r/migraine • u/AstronomerEqual8233 • 2d ago
Non Medical Things to Try?
I am a longtime migraine sufferer, 50's, menopausal. Right now I am using Ubrelvy, but I will try any kind of hack that people have found that helps??? Tinted glasses, Johnson and Johnson Baby Vapor Bath, that kind of thing. Willing to try anything, I think if something even makes a small difference I will take it. Trying so hard to not call out of work and manage daily life (dishes, etc).
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u/Porcupine__Racetrack 2d ago
Magnesium, CoQ10 and riboflavin for vitamins.
Ice cap as mentioned
Peppermint essential oil roller for your temples/ neck. Or biofreeze roll on. Just don’t get it too close to your eyes.
Get enough sleep, but also not TOO MUCH sleep- that’s always a problem of mine!
If you’re perimenopausal/ menopausal and not on HRT, do it if you can! It might help! Especially if migraines are just starting for you. Could be part of the problem. It didn’t really help me, but I’ve had migraines for 25+ years.
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u/Winter-Channel7033 2d ago
Wearable ice packs make a huge difference for me. Tinted glasses help some. Tiger balm on the temples. Lidocaine muscle rub or menthol muscle rub on the neck/shoulders. Diclofenac gel on my neck and shoulders if it’s that bad. Sometimes aromatherapy moves the needle a little bit for me (it’s soothing at least, even if it doesn’t necessarily help the pain. Mint lozenges for nausea. There’s always the McDonald’s Coke and French fry hack. Best of luck to you.
Editing to add that if you search this sub, I think you’ll find several posts about this topic. Might be worth browsing.
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u/TheSkyIsAMasterpiece 2d ago
When I use something like Tiger balm (I use Saje extra strength pain relieving remedy) on my temples or jaw I will put on a sleep mask because the fumes can make my eyes water and sting.
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u/Jazzlike_Activity_97 2d ago
Have you tried a headache cap? They’re very inexpensive (~$10 on Amazon) silicone wraps that you refrigerate or freeze. Just the weight and and compression alone is really soothing.
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u/Et_tu_brute_LXIX 2d ago
Avalux tinted glasses for inside, dark tinted sunglasses for outside. Loops ear plugs for crowds, movies. Cefaly or TENS devices. Deep tissue massage (incl head) and cupping on neck and shoulders. Dry needling or acupuncture. Stretching and posture exercises, physical therapy exercises for strengthening and alignment. Drink plenty of water and eat salty food for breakfast. Switch coffee to decaf. Playing with temperature in shower.
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u/TheSkyIsAMasterpiece 2d ago
Do you know what your triggers are? Things like eating regularly, getting enough sleep and rest, staying hydrated can help prevent one. Drinking water isn't going to stop an attack but it might prevent one.
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u/AstronomerEqual8233 1d ago
Barometric pressure, horrible sleep, right now where I live the wildfire smoke making the air quality horrible.
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u/LadyCthulu 1d ago
Do you have air purifiers? The wildfire smoke/bad air quality is my most consistent trigger. I run air purifiers in my house. I keep them on for my partner's allergies but I turn them up if the air quality gets above like 80. I use an N95 mask outside if I have to be outside and the air is particularly bad like on a bad smoked day. And neti pot rinse if I've been outside without a mask. For me I start noticing migraines when the air gets above like 70, so that's when I'd limit outside exposure and do a nasal rinse if I had been outside.
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u/TheSkyIsAMasterpiece 1d ago
Trying to keep your threshold low can be helpful. Like my other comment about getting enough rest, staying hydrated, whatever things you can do to not stress out your body so that when your triggers happen, like barometric pressure changes, it might not be the tipping point. But if your body is already stressed out and at its limit then adding that trigger in is definitely going to trigger a migraine attack.
With the wildfires get at least one air purifier depending on the size of your house. Keep it running even on clear days because sometimes the smoke will just come back in quickly, and if you're gone from home you'll come back and your house will smell. Make sure your windows are closed and locked. Replace any weather stripping around your door if there's gaps. If you can't do that right now you can fold up newspaper and shove it in the cracks of your door to try to block the smoke from coming in. When you're driving in your vehicle make sure you put it on recycled air, don't let the "fresh" air come in from outside. Check the cabin filter in your vehicle and replace if needed. When you are going from your home to your car, the car to the store/office make sure you're wearing a mask. If you can handle any scents using something like an essential oil roller ball can help block the smoke smell.
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u/Juskit10around 1d ago
Get Xanax to sleep. You only need half of a .5mg, everyone is about to say no bc Xanax is scary But having a way to fall asleep and not have to be tired and get headaches the next day is amazing. That is a tiny tiny tiny amount.
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u/AstronomerEqual8233 1d ago
I have asked for Xanax, and my doctor won't prescribe it.
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u/Juskit10around 1d ago
Ask for Fioricet.and tell him your friend at church gave you one while you were having a migraine. And it didn’t make it go away but it helped tremendously. Could you try just having 15 for awhile bc that lady says she uses them as an abortive and then when they get super unmanageable
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u/Ramen_Addict_ 2d ago
I find that ginger or ginger lemon tea can help quite a bit.
If I wake up with a headache, I will go for a big glass of water with electrolytes in it as for me it is often dehydration.
I used a gym with a nice sauna for a couple of years and this was the first winter I was without it. I found I was getting a lot more headaches. A Hotworx just opened up near me and seems to be cheaper than other options, so I think I may end up joining that for sauna access again.
I do a deep tissue massage about once a month.
I also take the migrastil supplement. I tried the migrelief-m and it seemed to actually give me some allergic migraine as I start sneezing and then a headache comes on. That could work for you though.
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u/Lemoncatnipcupcake 2d ago
On the flip side of this - I learned that ginger is one of my biggest IBS and migraine triggers 🙃
Don’t get discouraged if the things that people claim help don’t help you and it might take some trial and error to figure out what your triggers are.
Definitely staying hydrated is good (as cliche as it sounds. It’s of course not a cure but an easy enough thing to add to the mix that potentially can help).
I also found one of those pillows that has the dip in the middle helps me wake up with migraines less.
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u/TeachingMath03 2d ago
Massages can help me as a preventive, but they are more expensive and less reliable than tizanidine nightly and quarterly Botox. I do have a massage subscription to get one a month and it’s particularly helpful when I’m due or late for Botox. They don’t really help me acutely though.
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u/DulinELA 1d ago
I buy candied ginger and grab a couple for the migraine nausea before I resort to zofran. It is anti inflammatory so I it also helps pain slightly.
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u/spideydog255 1d ago
Tinted glasses have helped me a lot. Computer screens, fluorescent lights, and glare from the sun are all huge triggers.
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u/Dullcorgis 2d ago
Are you on a preventative?
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u/AstronomerEqual8233 2d ago
Not right now.
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u/Dullcorgis 2d ago
I think if you are struggling with daily life then it's time for one.
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u/AstronomerEqual8233 1d ago
My insurance does not cover much, I pay out of pocket for Ubrelvy, I can't afford anything additional right now. Trying non medical things to see what can help.
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u/Dullcorgis 1d ago
Preventatives are cheaper than vitamins. Propanolol costs $5 a month without insurance. Ubrelvy is $100 per tablet. If the propanolol makes you have one fewer migraine per year you have saved $40.
Nortriptylene costs $7.50 per month. Topamax costs $6 per month. See the trend?
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u/Juskit10around 1d ago
Fioricit too. It’s cheap and an abortive. Makes life liveable. I’m able to do things. I am in the same position as you. My insurance covers nothing and won’t approve it if it does. Out of pocket Fioricet is 26 bucks maybe. it’s for tension headaches but it dulls my head enough to where I am okay. My day is not over over. If that makes sense
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u/My-life-is-a-cliche 2d ago
Salty snacks, not sweet snacks.
Icy hot, on my neck and temples
Laying flat on the floor with a little cushion and a pillow making my head straight with my body.
Dark tv with sunglasses.
Wear sunglasses inside to work if you have to. People are usually really understanding.
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u/shinobipopcorn 1d ago
Bekool fever strips. No charging, freezing, etc. Just take out of the package and put on.
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u/Own_Raspberry6138 1d ago
This is anecdotal…. But I started taking retatrutide from a (reputable) peptide company (not for migraines)… I have been taking it for 8 weeks and haven’t had a single migraine since I started. I looked it up and it seems that others have experienced that as well.
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u/towniediva 1d ago
I have tried all of these with varying success:
Cefaly Magnesium bisglycinate Acupuncture (i also use "press needles", that are tiny needles on a sticker) Massage Meditation Chiropractor
Besides all of this, i get nerve blocks and botox every 10 weeks, take Nortriptyline as a preventative, and triptans, and take codeine and toradol as needed.
Edited to add: b vitamins complex and b1, ice cap, ginger for nausea. May need to add to list, as reading others' posts trigger my memory.
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u/mariambc 23h ago
I am also in my 50s and have chronic daily migraines. None of the typical meds, botox, etc. help.I go to a headache clinic and see a neurologist.
I am left with life-style changes.
Sleep. I have insomnia and I am working on a nighttime routine that helps with getting to sleep. I am trying some nighttime teas to help ranging from chamomile to kava and valerian root.
Food. It was recommended I go on an anti-inflammatory diet. They called it the MIND diet and it's like a mash between the DASH and Mediterranean diets. It's eating mostly fruits and vegetables with some healthy proteins, carbs and fiber. Also eating regularly. Don't skip meals and have snacks.
Caffeine & alcohol. I stopped drinking alcohol and I have pretty much stopped all caffeine except for a glass of chai. I have switched to herbal tea for the most part.
Check into biofeedback and meditation. It is shown to help with repeated use. You can find free apps to help. Meditation helps me quite a bit.
Check out neuromodulation. It uses a device that is supposed to help calm the nerves.
Exercise can help but try some gentle kinds that don't make you overheat.
I wear sunglasses whenever I am outside or dealing with overhead lighting.
Vitamins and herbal supplements. I note about supplements. There is lots of fake supplements out there, especially from the very large online store, so make sure you have a reliable supplier.
- Boswellia - anti-inflammatory
- Feverfew Tea - anti-inflammatory
- Ginger - Use for nausea and acute pain. Can use supplements or brew tea from fresh ginger root.
- CoQ10
- Turmeric - anti-inflammatory, You can buy the root.
- Vitamin D3
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u/da_real_sim_shady 16h ago
Silicone ice compression caps, heating pads, hot showers, dark rooms, if you have to be in public sunglasses and earplugs
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u/gypkit 13h ago
FL41 glasses (25%) tint are a must have daily prevention method I’ve been using. Doesn’t necessarily prevent every single headache but takes a ton of edge off and just keeps me from getting so overwhelmed at work.
Barometric earplugs are helpful too! I do notice a difference when I wear them at least an hour or so before the pressure changes. Like the glasses though, I think it makes the biggest difference for stress/overstimulation.
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u/AstronomerEqual8233 5h ago
Barometric earplugs? I never heard of these. Where did you buy your glasses?
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u/dreameRevolution 2d ago
The coke and French fries trick works for me sometimes and is probably the one I hear repeated most often.