Why Migraines Strike

re: Why Migraines Strike

BronwynST — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:30:34 GMT

Investigators presented the results of an observational study here at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Headache Society, which showed that 41.8% of patients with chronic migraine were deficient in 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The study also showed that the longer individuals had chronic migraine, the more likely they were to be vitamin D deficient.

re: Why Migraines Strike

Ali Steven — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:46:43 GMT

A friend of mine has a history of migraines but recently they were becoming stronger and much more frequent. Where I work, we offer a Riboflavin supplement for patients who suffer from migraines. Riboflavin is found naturally in meats and dairy products among other food sources. I informed her of this. She had not been eating dairy procuts or meat on a regular basis because she doesn't have the money (she lives off of ramen noodles, canned foods, lots of grains, etc) so she started drinking 1 small carton of milk every day from the day care where she works. This small change made all the difference. Ever since, the migraines have subsided. So in some cases, it may not be an allergy, but a lack of necessary nutrients.

re: Why Migraines Strike

andreafrankel — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:46:24 GMT

My migraines started when I was hit with CFIDS/fibromyalgia/MCS along with depression, insomnia, and IBS. (A very common package, unfortunately!) There were a couple years when I was getting 4 or 5 migraines PER WEEK, which meant I had essentially no life - I was always either in a migraine or in the postdrome or "migraine hangover" state. I spent alot of time attempting to isolate food allergies, and found NAET helpful in that regard. Chiorpractic (including C1/C2 and cranial adjustments) helped alot, but not completely. I took verapamil (calcium channel blocker) and Depakote daily to prevent migraines, and even then had about 3 a month. When I was diagnosed with diabetes and learned to control my blood sugars, migraine frequency went down a bit more. But what finally allowed me to get off the Depakote (which is nasty stuff) and get the migraines down to about 6 a year, was the program in Dr. Sergie Dzugan's book, "The Migraine Cure". He has a three pronged approach: probiotics (he recommends Pro-Greens), magnesium (he recommends magnesium citrate, such as in the brand MagnaCalm), and using bioidentical hormones (preferably transdermal) to get all the sex hormones (including precursors pregnenolone and DHEA) up to at least the middle of the range for a normal healthy 20-year-old. (I'm 54.) Dr. Dzugan wanted alot of money, not reimbursable by insurance, to be in charge of diagnosis and treatment, but there was enough info in the book that my very cooperative doctor decided we could handle it ourselves.. It works! YAY! And BTW, the only thing I've found that completely aborts my migraines is Migranal (dihydroergotamine in metered nasal saline), combined with ginger tea for the nausea.

re: Why Migraines Strike

Truhealth — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:08:48 GMT

This article was about how brainstem malfunction could be a cause of migraine headaches. Yet no one mentioned how the upper cervical vertebral subluxation puts pressure on and distorts brainstem activity. Just look at these pictures and see if common sense tells you these people may have a upper cervical vertebreal subluxation. www.ijri.org/viewimage.asp

A certified upper cervial doctor can not only show you if you have proper head neck alignment, but also show you proof with a post-x-ray that it was restored to a normal position. There is so much research on this it is staggering. I recommend finding a upper cervical chiropractor in your area if you have migraine headaches. If you are skeptical do some research on your own. The most comprehensive book on this subject is The Upper Cervical Subluxation Complex: A Review of the Chiropractic and Medical Literature by Kirk Eriksen. A good websit e to check out is www.nucca.org/the_proof_is_in_the_post

re: Why Migraines Strike

7ontheway — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:48:58 GMT

My mother suffered from migraines for years. The only thing that finally brought relief was regular visits to the chiropractor to have her neck adjusted. It makes perfect sense from what the article said: "a result of a disorder of your nervous system, most likely in your brain stem." Her migraines went away completely, but when she didn't go to her chiropractor for several months, they returned. She just resumed regular chiropractic care.

I used to think that chiropractic was about the bones because of the typical "CRACK". Now I am going for back pain, and I have learned that it is actually all about keeping the nervous system functioning properly. I recommend it to my friends, and I know my mom would definately recommend it for migraines.

re: Why Migraines Strike

Claire Bear — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:47:27 GMT

Sweet Moksha Bliss,

Yes, no doubt taking the Colon X (which acts like a colonic irrigation without the tubes) every day has helped detox the body enormously and contains cascara sagrada bark which increases the secretions of the stomach, liver and pancreas. Its other ingredients are barberry, cayenne, ginger, lobelia, red raspberry leaf, turkey rhubarb root, fennel and golden seal, but even before knowing about the Colon X I'd tried reducing the starchy carbs (including potatoes which I haven't eaten for months and which always bloated me out) which immediately reduced the intensitiy of the migraines. I also take Vitex agnus castus premenstrual formula which has relieved the breast tenderness, some of the fluid retention and because of it's progestegenic properties (I was estrogen dominant and was lacking in progesterone) am very calm so this has no doubt contributed the lessening of the migraines too.

Don't understand your question: Does the rose fair well at the sea though? :)

re: Why Migraines Strike

TexDawn — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:09:14 GMT

I get 2 types of migraines. One type, although I can still function most of the time through the pain, can last weeks of near constant pain. The other type feels like a blazing hot poker thru the top of my skull, happens more rarely and can put me down harder, but usually only lasts a few hours. I'm on day three of the first type right now.

I can feel them both coming, see no aura's, but sounds make me insane and nauseous and there is a touch of light sensitivity. No pharma yet has helped for more than a couple of hours, and the after pain is usually worse, so, no pharma junk for me. And, my Dr. was absolutely no help at all.

I did give up caffeine and limit wine and dairy. No soy or canola. Dehydration, trauma, stress, and other strong emotions are definite triggers. I find i can get very crabby and depressed during and after.

I've switched to a more plant based diet (also helping weight) and a more organic diet. I've also started taking a mineral supplement and a wholefood vitamin.

The headaches seem to be occurring less frequently, but it is hard to tell right now, ugh.

re: Why Migraines Strike

qualitygeek — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:14:54 GMT

The reply function does not seem to be working today. nomajohns asked for a translation of "SCM"

It is sternocleidomastoid muscle - attachments are the sternum, the mastoid process (temporal bone in head), & the clavicle.

And, chalk up another who is surprised at the omission of chiropractic in Dr. Joe's commentary. I mentioned chiropractic in my first post to this blog on 7/27.

re: Why Migraines Strike

CATRYNA_203 — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:49:07 GMT

Catryna:

In my practice I've found that atmospheric changes often produce a subluxation of C1 (the first cervical vertebra) which can affect the hindbrain functions. This frequently results in symptoms including headaches, dizziness, confusion and emotional changes.

(In my practice I have used a homeopathic preparation from N.E.T. for allergies, which often corrects the subluxation by itself and the symptoms subside or disappear. The remedy is not sold directly to the lay public, but can be purchased from Chiropractors or other practitioners who have studied N.E.T. You can find more information, including a list of practioners at netmindbody.com

John D. Nikitow, D.C.)

John:

Thank you for your input. I have checked out the Net, Mind, Body website as you suggested and it looks like it has a number of things I'm going to try. I do know that getting my neck adjusted has headed off many migraines in the past and I have a great Chiropractor who understands the correlation. It's just those quick moving migraines that go from 0 to 60 in about 5 seconds that drop you in your tracks without enough time to do anything constructive. Thank again. Catryna

re: Why Migraines Strike

success4hannah — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:21:29 GMT

In my case the culprit was caffeine. I cut out coffee and black tea, and the migraines disappeared.

re: Why Migraines Strike

Lowlander — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:39:56 GMT

Being a 30+ years-long migraine sufferer, here's my two-cents-worth-opinion: In all this time, in everything and anything I've read about the problem, I've never come across the simple explanation (and a [partial] solution) for at least one form of migraine, the cause of which is purely physical, and that is, believe it or not, - muscle soreness. In my case, it is triggered by a slight misalignment of the spine - so slight that no one had noticed it until my thirtieth birthday! After it had been noticed, I started on a stubborn course of observation, and I've been able to drastically reduce the frequency and the severity of attacks - by simply adjusting everything, from my bed to my bureau-stool, to the highest ergonomic standards, developing a second-nature-body-awareness of any unnecessary muscle tension (resulting in instant relaxation) at all times, doing some stretching exercises (yogasanas are the best), avoiding all the unnecessary physical exertion of low quality (i.e., those where you cannot apply a proper 'weightlifting technique'), etc. Of course, I'm not completely free of the attacks (because I can still assume a wrong position in my sleep, indulge in wrong activities, etc.) but now the attacks are few and far between, and, knowing the real cause, I'm also free of looking in all the wrong places, and believing in all the wrong hypotheses - concerning, at least, one form of migraine.

re: Why Migraines Strike

mrtom — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:05:55 GMT

After suffering from migraines for many years, incapacitated twice a month on average, I have discovered two all natural, drug free products that prevent them, without sacrificing my dietary cravings, Both of these products have in common the juice of the Mangosteen fruit.

No guarantees but Ive been migraine free for over 6 years now.

re: Why Migraines Strike

nickie.nye — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:11:45 GMT

I've had migraines since I was 12 years old and took several of the medications like Imitrex but nothing eliminated them. When I got on Bio-Identical Progesterone Capsules 7 years ago I have completely eliminated them. If I start with the ocular symptoms (and this is very rare, maybe 3 times over the 7 year period I just take another Progesterone Cap and it never develops into one. I know that certain foods can trigger them but I truly believe that most of them are hormone related as I have spoken with thousands of women and the ones that suffer from migranes are low progesterone.

Nickie

re: Why Migraines Strike

wellcoach — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:15:31 GMT

My adult son who suffered for 12 years is now free of migraines for the last 15 months. Avoiding ALL dairy products was his solution.

Just google "dairy products and migraine headaches" and 71,900 websites will come up.

re: Why Migraines Strike

penwriml — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:58:39 GMT

I have had migraines since I was 5 (of the vomiting and going to the ER for demerol and phenergan shots were the only thing that worked variety). As I got closer to forty I began getting PMS and PMS triggered migraines-not even the ER painkillers could touch. Of course, my ob/gyn's answer was birth control pills-I told her that I got the two worst migraines of my life (and I've had 100's) when I started taking birth control pills in college (hello they come with a warning on them about migraines!). That was the best she had to offer (no surprise there). A friend recommended an accupunturist and I went to her for PMS (didn't think to mention migraines). She mixed me up a batch of herbs (put into capsules) that I took every day. No more PMS. Still got the PMS migraines. Called her back and mentioned the PMS migraines, and she simply adjusted the formula slightly-and wah la- no PMS migraines since!-3 years and counting. All without synthetic hormones or pharmaceuticals!-who would of "thunk it"???