Does anyone else struggle with chronic debilitating migraines? If so, does anybody take any preventative medicine or shots? I've tried nortriptyline and propranolol with little success. I've basically been laid up for the last 4-5 days

I used to get them all the time. My doctor put me on Topimax and it was horrible. I thought I had alzheimers in my mid-20's because I could not remember anything. It got so bad I could not remember what a spoon was called. It took me some time to link it back to the Topimax but got off of it when I figured it out. I feel like I still have some mental issues from being on it years later. That said, I tried a chiropractor after that in a desperate search for some relief and I dropped from several a month to a handful a year. My neck was out of alignment. It took some time to get it right but it really helped.

I took some prescription medicine and thought I was going to have to go to the emergency room. This is what works for me. Put a heating pad around your neck as hot as you can stand it. Get in a dark room with no noise. If you have fingernails lightly scratch your head where it hurts or get someone else to scratch your head--amazing!  Works good in a hot shower too. Excedrine is the only thing that helps me but everyone is different. Get on the internet an google glasses for migraines. A young teacher got some of those and she said they really helped. They block certain colors of light. Figure out what causes your headaches. I know that lack of sleep and snacks foods like prepared dips. I realized that every year at Christmas when we had our little Christmas party everyone brought chips and dips etc. I paid for it!  I have to have real food like meat and potatoes. I really think it was the preservatives in those prepared dips. You might check blood pressure and blood sugar because they can affect you too.  I am 70 and have dealt with migraines since I was 5. Hope this helps some. Everybody is different!

My daughter developed them in high school. Hers was a magnesium deficiency. She played basketball- you lose Mg thru sweat and urine. Mg is not in a lot of regular everyday food. We tried several drugs as mentioned above. I kept researching and came across it. A year and half before she developed migraines her menstrual cycles got bad also. Two weeks before women start their periods the body uses a lot of Mg to function. It doesn't work for everyone but she rarely has one anymore -she's in college now. She does still have to take it daily and can still feel symptoms when barometric pressure changes . But when she has symptoms she'll take  Excedrin right away and no problem.  If you decide to try it she uses mg citrate soft gels and Asura mg spray oil. 

Look up mg and migraines and menstrual cycle and magnesium.

There r basically 2 types of migraine headaches. One is vascular- mg will not help these. The other effects the neurotransmitters (nerves) and mg is necessary for nerve function that's why it helps. 

I am not any expert but I am in the medical field and my husband is a MD. I researched ALOT and this is what helped her. Good luck hope you can find something that helps whether medicine, food triggers etc. 

I do. I have tried multiple medications, been to a neurologist, been through infusions. Nothing has worked. I have my yearly px in a week and I plan on talking to my dr. about possibly an injection. I will let you know what happens.

I used to have them, they would be debilitating and I would literally be in bed until it went away.  I finally went to a chiropractor for my maintenance on my back (I dislocated my L1 in 2014) and the did Xrays.. found out I have no curve in my neck and it was basically compressing due to not having relief from holding up my head and 4 out of the 7 vertebrae in my neck do not move.

So they went to work on it..and my migraines are almost non existent,  and when I do get them they are not that bad. Right now I see my chiro 2 times a month and we are at him just getting my joints in my neck to move. 

I say if you choose this route find a GOOD chiro. One that takes Xrays and has a phenomenal reputation.  I am super picky about who I go to,  as a bad one can mess you up quick. 

My heartfelt sympathy to all who suffer migraines!  Mine were hormone related and ramped up to be worse as I got older.  In the end I would be incapacitated and then it would take me several days to recover.  I finally ended up with a great neurologist who helped me work my way through -- and I did take Topomax for almost two years -- then weaned off.  The Topomax ended the migraines immediately -- it was a trade-off.  Yes, I felt slow and mentally weird, but I was not having the headaches and puking nonstop for hours and hours on end.  Sending prayers to all of you enduring migraines!  Don't give up.  Find a good neurologist who is willing to work with you to help you!!!  

This is what makes me so nervous about trying Topimax. I have had a lot of side effects/hardly any reduction in my migraines on the other meds. I'm a college student, and I can't imagine feeling my brain go like that, That's almost as bad as my 15+ migraines a month.

Finally caved and went to the ER last night again. Doing better today, just wore out and migraine hangover.

I did a small allergy panel recently, and am sending off my bloodwork for food sensitivies. I'm hoping that will shed some light without having to try and complete a full elimination diet (tried it once, was SO hard to stick with, but with my migaines the way they are, I may need to bite the bullet.) Unfortunately, I began getting terrible rebound migraines from Excedrin Migraine :(. The only thing that kills these super bad ones is going to the ER and getting the cocktail (Toradol, Reglan/Phenergan, Benedryl, Decadron, and IV Fluids). My kidneys are going to be shot if I have to keep taking 1-2 doses of the abortive medications (Imitrex and Maxalt). Have a neuro appointment today, going to try and talk to them about Botox and Ajovy. I took a warm CBD bath yesterday and that gave me some relief, unfortunately doesn't last long enough :(

In 2017, I was basically bedridden for an entire summer with migraines, I did 2-3x/week chiro and PT and that did help, maybe I need to attempt to get back into PT... Will be interesting to see if my insurance will cover it.

My fiance has had them for close to 20 years. He is on disability from them. He has had every treatment under the sun. The best that worked for him is Botox. And Imetrex/Naproxen for emergency..

He tried the Amovig (sp?) injections. Did not help at all.

Good Luck 

Thank you so much. I haven't tried Aimovig, Ajovy, or Emgality yet. I think that and Botox are my next steps. Chronic Migraines are nothing to sneeze at. prayers for your fiance

I will check into that! Thank you!

I have migraines as well but have been on a medication called Trokendi XR for about a year now and it has worked tremendously! There is no generic for it. I have went weeks with no headache at all and I was having a headache 24/7. I am also on Naproxine and a few other to help when I do have a bad one which is not often any more. I actually go to a neurology clinic that specializes in migraines that is all they treat. The Trokendi has been a godsend for me. Might look into it. 

I used to get really bad ones that would make me sick to my stomach.  I finally researched and took Excerdrin Migraines and Feverfew.  I got the Feverfew from the Health Food Store.  Got where I could sense them coming on as I got a funny taste in my mouth and as long as I took that combination I would either divert them or they wouldn't be as back.  When I went through menopause I stopped having them and only on occasion do I have them now and it is usually because of stress.

I suffer from them. I live in the worst part of the country for weather changes and its affecting my daily life (also my job) that I'm about to move home, even though it's not my first choice but my health is my first priority.

Zomig is my savior right now. I take one most mornings and that helps because I wake up with a headache/migraine pretty much everyday. With breakfast and a Zomig I can usually push thru, to get in the car and go to work.

On Topomax, Botox and Aimovig right now. Probably will stop the Aimovig once I move home because I'm not entirely sure that one is working. I've tried pretty much everything under the sun, including chiro, etc. Physio helps to a certain extent but when they are weather and stress related... not much else helps.

I've gotten them for years I think it's a food sensitivity but I've never been able to narrow it down. Have you tried a triptan rx medicine? It is the ONLY thing that helps mine, I take 1 sumatriptan pill when I feel one coming on and in about 30 minutes it's gone! Only side effect is it makes my nose burn a little. It is a LIFESAVER. OTC meds have never worked on me.

Also I saw you mentioned getting Botox, it really only works if your migraines are caused from clenching your jaw. It doesn't do any magical miracle, they'll just inject your jawline so you can't clench the muscle. 

Many have also mentioned chiropractic work, although it may work on some it's never helped me and often would induce a migraine.

If you haven't, try talking to your doctor about a triptan medication, I didn't want to be on a daily preventative medication or injection and this works perfectly for me. Hang in there, you'll find something eventually that works for you! 

I can second Zomig (Zolmitriptan).

Way back in 1997 I was diagnosed by a neurologist and we tried a couple of things, but Zomig was the only thing that helped. I take 1 when I feel it come up and within 30 mins to an hour it is gone. The only side affect I have with this is that I get sleepy and need to sleep for an hour or 2 and I am good to go. I can go without sleeping but will be groggy for the rest of the day.  

Back then I also was nauseous when it started, so they gave me a 2.5 tablet that dissolves under your tongue. But they also have regular tabs.

Good luck, hope you find something that helps! 

That's completely not true about Botox only working if migraines are from clenching. When I get Botox, I get injected in my forehead, temple, back of the head, side of the head and shoulders. My head migrianes are most definitely not caused or have any correlation to my jaw. And it does work.

I take a Rx medicine called rizatriptan (Maxhalt). Maybe you've already tried it. Its a quick dissolving tablet, sometimes it works miracles other times, not so much. Usually always helps to some degree though. However I think it all depends on the underlying cause and how quick you "catch it". It seems to work well when I first start getting the signs of a migraine. Maybe ask your doc...Good Luck! Migraines are the worst! 

Lack of sleep triggered mine more than anything else....  

Sounds like the medication avenues are covered.  If you are open to something more non-traditional, people swear by daith piercings.   I have one, not for migraines but because I liked it.  A friend of mine's daughter was having migraines and the chiro suggested a temporary ring that essentially applied pressure to that area for several weeks. worth a google.  :) 

I did the daith piercing and it worked for about 24 hours. I still have it cause I like it but it does not help with the headaches any more. 

I had an appointment with my neurologist yesterday. Since, I've now failed 2 or 3 oral medications, we are planning on trying Ajovy, Ubrelvy, and keep my triptans. I'm nervous as all get out but I need to get these migraines under control

I had the daith piercing, the healing and recovery on that sucker was AWFUL. I'm not sure if it did anything. Before it was completely healed, I had to take it out for an MRI and couldn't get it back in.

I know someone else mentioned it but this is not true about the Botox. There is a specific protocol for Botox for Chronic Migraine. I believe it's 31(?) small injections across the forehead, in the temples, across the back of the neck/hairline, down the sides of the neck and in the shoulders. There are specific requirements for your insurance to cover it (mine required that I'd tried 3 other preventatives first or something like that, and be diagnosed with Chronic Migraine). It has been the only thing that significantly reduced my headaches. Sumatriptan (Imitrex) helps when I do get them.

What is that??  Too tired to Google right now!

It's a piercing in one of the upper folds of your ear. It has a meridian (supposedly) to help relieve migraines!

Yes it's 31, I believe, and I think it's every 3 ish months? I'm using Botox as my last option because I've heard that it can lose efficacy over time and I'm still pretty young to start it if I have to use it for my entire lifetime. Editing to add: I've had to fail 2-3 medications for my insurance to consider any of the new CGRP antagonists or Botox

I've always wondered about that when I'd see it---thank you for teaching me something today!

HYDRATE - easily a migraine trigger

Magnesium supplement (high quality)

Chiropractor (routine, whether you feel like you need it or not)

Dutch Hormone Test - see where your hormones are at

Food sensitivities

Yes it's every 3 months. I had a doctor try seeing if I could go longer, but I notice when I start being close to due. For what it's worth, I've been getting the botox for migraines for at least 6 or 7 years and it still helps.

I'm Canadian, so I'm not sure if this is available in the US, but my Dr. gave me Cambia to try. It's a powder you mix in a little bit of water and WOW does it work!! I get classic migraines with the aura, so I know when I'm getting one. If it take it at that point, it stops the migraine. I can feel it open the blood vessels in my head. 

My migraines come from stress and chinooks - which we get in southern Alberta.