Headache Remedies

[My2Qtz0205]

My neurologist prescribed Maxalt for my migraines. I try not to medicate, though, so I am making sure I am drinking a lot of water. Sometimes I will even mix in an electrolyte drink. I use M-Grain roll-on, and peppermint oil straight to my scalp. I diffuse a mixture of peppermint, RC, and PanAway. Last night the pain in my temples was so bad that I rubbed in pain cream on my temples and across my forehead, and on my neck and shoulders. I know it is meant for muscle relief, but the tingling and cooling sensation it brought took my attention away from the throbbing pain.
Today I have slept a lot, but I know that can't happen everyday.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Oh, I also find that eating carbs helps! On days I have a bad headache I allow myself to eat the things I normally stay away from--French fries, potato chips, breads...

HTH!

 

[powellrj]

If its first thing in the morning, a big glass of water because I am usually dehydrated, if I am not dehydrated, Mt Dew or Dr Pepper.

 

[NAB]

I too go to the ice pack at the back of my neck or sometimes down my jaw. I try not to keep my jaw loose like someone else said .

Coke, chocolate...caffine with headache meds.

Sometimes I just need a dark room and my ice pack after taking something for it.

 

[jevs]

Anything too bad I use Mersendyle which has codeine in it and available straight over the counter here. Works within 10-15 minutes depending on how much I take.

I also have used Hydralyte because sometimes its just dehydration for me.

Thankfully I don't get too many migraines, and I really feel for people who do.

 

[Diznygrl]

I don't have migraines and only get a headache every so often so I probably shouldn't really have a say in this, but for headaches I don't mess around and just take Excedrin. It's the only thing that works, and it works fast. They don't call it "The headache medicine" for nothing.

Taking aspirin or Tylenol for pain, any kind of pain...I may as well take a Tic Tac because it would be just as effective.

 

[smokeyblue]

Under the advice of a coworker I tried something called Active Release Therapy. It's a special way to treat soft tissue injuries/issues. I had heard of two people at work who had gone and had results in a few sessions for their migraines. I don't want to paint the wrong picture, but it's like a super aggressive, and pointed deep tissue massage that uses movement to break up scar tissue and get right to the point where the soft tissue issues are arising. It was like going to physical therapy, chiropractor and massage therapist in one short session. It hurt like crazy, but I could feel the tension just melt away. She said I will need 4 more sessions. They will try to bill my car insurance, but I'm not hopeful they will pay. It is only $30/session so I am willing to give it a go.

She did say I will be sore and need to ice today. I got about 45 minutes of really nice relief after I left there. I just rubbed in some of the essential oil straight on my skin, iced my neck and forehead a little and took a two hour nap. It's strange now because I have a humdinger of a headache, but its really centralized right in the middle of my forehead.

My neurologist did get back and they sent in a script for a Prednisone burst. I was reluctant to take it because I would like to see if the therapy will work on its own, but I need to get back to work. I will do both the Prednisone and continue the Active Release Therapy. I think I will also pick up some Excedrin migraine tonight. I can't believe I haven't tried it! I will also definitely try the Benadryl before bed.

 

[MainMom]

Under the advice of a coworker I tried something called Active Release Therapy. It's a special way to treat soft tissue injuries/issues. I had heard of two people at work who had gone and had results in a few sessions for their migraines. I don't want to paint the wrong picture, but it's like a super aggressive, and pointed deep tissue massage that uses movement to break up scar tissue and get right to the point where the soft tissue issues are arising. It was like going to physical therapy, chiropractor and massage therapist in one short session. It hurt like crazy, but I could feel the tension just melt away. She said I will need 4 more sessions. They will try to bill my car insurance, but I'm not hopeful they will pay. It is only $30/session so I am willing to give it a go.

She did say I will be sore and need to ice today. I got about 45 minutes of really nice relief after I left there. I just rubbed in some of the essential oil straight on my skin, iced my neck and forehead a little and took a two hour nap. It's strange now because I have a humdinger of a headache, but its really centralized right in the middle of my forehead.

My neurologist did get back and they sent in a script for a Prednisone burst. I was reluctant to take it because I would like to see if the therapy will work on its own, but I need to get back to work. I will do both the Prednisone and continue the Active Release Therapy. I think I will also pick up some Excedrin migraine tonight. I can't believe I haven't tried it! I will also definitely try the Benadryl before bed.

My Chiropractor and massage therapist both do Active Release. I often find that when whatever chemical thing is causing my headache goes away my muscles are still VERY tense from guarding the pain (favoring your shoulder on the headache side for example, sitting hunched.) Active Release will get rid of the muscle problems along with a heat/ice combo. Bring your pain tolerance. I have had tears running down my face through the really bad ones. It's SO worth it though. Glad it worked for you!

 

[scrapquitler]

I know there are a lot of headache sufferers out there. What have you tried? I am seriously suffering. I have a cervicogenic headache, basically a tension headache with some migraine features rolled in. It had been non-stop for 3 weeks.

My neurologists office doesn't have any appointments until the first week of August and I can't get any trigger-point injections until August 25th. They told me I had to go to the ER if I wanted anything done. I finally relented and they were really nice; but it was awful. The drugs made me want to run a mile and in the next minute made me feel like I needed to fall over and sleep and in the next minute like I needed to make a Taco Bell run.

I did actually have one day of decent relief after going to the ER. Now my muscles in my neck are all tense again and my head just hurts. I always go to work and tough it out, but today I am staying home and making calls to doctor's and where ever else I can think of to get some help!

So what do you do for your really bad headaches? Any special massage, therapies, medications?

Have you tried caffeine?

 

[SharonZ]

Excedrin Migraine

 

[star72232]

Chiropractic and acupressure points.

 

[aprilchem]

My go-to for a migraine is 3 Excedrin Migraine, a large diet coke, and a warm compress on my head and eyes.

Oh, and ETA that I worked really hard to figure out what was causing them, which has helped a ton. Mine are allergy related (I have a bad dust allergy) and stress-related. I've tackled the allergy related ones by changing up my cleaning routine and change a lot of things in my bedroom, but the stress ones can be hard.