet dark room and I would groan and whimper it out. And for my last one I got so desperate that I ran my hands under very cold running water for several minutes hoping that the discomfort in my hands would displace my cranial discomfort... and it actually cleared it up.

Disclaimer: I don't know if it is dangerous to do that, and since I only got to do it once, and it may be coincidence that my migraine cleared up shortly thereafter.

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 3:49 pm

It's not really dangerous to use temperature changes to shock yourself out of states. Those are actually prescribed techniques for dealing with stress and to take your mind off of pain. It isn't a cure per se.

Parthenon · Post by **Parthenon** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 4:07 pm

Cynic wrote:It's not really dangerous to use temperature changes to shock yourself out of states. Those are actually prescribed techniques for dealing with stress and to take your mind off of pain. It isn't a cure per se.

So my brother's self-medicated 'eat a whole container of ice cream' when he gets a bad headache is a valid technique that could be prescribed by a doctor?

erik · Post by **erik** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 4:18 pm

My wife takes topamax as a preventative measure against her very frequent (although almost certainly more mild, yet weird) migraines that she has.

It still doesn't prevent them all but it seems like she gets them much less frequently. Only pain in the ass is that many people report varying affects in the generic (my wife hasn't found a generic version yet that works for her at any dosage), so we have to pay for the more expensive brand name version... which rather sucks since we've been out of work since January and have crappy insurance.

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:24 pm

There's a difference between temperature shock and eating junk food.

Topamax hasn't worked for me. Pretty much most medications are no-gos for SM. I think if this persists for several more hours, it's time for an ER visit. I'd go to my doc but he's apparently not around on saturdays even for an emergency phone call..

sabs · Post by **sabs** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:51 pm

does sexual therapy work at all? Orgasms actually alter the blood flow in your body. Which can help if your headache/migraine is pressure based.

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:56 pm

It seems to be more neurological than bp based but due to my meds i seem to have no sex drive these days at all.

PhoneLobster · Post by **PhoneLobster** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 11:51 pm

I used to have semi-regular migranes. And now it seems I don't.

They changed over the years, became increasingly more regular and sever with increasingly severe related visual symptoms.

Then they became more regular and less severe and sort of mostly went away.

I associate the improvement with two things.

1) Removal of my wisdom teeth.
They were all twisted around and sunken, had them taken out. Though aside from that it worked out poorly, I nearly drowned in my own blood and had to go in for emergency dental surgery and to this day experience tweaks of pain from the bit the stupid dentist royally fucked up.

2) Sinus/Ear Congestion.
My migranes had always been associated with sinus headaches/symptoms to some degree. My sinuses have changed due to a period of constantly being blocked and various attempts to treat that with nasal sprays and god knows what.

These days I associate my remaining minor headaches with some sort of crazy ear wax situation and find that about once a month I NEED to pour a few drops of Waxsol down my right ear to prevent what will otherwise be a week or two of escalating afternoon headaches.

So there you go. My completely dangerous and ridiculous home remedy, pull your teeth out, spit out a small bucket of blood, dissolve your ear wax and shoot unpleasant medical fluids up your nostrils.

Ted the Flayer · Post by **Ted the Flayer** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:39 am

sabs wrote:does sexual therapy work at all? Orgasms actually alter the blood flow in your body. Which can help if your headache/migraine is pressure based.

I can't speak for Cynic of course, but when I get migraines I sure as hell am not able to do anything sexual. Unless you count crying and gibbering hysterically and having full-blown aural/visual hallucinations to be sexy. At which point I'd ask you to please keep your distance, because that's pretty fucked up.

...You Lost Me · Post by **...You Lost Me** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:44 am

You guys are fucking weird...

erik · Post by **erik** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 5:52 am

...You Lost Me wrote:You guys are fucking weird...

Hey, you do it way, we'll do it ours.

Josh_Kablack · Post by **Josh_Kablack** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:38 am

Not actually useful, but some new pop-research is making connections between a surprising number of PTSD cases and previously undiagnosed concussions. I have no idea if that's even a possibility in your case and that doesn't suggest much in the way of treatment.

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:54 am

It's vaguely relevant. But after googling the study, it seems like concussion related illnesses are more prevalent in patients with existing PTSD compared to those who don't have PTSD.

So it seems as though it works the opposite way.

It's possible that I could have developed post-concussion syndrome due to the faills/fainting spells my PTSD causes. But it looks like most of the treatment for PCS is the same as what I receive for PTSD so I'm not going to fuck with my anxiety issues by even thinking about it.

npc310 · Post by **npc310** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:17 pm

Most relaxing experience I've ever had is sitting in a Jacuzzi drinking Captain Pepper and watching sappy chick-flick romantic comedies. Stress and anxiety from work, bills, and whatnot all just float away. Try staying awake during or after that.

May not work worth a damn on something like PTSD, but it'll be enjoyable trying it out. Admittedly, access to a spa may be a show-stopper. I only get to do it two or three times a year when I visit family out of town.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:06 pm

For the PTSD, try dialectic behavioral therapy. I know someone that it is working very well for.

For the migraine, the best I can suggest is cold, quiet, and dark. And ideally a massage from someone who knows some pressure point school (e.g. kiatsu, acupressure, ...).

Cynic · Post by **Cynic** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:23 pm

DBT is something that I do use. There are some spiritual aspects to it that are infuriating to me but otherwise it is a good modality for PTSD treatment. I've been to PTSD programs that are mainly DBT based and they have helped. Unfortunately insurance doesn't cover proper coverage to these programs. Insurance looks at it normally as a quick temporary fix and then drops you like a rock. Despite all their promises about indefinite sessions.

My migraine is slightly better but it hurts like a bitch. I've been shooting lidocaine treatments up my nostrils on a semi-regular basis and it alleviates the pain or shuts it off for a while before it comes back strong as ever.

Winnah · Post by **Winnah** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 12:09 pm

Free diving and spear fishing helped my brother out with his migraines.

I recall reading about a hyperbaric ogygenation treatment for PTSD, though it may have been quackery. Supposedly based on the benefits enjoyed by some divers.

Probably not an option if you're taking sinus medication though.

JigokuBosatsu · Post by **JigokuBosatsu** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:35 pm

I have chronic migraines (from Meniere's Disease) with very similar levels of debilitation, it sounds like. In the early stages of it I had great success with taking some 70% DMSO and rubbing it on my temples. Haven't had any DMSO in a while, and have sort of moved on treatment-wise. Can't smell like a garlicky oyster all the time. Might be an idea for you.

As far as some of the previous discussion goes, I was having my Meniere's treated with beta blockers. It worked for taking away the tinnitus and spells of dizziness, but didn't help with the migraines, and the side effects (including lack of boners) were unacceptable. At the moment I'm taking some drastic diet steps (like not drinking coffee) that may be helping.

Good luck, man.