Headache and Migraine Group: Let’s connect

I am more worried about my eyes and how close it will be. I have macular degen & glaucoma. The neurologist has agreed to keep it directly away from my eyes.

I did 8 rounds and it helped 4 of those times. It greatly reduced the severity and number of migraines for the times it worked. I experienced minimal impact the other 4 times. Good luck with your injections. I hope it works well for you.

Did Botox help you at all? I am getting Botox on the 19th. Not hopeful as it did not work 8 years ago.

I am 62 years old and have suffered from migraines for 20 years. I used to get them 4 days/week and have tried every medication, Botox and other injections currently on the market as well as some non traditional ideas. Rizatriptan (Maxalt) did help a lot in stopping my migraines when they occurred. However, it did not reduce the amount migraines and at times I had rebound headaches. I now get Vyepti infusions quarterly and only experience one migraine/month. I still use the Rizatriptan as a rescue drug when I do have a migraine. This has been life changing for me.

I’ve had migraines for most of my life. I’m 61 now. Used Maxalt successfully but recently the headaches became more frequent and I had to take more Maxalt than my doctor was comfortable with. I’ve had other treatments over the years including Botox injections that did nothing. Finally after a new evaluation by Neurology (specializing in migraine) I started Emgality, a once a month self injection. Absolutely life changing. I have not had one migraine since September. Mild headache occasionally but no big deal. Truly incredible.

I wake up with pain, vomiting, light sensitivity. My headache is fully engaged by the time I open my eyes.
Is this typical? I did not suffer from migraine until I developed dysautonomia.
Imitrex worked for years, but I have recently started experiencing abnormal heart rhythm when I take it.
I have a platelet disorder so many pain relievers are not recommended. I have no idea where to go from here.

I suffered migraine from 20 years old until past 60 years old. Trying many meds until finally Imitrex was developed along the way and it helped. Mine came on with an aura in the right temple and what looked like broken glass. They usually lasted 3 to 4 days with vomiting. I'm now 80. Two years ago I was diagnosed with Ramsey Hunt Syndrome which has caused severe headaches, not as bad as migraine but BAD. Dr. prescribed Topiramate 100 mg at bed time and it has worked. I sincerely believe nothing has ever hurt as bad as the migraines I had when I was young, they were truly debilitating. When I hear of someone having a true migraine my heart aches for them. I wish all of you are able to get help.

Thank you, my appologies.

Hi, @cbogoros. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad to hear you've found something that is helping your headaches.

Other members have mentioned alternative or complementary treatments in the Headache & Migraine support group. It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor about complementary or alternative therapies you're considering and do your research about their effectiveness.

To add to your research, I found this publication on chiropractic and headache from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. It's published by Elsevier, which you may know publishes many medical journals:

- Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults With Headache
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475411000686.
I appreciate the advice that fellow Connect member Quazar offers. This discussion is part of the Connect Headache & Migraine support group and the Just Want to Talk support group. The member's health concern was new daily persistent headache (NDPH):

- How to Avoid Quacks and Snake Oil Treatments
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-avoid-quacks-and-snake-oil-treatments
Fortunately, more and more academic medical centers and headache specialists are open to discussing and integrating complementary medicine. I hope your primary care doctor or your neurologist specializing in headache is someone with whom you can speak openly about your interest in and use of integrative and complementary medicine. Does your medical center have an integrative medicine department?

Have you considered seeing an Upper Cervical Chiropractor? They can take specific x-rays to see if your atlas is out of alignment causing the headaches. Mine was out of alignment, sitting over to the right of my c-2 vertebrae. After 5 adjustments my headaches are becoming less, I am going to continue going until my head is sitting on right and I don't have these horrible headaches each and every single day.

Best of luck!