Live data from Hacker News

Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

nature.com

11–20 of 246 posts

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#11
I think everyone who suffers migraines has their own “relationship” with them.

Myself, I can tell when I am “pre-migraine” and know I have to sit down for a bit lest one develops. They most often come from eating junk food after exercise (I’m looking at you, Fritos). And warming my hands often helps speed the recovery, though I always end up with “tender brain” for 24-48h after.

I’m intrigued by another poster having success with Magnesium L-Threonate and will be placing an order today. Even if I don’t have a migraine, I have a headache 8 days out of 10.

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#12
post #2

I was around 13 when I had my first migraine. A solid block of pain on the right side of my head. That occasional migraine became more frequent over the years. I had a headache 24/7 in one specific place in my head. In my early 30's, after blood tests, food elimination, x-rays and finally an MRI I was told that I had Chronic Daily Migraines. Most days were 6-7/10 pain. Those days that were 10/10 I perfected the art o…

If this is because of the piercing doig some vagus nerve stimulation, do you think a simple, small clip or something placed in the right position could help as well?

That I do not know.

It's worth trying but the positioning would be tricky.

All I know is as I have posted - the daith piercing stopped the pain.

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#13
My eyes were opened a few years ago when I was reading my mom’s brain mri report. She had cancer and was undergoing radiation treatment. The MRI noted lesions and said they could be due to cancer/radiation OR MIGRAINES!

Holy moly! Migraines can cause brain damage!

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#14
post #13

My eyes were opened a few years ago when I was reading my mom’s brain mri report. She had cancer and was undergoing radiation treatment. The MRI noted lesions and said they could be due to cancer/radiation OR MIGRAINES! Holy moly! Migraines can cause brain damage!

Anything backing this up except that one report? I haven't heard of headaches or migraines causing permanent damage.

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#15
post #8

> Migraine can even drive full-blown visual hallucinations similar to the ‘reflections of the living light’ painted by Hildegard von Bingen, a twelfth-century abbess who was thought to have experienced a condition that is now called migraine with aura. I don't think the aura effects are usually considered hallucinations? I get mild migraines sometimes, with hardly noticeable headache, but with aura. In a way, it's pr…

I also have migraine with aura. There are visual effects but also when I am looking into the mirror I can't see half of my face and give this is a wrong perception of reality you might consider it a hallucination?

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#17
post #2

I was around 13 when I had my first migraine. A solid block of pain on the right side of my head. That occasional migraine became more frequent over the years. I had a headache 24/7 in one specific place in my head. In my early 30's, after blood tests, food elimination, x-rays and finally an MRI I was told that I had Chronic Daily Migraines. Most days were 6-7/10 pain. Those days that were 10/10 I perfected the art o…

I've heard of this piercing so many times and always wrote it off as some mass hypnosis quick fix that would change nothing. Your comment made me reopen that box I closed years ago. I'm very curious now.

Did you get the piercing on your left or right ear?

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#18
post #8

> Migraine can even drive full-blown visual hallucinations similar to the ‘reflections of the living light’ painted by Hildegard von Bingen, a twelfth-century abbess who was thought to have experienced a condition that is now called migraine with aura. I don't think the aura effects are usually considered hallucinations? I get mild migraines sometimes, with hardly noticeable headache, but with aura. In a way, it's pr…

my mom used to get these and said it was like "seeing dots"

anecdotally of course too, but is it more common for women? I've only ever known 3-4 people that got these kinds of migraines and they were all women.

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#19
I've thought for a long time now that everyone has a migraine all the time, but migraine sufferers temporarily lack the brain's ability to ignore the ever-present pain.

In other words, the migraine isn't the addition of pain, but the absense of a pain relief mechanism. I have no sources to back this up, other than personal observation.

Re: Migraine is more than a headache – a rethink offers hope

#20
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this is because of the piercing doig some vagus nerve stimulation, do you think a simple, small clip or something placed in the right position could help as well?

That I do not know. It's worth trying but the positioning would be tricky. All I know is as I have posted - the daith piercing stopped the pain.

Thanks anyway, I'm definitely looking into this.

Suffering from the occasional migraine myself (3-4x year) it seems a bit too drastic for myself... but my wife has very frequent migraines, anything that could possibly help is worth investigating

Post reply on HN