How I Found the Right Treatment Plan for My Chronic Migraine


By Arielle Hicks, as informed to Alexandra Benisek

I’ve had migraines for so long as I can bear in mind. As a toddler, I used to be at all times bubbly, concerned in extracurriculars, and a straight-A pupil. Someday, I had what I believed was a typical headache, nevertheless it wouldn’t go away. Then for weeks, I would solely get a day or two with no headache. Then weeks changed into months.

I used to be falling asleep in school. My grades have been dropping. I wasn’t doing my homework, or doing properly on checks anymore. I ended hanging out with buddies and taking part in sports activities. I did not wish to do even easy issues like go to the films as a result of every part appeared to hassle me.

Finally, I used to be capable of see a neurologist who informed me that I had migraines. It was reassuring to get that prognosis, to know that I wasn’t loopy. As a result of at 13 years outdated, lots of occasions, individuals say, “It is all in your head.”

My Ever-Altering Therapy Plan

We have been capable of begin a therapy plan proper off the bat. It was lots of trial and error.

However over time, we observed that drugs alone weren’t doing sufficient. It acquired to the purpose the place I’d be admitted to the hospital for a number of days to as much as per week. This could not preserve taking place. I used to be lacking most likely half a yr of college at this level.

We tried one thing known as nerve blocks. My migraines sometimes begin at the back of my head. So I’d get numbing treatment and generally a steroid in that space. It was virtually like magic. It was prompt aid. I would not have migraines for weeks to a month at a time, or extra. It had modified my life.

Later, my migraines would begin to radiate towards the entrance of my head. We would then do the therapy in my eyebrows as properly. I do not forget that the primary time I had it finished, I cried as a result of it helped me see higher. It isn’t a nice factor to get needles in your head. Nevertheless it’s value it to do away with fixed day by day complications.

As I acquired older, I grew to become eligible for Botox. I carry lots of stress, so I get Botox throughout my head and in my shoulders to launch strain. Bodily remedy can also be one thing I do, to assist launch stress in my neck. I’ve finished that on and off for the previous couple of years.

To this present day, my therapy plan continues to be altering. I am at the moment on an anticonvulsant treatment, which I have been utilizing for the previous 3 years.

Way of life Modifications and Remedy Can Assist

I’ve made life-style adjustments, like ensuring I keep hydrated, eat, and get correct sleep. These three have been the large issues, as a result of a scarcity of them may cause migraines.

I began a headache journal to trace what I used to be doing and discover my triggers. For me, I discovered that chocolate and the meals additive MSG result in migraines. One other huge set off is stress. So my medical workforce set me up with a behavioral psychologist. Lots of people with migraines are usually harassed, so it is good to have the ability to have somebody you possibly can speak to.

I’m an outdoor individual. However in the course of the winter, the dearth of sunshine and seasonal nervousness trigger me to have extra migraines. Throughout this season, I’ve began taking an anti-anxiety med. This can assist with the ache. It additionally places me extra comfortable, so I am not getting harassed over sure issues. And that additionally helps cut back my migraines.

My Expertise With Occipital Launch Surgical procedure

The largest factor that I’ve finished, in spite of everything these different therapies, was surgical procedure. Since most of my complications begin at the back of my head, my surgeon did an occipital launch surgical procedure. (On this process, your physician releases nerves at the back of your head from close by muscle mass and tissues that could be placing strain on them.)

That is truthfully been the very best factor for me. Earlier than, I’d have migraines that may final weeks at a time with solely perhaps 2 to five headache-free days a month. However now, I am solely getting two to 3 migraines a month.

Even after the surgical procedure, my medical doctors informed me I’m nonetheless going to have migraines now and again. However bodily remedy, the treatment, and talking with somebody — it is all actually nice. Therapy has given me my life again.

My neurologist can empathize, which is vital to me. He had been by comparable issues. I have a look at him and assume, “Wow, this was his life, too. And now he is a health care provider, and he is serving to individuals.” Seeing another person undergo this and make it out — it is inspiring.

Know you are not alone and that with the suitable therapy, you’ll really feel higher.



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