ARGGGHHH! Migraines
Discussion
squirrel2007 said:
Exactly what I get. Couldn't describe it better. After the visual wierdness has gone I get a stinking headache and feeling of nausea for the rest of the day.
Yes, exactly the same here, but only for a period of perhaps six months a few years ago. I'd never had them before or since, but for that period I suffered them fairly regularly. No idea what made them start or stop.I should have added that not all headaches are of dental origin and may be a sign of a true migraine or something more serious, including tumours of the head. For this reason it is important that medical advice is sought and these causes eliminated. However, sadly in my experience, there is a reluctance amongst GPs to recognise the possibility of a dental cause and often this line of treatment is not explored. Hence I always ask my patients, when completing an "occlusal" questionaire if they suffer from headaches, if they have sought treatment from their GP and whether this treatment made any difference. The answer is usually that no treatment has made any difference.
Because of the muscle spasms (trigger points) causing the headaches etc, those headaches attributed to stress are often the result of further tensing of the muscles - when tense/stressed you tend to clench your teeth together making the headache worse. This is why anti-depressants often give relief and the GP is then able to confirm that the headaches are "all in the mind". The reason is simple - the anti-depressants reduce the stress levels allowing the muscles to relax.
To confirm a diagnosis of an occlusal problem the dentist may make a simple "muscle relaxer" (deprogrammer) called a Lucia Jig. This is not a cure, but a diagnostic aid.
Unfortunately this subject is not taught at Dental School, but is a Postgraduate discipline and so not all dentists are aware or experienced in its diagnosis and treatment. Hence the earlier advice to look on the BSOS.org.uk website for a dentist with such experience if your own dentist cannot help you.
Because of the muscle spasms (trigger points) causing the headaches etc, those headaches attributed to stress are often the result of further tensing of the muscles - when tense/stressed you tend to clench your teeth together making the headache worse. This is why anti-depressants often give relief and the GP is then able to confirm that the headaches are "all in the mind". The reason is simple - the anti-depressants reduce the stress levels allowing the muscles to relax.
To confirm a diagnosis of an occlusal problem the dentist may make a simple "muscle relaxer" (deprogrammer) called a Lucia Jig. This is not a cure, but a diagnostic aid.
Unfortunately this subject is not taught at Dental School, but is a Postgraduate discipline and so not all dentists are aware or experienced in its diagnosis and treatment. Hence the earlier advice to look on the BSOS.org.uk website for a dentist with such experience if your own dentist cannot help you.
That's really interesting stuff... and might help people differentiate headaches, bad headaches, really bad headaches.... from migraine... (incl lights, black holes, aura, paralysis, nausea, vomiting, migraine hangovers etc.).
What you say is indeed true... I smashed my jaw fractured in several places and nose in several places in a bike accident many years ago and fractured 4 teeth, my "bite" was disrupted quite severely and I had a very large lower jaw operation & substantial dental work over around 5 years. During this time teeth grinding and headaches caused by this were frequent and often severe. They weren't migraine though.
My osteopath carried out cranial osteopathy which helped a lot during that time, and echoed what you said about the dental > headache relativity.
What you say is indeed true... I smashed my jaw fractured in several places and nose in several places in a bike accident many years ago and fractured 4 teeth, my "bite" was disrupted quite severely and I had a very large lower jaw operation & substantial dental work over around 5 years. During this time teeth grinding and headaches caused by this were frequent and often severe. They weren't migraine though.
My osteopath carried out cranial osteopathy which helped a lot during that time, and echoed what you said about the dental > headache relativity.
Johnmuzy said:
I should have added that not all headaches are of dental origin and may be a sign of a true migraine or something more serious, including tumours of the head. For this reason it is important that medical advice is sought and these causes eliminated. However, sadly in my experience, there is a reluctance amongst GPs to recognise the possibility of a dental cause and often this line of treatment is not explored. Hence I always ask my patients, when completing an "occlusal" questionaire if they suffer from headaches, if they have sought treatment from their GP and whether this treatment made any difference. The answer is usually that no treatment has made any difference.
Because of the muscle spasms (trigger points) causing the headaches etc, those headaches attributed to stress are often the result of further tensing of the muscles - when tense/stressed you tend to clench your teeth together making the headache worse. This is why anti-depressants often give relief and the GP is then able to confirm that the headaches are "all in the mind". The reason is simple - the anti-depressants reduce the stress levels allowing the muscles to relax.
To confirm a diagnosis of an occlusal problem the dentist may make a simple "muscle relaxer" (deprogrammer) called a Lucia Jig. This is not a cure, but a diagnostic aid.
Unfortunately this subject is not taught at Dental School, but is a Postgraduate discipline and so not all dentists are aware or experienced in its diagnosis and treatment. Hence the earlier advice to look on the BSOS.org.uk website for a dentist with such experience if your own dentist cannot help you.
Trust me when I say i have tried nearly everything and spoke to almost all type of doctors, ive had scans and xrays (the ones where you lay in a tube and it clicks). So going to the women off the site you mentioned can't hurt. As the old saying goes 'if you always do what you've always done you'll always have what you've always had'. So im gonna try to do something different and ring them tomorrow.Because of the muscle spasms (trigger points) causing the headaches etc, those headaches attributed to stress are often the result of further tensing of the muscles - when tense/stressed you tend to clench your teeth together making the headache worse. This is why anti-depressants often give relief and the GP is then able to confirm that the headaches are "all in the mind". The reason is simple - the anti-depressants reduce the stress levels allowing the muscles to relax.
To confirm a diagnosis of an occlusal problem the dentist may make a simple "muscle relaxer" (deprogrammer) called a Lucia Jig. This is not a cure, but a diagnostic aid.
Unfortunately this subject is not taught at Dental School, but is a Postgraduate discipline and so not all dentists are aware or experienced in its diagnosis and treatment. Hence the earlier advice to look on the BSOS.org.uk website for a dentist with such experience if your own dentist cannot help you.
I'd have replied to this yesterday, except I was recovering from a migraine...
Reading through everyone elses' experiences I've come to realise how lightly I've got off! I started getting migraines about three years ago, though I only get the pain not the aura or vomiting - so I consider myself lucky. Pain levels vary but are usually fairly mild - just 'bad headache' level - though occasionally rise to bloody awful, though never as bad as passing kidney stones (my all time number one - if you'll excuse the pun!). Usually last three days, though Zomig sometimes manages to stop it if I catch it in time.
My primary triggers are alcohol and stress - so no G&T to unwind after a particularly s
tty day 
plus possibly coffee
I picked up an interesting book published by the BMA from Boots the other day: "Understanding Migraines & Other Headaches" by Dr Anne MacGregor (ISBN: 1-903474-49-3). It's got an interesting diagram explaining the phases of a migraine attack and how different triggers build up to a threshold level that sets off the attack. It helped me understand why sometimes I could have a drink and be fine, while other times I'd have a migraine come on before I'd finished the first glass.
The other interesting bit is about how it's easy to associate certain foods as triggers when they can actually be more linked to the pre-migraine state that can cause cravings for that food, ie thinking chocolate is a trigger when it could be a chocolate craving that is a symptom of an impending migraine attack.
Reading through everyone elses' experiences I've come to realise how lightly I've got off! I started getting migraines about three years ago, though I only get the pain not the aura or vomiting - so I consider myself lucky. Pain levels vary but are usually fairly mild - just 'bad headache' level - though occasionally rise to bloody awful, though never as bad as passing kidney stones (my all time number one - if you'll excuse the pun!). Usually last three days, though Zomig sometimes manages to stop it if I catch it in time.
My primary triggers are alcohol and stress - so no G&T to unwind after a particularly s
tty day plus possibly coffeeI picked up an interesting book published by the BMA from Boots the other day: "Understanding Migraines & Other Headaches" by Dr Anne MacGregor (ISBN: 1-903474-49-3). It's got an interesting diagram explaining the phases of a migraine attack and how different triggers build up to a threshold level that sets off the attack. It helped me understand why sometimes I could have a drink and be fine, while other times I'd have a migraine come on before I'd finished the first glass.
The other interesting bit is about how it's easy to associate certain foods as triggers when they can actually be more linked to the pre-migraine state that can cause cravings for that food, ie thinking chocolate is a trigger when it could be a chocolate craving that is a symptom of an impending migraine attack.
Edited by judas on Wednesday 12th November 20:23
john_p said:
I've had my fair share of sitting crouched in the bathroom, rocking, wishing something, anything would make the pain go away...
Like many on this thread I suffer from hellish migraines and the above summed it up nicely (or not as the case is). I get mine in clusters - normally two to four in a six month period, each cluster about 4-5 years apart.
Stress is a big trigger for me. I remember driving home one evening after a hellish day at work and being stuck in traffic on the M25 for two hours. The aura appeared and I frantically called my mate in a panic (what the hell was he supposed to do)? Two hours later and at just about the limit of my vision I pulled up outside my house. How I never crashed that day is beyond me - stupid, I should have pulled over. And the release from stress can also bring them on. After a particularly stressful week I was relaxing on the weekend when I had my worst migraine ever - I was hospitalised by the thing it was so bad. The doctor told me that the body/mind can wind itself up and the release of tension can sometimes be a trigger in itself - in a sense the mind instructing the body not to fail when you need it most (in stressful situations) only to "let go" once the immediate danger (stress) has passed.
Mine are always accompanied by serious amount of vomiting, but I don't mind because this signals the start of the end of my migranes.
Action points are as soon as I get the first indications all lights go off (it is phyiscally painful to have lights/computers/anything electrical with a light - even standby - on), straight to bed with a sumatriptan dose and a wet cold flannel over my forehead. I always flit between a fever and freezing cold during my attacks. Sometimes the suma works, sometimes not. I must admit to having a better strike rate with the suma now I more clearly understand my migraines. Even if the suma works, I am normally always wiped out for at least 24 hours afterwards due to the fever, and I avoid using a laptop or PC for as long as I am able to that week.
I changed my job from an employee to self employed because of the effect of stress triggering migraines and I regularly asses my client base to ensure I don't overdo things. I'm getting close to the limit now but Xmas is a busy time at work and I've booked some time off in the New Year - for me it's all about management of the stress.
Oh, and the oft heard comment about "working through a migraine" are only made by those who've never had them - it's impossible to do so imho.
Edited by Goughie on Wednesday 12th November 23:12
Relief,
No headache today, what can i summarise
Well I didn't eat anything yesterday, just water and a few cups of tea (no milk or sugar)...yuck!
Had a 'special' smoke or two
in the evening, enjoyed some friendly company fell asleep on the couch, and awoke at 10am fresh as a daisy and without said headache/migraine. 
Migraines...I've st'em...now time for a full english and plenty of coffee.....methinks 
No headache today, what can i summarise
Well I didn't eat anything yesterday, just water and a few cups of tea (no milk or sugar)...yuck!
Had a 'special' smoke or two
in the evening, enjoyed some friendly company fell asleep on the couch, and awoke at 10am fresh as a daisy and without said headache/migraine. Migraines...I've s
t'em...now time for a full english and plenty of coffee.....methinks Goughie said:
john_p said:
I've had my fair share of sitting crouched in the bathroom, rocking, wishing something, anything would make the pain go away...
Like many on this thread I suffer from hellish migraines and the above summed it up nicely (or not as the case is). I get mine in clusters - normally two to four in a six month period, each cluster about 4-5 years apart.
Stress is a big trigger for me. I remember driving home one evening after a hellish day at work and being stuck in traffic on the M25 for two hours. The aura appeared and I frantically called my mate in a panic (what the hell was he supposed to do)? Two hours later and at just about the limit of my vision I pulled up outside my house. How I never crashed that day is beyond me - stupid, I should have pulled over. And the release from stress can also bring them on. After a particularly stressful week I was relaxing on the weekend when I had my worst migraine ever - I was hospitalised by the thing it was so bad. The doctor told me that the body/mind can wind itself up and the release of tension can sometimes be a trigger in itself - in a sense the mind instructing the body not to fail when you need it most (in stressful situations) only to "let go" once the immediate danger (stress) has passed.
Mine are always accompanied by serious amount of vomiting, but I don't mind because this signals the start of the end of my migranes.
Action points are as soon as I get the first indications all lights go off (it is phyiscally painful to have lights/computers/anything electrical with a light - even standby - on), straight to bed with a sumatriptan dose and a wet cold flannel over my forehead. I always flit between a fever and freezing cold during my attacks. Sometimes the suma works, sometimes not. I must admit to having a better strike rate with the suma now I more clearly understand my migraines. Even if the suma works, I am normally always wiped out for at least 24 hours afterwards due to the fever, and I avoid using a laptop or PC for as long as I am able to that week.
I changed my job from an employee to self employed because of the effect of stress triggering migraines and I regularly asses my client base to ensure I don't overdo things. I'm getting close to the limit now but Xmas is a busy time at work and I've booked some time off in the New Year - for me it's all about management of the stress.
Oh, and the oft heard comment about "working through a migraine" are only made by those who've never had them - it's impossible to do so imho.
Edited by Goughie on Wednesday 12th November 23:12
t now and yes as I run my own buisness had to stay in the office, the pain is bad but I deal with it but without medication taken at the right time no chance Ive been caught a few times,strange Ive not had one for about 3mths now all this talking about them made me have one weird things migraines!
bigdavy said:
I won't bore you all with the long story of how i got here but I now know that all my migraine problems come from neck trouble. I have had serious back trouble for many years as well and eventually went to see a ostoepath who very quickly identified neck stiffness causing blood flow problems which in turn caused the migraines.
I strongly suggest to anyone who suffers from persistant migraines to have their necks checked out, preferably by an osteopath / physio / chiropractor type person, not an over busy uninterested GP who says look left look right, seems ok to me!
Me too...I have had migraines for years mainly triggered by not eating well, being over tired, over stressed, eating dairy products etc. Then I hit a patch like the OP describes where I couldn't control my migraines at all and the pattern and pain had changed entirely. GP signed me off for a week, said it was probably the lights above my desk and stress I strongly suggest to anyone who suffers from persistant migraines to have their necks checked out, preferably by an osteopath / physio / chiropractor type person, not an over busy uninterested GP who says look left look right, seems ok to me!
Two weeks later I woke up and couldn't move my neck - turned out I'd had a neck problem brewing for some time caused by poor posture whilst sitting at my desk.
I now have chiropractic treatment and decent sports massage which keeps it all at bay. It's also much better when I am exercising regularly.
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