Daily Headache

[ddavio]

I honestly have had a headache for the past 6 months. I take Imetrex everyday just so I can function. It starts in the temples and goes into the nape of my neck. I have been prescribed Nortriptylin & Verapamil to take nightly. It has eased slightly but the pain is still there. I have tries Topamax that didn't work. I am at witts end. I can't live the rest of my life with a headache. I have had MRI's & was diagnosed with Chronic Migrane Disorder. The Dr. says my blood vessells in my head were ashy looking from all the migrains. Please, if there is anything else I can do.

[hava]

Simple alternative you can do without side effects.Do the pranayam for 30 minutes, twice a day and you will notice benefits in weeks.The extra oxygen going into the brain, will relax you and control the headache.Continue this anulon vilom for 15 minutes daily, after you are better.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom pranayam–
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Aside from supplements, avoidance of triggers of your headache and complementary and alternative medicine such as biofeedback therapy may also help. There is a migraine tracker here in the forum that may be helpful also. Take care and do keep us posted.

[ddavio]

Thank you so much, I have a call into my Dr. now. I am at a point where I will try anything within reason. I also hate to take meds, so this would be great. I will let you know.

[mbnad]

Hi, how are you?
You seem to be having an issue similar to mine 2 years ago.  When my migraines became a daily issue I did go on Topamax and it helped some but not well enough... Mine mimic MS and can be dangerous in certain situations if not kept under control...
The side effects were so bad I searched for other options - I hate medication to begin with.  

I found a supplement therapy that has been researched a great deal over seas and am now off of all medications and only have one migraine a month triggered by those lovely hormones...  The supplements involve mainly Magnesium and B-complex - along with those I take a multi-vitamin and potassium and calcium.  You need these two to balance the Magnesium.  

I presented this therapy to my neurologist and she gave me the amounts she wanted me to take of each.  It's important that you check with your doctor before starting this because of possible interactions between the supplements and your meds...
It does take about 3 months for the Magnesium to build up in the system so I stayed on the Topamax along with the supplements for about 6 months to be sure it would work.

Do your own research on this and if your doctor approves it you will be as amazed as I was.  Of course it doesn't stop with the supplements - diet is important too.  

I hope this has helped a bit :)