By Arielle Hicks, as advised to Alexandra Benisek

I’ve had migraines for so long as I can keep in mind. As a toddler, I used to be all the time bubbly, concerned in extracurriculars, and a straight-A pupil. Sooner or later, I had what I believed was a typical headache, but it surely wouldn’t go away. Then for weeks, I would solely get a day or two with out a headache. Then weeks become months.

I used to be falling asleep at school. My grades had been dropping. I wasn’t doing my homework, or doing properly on assessments anymore. I ended hanging out with pals and enjoying sports activities. I did not wish to do even easy issues like go to the films as a result of every little thing appeared to trouble me.

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

My Ever-Altering Therapy Plan

We had been capable of begin a remedy plan proper off the bat. It was a variety of trial and error.

However over time, we observed that drugs alone weren’t doing sufficient. It received to the purpose the place I’d be admitted to the hospital for a number of days to as much as every week. This could not hold occurring. I used to be lacking most likely half a 12 months of college at this level.

We tried one thing known as nerve blocks. My migraines usually begin behind my head. So I’d get numbing medicine and typically a steroid in that space. It was nearly like magic. It was on the spot reduction. 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 remedy in my eyebrows as properly. I do not forget that the primary time I had it carried out, 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 each day complications.

As I received older, I turned eligible for Botox. I carry a variety of pressure, 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 pressure in my neck. I’ve carried out that on and off for the previous few years.

To today, my remedy plan remains to be altering. I am at the moment on an anticonvulsant medicine, which I have been utilizing for the previous 3 years.

Life-style Modifications and Remedy Can Assist

I’ve made way of life adjustments, like ensuring I keep hydrated, eat, and get correct sleep. These three had been the massive issues, as a result of a scarcity of them could 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 large set off is stress. So my medical group set me up with a behavioral psychologist. Lots of people with migraines are usually burdened, so it is good to have the ability to have somebody you may speak to.

I’m an open air individual. However in the course of the winter, the shortage 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 burdened over sure issues. And that additionally helps scale back my migraines.

My Expertise With Occipital Launch Surgical procedure

The most important factor that I’ve carried out, in spite of everything these different remedies, was surgical procedure. Since most of my complications begin behind my head, my surgeon did an occipital launch surgical procedure. (On this process, your physician releases nerves behind 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 will final weeks at a time with solely possibly 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 advised me I’m nonetheless going to have migraines every so often. However bodily remedy, the medicine, 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 means of comparable issues. I take a look at him and suppose, “Wow, this was his life, too. And now he is a physician, 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 correct remedy, you’ll really feel higher.



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