Migraine sufferers have you tried SphenoCath?

[Deleted]

My migraines are getting bad. I have some level of pain in my head 5-7 days a week. I've had them since I can remember and tried all kinds of treatments most don't really work.

I was reading about SphenoCath and wondering if it works. Even if it doesn't get rid of them completely I would consider it. Fewer migraines would be great.

[zoesam]

Sorry, never heard of it. Just looked it up though & it looks interesting. I get pretty good results from Imitrex nasal spray.

I'm unclear from reading the main page on it, is it an implant of some sort or do you have to have it administered to you before you get a headache?

[Deleted]

I'm not sure about the administration. My impression from the main page was it is administered as an outpatient thing once or twice to the nerve center behind the eyes causing it to reset and the migraines lessen or go away due to the resetting of the nerve center, but I am not sure. I would have to talk to my Doctor about it.

I hope you don't have to have it administered before you get a headache because I don't get auras or any warning - probably because I'm sleeping. I usually wake up with a migraine and it gets worse as the day goes on. That's why imitrex doesn't work all that great.

[kritter]

I have never had a migraine but certainly feel sympathy for those that do.

Hope you find something that helps.

[zoesam]

That's the part that's unclear to me, is it s'posed to be a preventative? If so, for how long? Or is it s'posed to be administered once you have a migraine? That doesn't seem very practical since it can take weeks to get in to a dr.

Some people don't get auras at all, even if they're awake, I forget all the classification names now, but I almost never get auras.

I'm sorry I don't know anything abt this, but it is definitely intriguing & I am happy that the medical community is exploring some different ways of dealing with migraines.

Here's another new treatment that I saw on the news, it also targets a nerve, though I think it's the tri-geminal nerve (sp?). I saw it on the news last year & was telling a friend of mine about it. The guy featured in the story, a Denver resident has had great success with it. It's non-medication. I hope my friend tries it.

www.cefaly.ca/

I hope you find something to give you relief! Please report back if you try it!

[Deleted]

Never heard of it. I've heard of SPG treatment being done with long cotton swabs. Nice to know there is an alternative to that, but it sounds like this the device is for in-office use only?

I pretty much shut down when I have a migraine (cant move, can hardly speak, fetal position in the dark preferably). Even if it was almost instant relief, the journey to the Dr, dealing with a waiting room, paperwork, etc would be rough. It would be have to be an emergency type situation to get me to move once my migraine hits.

[Deleted]

That looks good Zoe. I'm due for my annual at the Dr and I plan on asking a few questions when I get there. My Dr is pretty good about getting me in for pain relief if the migraines get too bad (I've been going to him since I was a teen). I could theoretically get set up for the procedure if that's how it's done.

I think you only have to administer it a few times and either it works long term or it doesn't. I wouldn't want them shooting anesthesia in my head too many times anyway...I goofy enough as it is, LOL.

[Deleted]

"I think you only have to administer it a few times and either it works long term or it doesn't."

Oh that makes more sense! Hmmm something to think about. Imitrex isn't doing much for me.

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2015 18:22:58 GMT @poppyshops said:

Never heard of it. I've heard of SPG treatment being done with long cotton swabs. Nice to know there is an alternative to that, but it sounds like this the device is for in-office use only?

I pretty much shut down when I have a migraine (cant move, can hardly speak, fetal position in the dark preferably). Even if it was almost instant relief, the journey to the Dr, dealing with a waiting room, paperwork, etc would be rough. It would be have to be an emergency type situation to get me to move once my migraine hits.

I would definitely need a ride. I don't drive around on the painkillers and I'm absolutely not driving with a full blown migraine. I would get the paperwork ready in advance and add my signature if they needed it at the time.

[Emerald_Door]

I used to have very frequent migraines. I had a headache nearly every day and took a lot of medications for migraines. A couple of times I had to go to the emergency room or urgent care for IV medications because my prescription drugs weren't working.  None of the preventative medicines worked for me, although I've never heard of the one you're asking about.

I get them very, very rarely now, and I'll tell you what worked for me. I no longer eat any grains. I don't know if it was the gluten, because I got a bad migraine a couple of years ago when I had some brown rice, and rice is gluten free.

It's a huge adjustment at first to give up all grains, but now it's just the way I eat, and I don't have migraines.

[Deleted]

I think a cupcake would help my lingering headache today.

Lifestyle changes and the switch to less stressful job helped my mom go from 2-3 a month down to 3-4 a year. Now that she is retired it is even less. She attributes the drop mainly to drinking more water and a sports drink, like Gatoraide, a day. Her Dr told her it could help as there have been studies showing headache suffers are more sensitive to dehydration. She swears by it. He also recommended that she drink less wine (all type) and try having mixed drinks instead. So she became a Manhattan drinker instead.

[Deleted]

How old are you Graceful ? I only ask because I went through terrible migraines for years. I was in the ER at least once every 3 weeks puking and crying.

I had a hysterectomy at age 41 for other reasons, and have never had another migraine.

I am 60 now. I knew that it was hormonal, but doctors dismissed me.

I hope you find a solution. I know how disabling this is.

[Deleted]

Simply - it's likely something to do with hormones. They get worse at that time. The doctor believes me, but there isn't much you can do about it even if it's hormonal. I won't take BC pills because that throws me waaayyyyy out of wack. I'm 44 so menopause is coming - I've heard that does away with them, but I just don't want to wait another 5-10 years. I'd rather get rid of them now.

[val2525]

Graceful, you might want to find a doc who treats with natural hormones. It's not the same as taking b/c. Also, since you tend to wake up with them - have you tried using a humidifier when you sleep at night?

[mykidzmom2]

Graceful -

I've had migraines since I was a teen. They have increased over the years in intensity and frequency so I also had 15+ a month. Imitrex never worked for me but Amerge did. I get the manic aura - I get all chatty and super upbeat and can't stop it and then I crash into a migraine.

I asked my doctor for a chill pill to try to stop the mania about 3 months ago and she gave me a mild anti-anxiety med that has worked like MAGIC. I even works if I wake up with one (which is usually connected to a vivid dream that involved some kind of frustration). I only take it when I feel it coming on, or wake with one. I would NOT have labeled myself as an anxious person - I'm very easy going, don't get upset easily at all, not fearful, etc so for years I had dismissed the idea of anti-anxiety meds. I was amazed at how well it works.

I still get the monthly migraine, though, and that has intensified (harder to get rid of) as I've approached menopause.

If your headaches start or include the back of the neck knot and the stabbing eye pain, you might try the anti-anxiety meds. It might surprise you, and it can't hurt if it doesn't work.

Laurie

[Deleted]

I've had migraines as long as I can remember. Literally. I had 2 major ones in K and assume I had them before then but that's as far back as I can remember. Mine do not seem to be related to diet. I've gone grain free, sugar free, everything free, nothing helps them. I do know that too much protein will trigger them. I use to get ocular migraines that effected my vision occasionally but they were rare. Now almost all of my migraines start with an ocular migraine. On one had that's good because you get a warning that a major one is coming. On the other hand you can't drive until the meds kick in so you are stuck where ever it hits. DD's and I got stuck at goodwill about 45 minutes last time we all went because I couldn't see to drive.

I can go weeks with no migraine then I may have one that lasts a month. It's all random and no amount of journaling narrows it down. I tried RX meds and they just seemed to make things worse so I gave up on them years ago. I know there are lots of new ones now but I haven't looked into them. As long as I take Excedrine as soon as my vision starts changing I can usually head it off and it will just be a normal PIA headache instead of a migraine. If I dont' catch it, nothing RX is going to stop it either so....

I do recall seeing some research on a migraine headband that you used right over your eyes across your forehead as pressure to ease migraines. At the time it had some really promising results but I didn't keep up on it, not sure of the name. I could see it helping though because pressure helps mine. Sometimes I have to have DH hold a hand towel across my forehead really tight until I fall asleep so the meds can kick in. Not sure why counter pressure works but it seems to on the bad ones.

[Deleted]

Looks like the headband is the Cefaly that was posted above. Anyone someone that has actually tried it? Looks dorky but if it worked who cares

[Deleted]

Peek - counter pressure is one test to see if you have a bad headache or a migraine. No one knows why, but the doctor told me to test DD like this - put pressure on the forehead for one minute. If the headache feels worse with the pressure then it's a regular headache. If it feels better with the pressure, they you have a migraine.

[Deleted]

Peek - counter pressure is one test to see if you have a bad headache or a migraine. No one knows why, but the doctor told me to test DD like this - put pressure on the forehead for one minute. If the headache feels worse with the pressure then it's a regular headache. If it feels better with the pressure, they you have a migraine.

[zoesam]

Peek, IDK anyone personally, but here's a news story that a Denver station did, featuring a local guy.

denver.cbslocal.com/2014/10/15/drug-free-treatment-helping-people-with-chronic-migraines/

[zoesam]

I've had migraines since my teens also. They have changed over the years, when I was young, they tended to be most related to food triggers & perfectionism stress. Now, I of course avoid the food triggers, they would still give me one (wine, too many nuts, etc), but they have changed to being almost all hormonal. I used to get them for a week or 2 at a time. Once Imitrex came out, I got relief, magically, every time.

However, now that they are hormonal, I find them MUCH harder to fight & Imitrex often does not fix them. Luckily I have changed my hormones, so I only have periods once every 3 mos, so now I only have to suffer with the migraines once every 3 mos, but they are very resistant. Sadly, that has been true for my friends that have hormonal migraines as well. 2 of them have lost literally a decade from their lives & still nothing helps them. One did go into menopause & she's fine now, but the other one is only 47, so she's got awhile.

It has been my experience & the experience of those I am close to, that the hormonal ones are the most resistant to treatment :-(.

The only Ocular migraine I ever had in my life, was last year, despite having had migraines for 4 decades. Thank goodness I'd read abt them on the boards! It would have been really scary otherwise.

[Deleted]

Feb 23, 2015 1:44:30 GMT zoesam said:

Peek, IDK anyone personally, but here's a news story that a Denver station did, featuring a local guy.

denver.cbslocal.com/2014/10/15/drug-free-treatment-helping-people-with-chronic-migraines/

I never heard of that test before. That's interesting, wonder why that is?

Zoe my first one scared me to death, swear I thought I was having a stroke or something. I was out with my step daughter who was about 8 at the time and suddenly I couldn't see much at all. Had to pull into a fast food place. She led me into a table and I sent her to get an ice cream and we sat there until it passed enough to drive home. I  hate getting stuck out when one hits. I've been lucky and either been in a store or near one I could pull into. One of these days I'm going to get stuck out in the middle of no where. Starting to get afraid of driving too far alone.

[zoesam]

Feb 23, 2015 2:34:34 GMT peek said:

Feb 23, 2015 1:44:30 GMT zoesam said:

Peek, IDK anyone personally, but here's a news story that a Denver station did, featuring a local guy.

denver.cbslocal.com/2014/10/15/drug-free-treatment-helping-people-with-chronic-migraines/

I never heard of that test before. That's interesting, wonder why that is?

Zoe my first one scared me to death, swear I thought I was having a stroke or something. I was out with my step daughter who was about 8 at the time and suddenly I couldn't see much at all. Had to pull into a fast food place. She led me into a table and I sent her to get an ice cream and we sat there until it passed enough to drive home. I  hate getting stuck out when one hits. I've been lucky and either been in a store or near one I could pull into. One of these days I'm going to get stuck out in the middle of no where. Starting to get afraid of driving too far alone.

I had never heard of the counter-pressure test either, however, applying extremely hard pressure is something I've always done to myself when having one, to help, so I'm not really surprised by the test.  

The timing on the ocular thing was about 2-3 wks after reading about it for me.  Had I not read about it, yes, I absolutely would have thought I was having a stroke!  My ocular one was in no way related to an actual headache though.  Got the ocular migraine, visual disturbances, etc.  was all done & find in about 1/2 hour. 

I guess the positive to hormonal migraines is that they are pretty predictable, so I don't have to be too worried abt getting stuck out somewhere.  I feel for you Peek & everyone who suffers! 

[treetop]

I get frequent migraines, probably 12 to 15 days a month on average. Fortunately, mine are not severe, but they are very irritating. I often wake up with them. Barometric pressure seems to be the biggest trigger for me. I did Topamax for a couple years, which really helped, but I went off of it because we thought it caused my kidney stones. I'm considering going back on it, however, because I was recently diagnosed with an ulcer and have to cut back on aspirin and caffeine, both of which help the migraines. I have a Relpax prescription, and it usually works, but insurance only covers 4 pills per month, so that doesn't cut it.