If you are a sufferer of migraines, you understand just how debilitating it can be. Migraines are not just a headache. They are not just pressure and sensitivity and pain. They are crippling. They are your head pounding so deeply, with such intensity, that you can become physically ill, unable to drive, move, walk, and completely incapacitated in your everyday life.

I've suffered from intense migraines since I was 8 years old. After countless scans and tests, the doctors diagnosed me with chronic migraines and put me on meds. I would take 3 pills every day and night when I was just 8 years old. While these pills helped for the most part, I would still suffer a migraine at least once a month. Which, if you're a fellow sufferer, you know once a month is still too much.

After many years on that medicine, my migraine frequency and intensity began to increase. Soon, the medicine I was prescribed was no longer affecting my migraines. So, it was time to move onto another medicine, and then another. Each one less effective than the previous.

Finally, this past year, I found a doctor who has alternatives to normal migraine medicine. She gave me some tips and advice on how to curve my migraines, and ways to help get over them if one sneaks up on me. Knowing just how life changing these tips can be, I'd like to share a few. Not all procedures or tips will help every suffering, but if you're like me, I'd be willing to try anything at this point.

1: Botox

I know what you're thinking: Botox??? I thought that too when I first heard my doctor mention it. The thought of my face freezing up was not appealing, and since I was only 19 years old when she suggested it, it seemed ridiculous that I would need botox. But, the doctors inject botox into your forehead, the back of your head and the shoulders to "freeze" the nerves that ache and cause the pain during a migraine. I got botox injections every 3 months for a year and half, and it seemed to really help. I was down to slight headaches, if any at all. It was a miracle!
I will be honest, this past "round" of botox hasn't seemed to be as effective. I'm not sure if my body just fights through it or what, but I've gotten 10x more headaches and migraines this round then I've had total in the last year.

2: Chiropractor

I just started this "remedy". I have a friend that was a sufferer and said after her trips to the chiropractor, she's healed. Worth a shot right?
I went into a headache chiropractic specialist here in Omaha, and he assessed me. After looking at my x-rays (which were brutal--my neck bends the opposite way), he determined the funkiness of my neck may be causing my migraines. He suggested I do traction adjustments and be stretched three times a week for 10 weeks to see if it improved my migraines. So far, no change. But it has only been a week! I'm staying optimistic.

3: Daith Piercing

I first heard of this one when people were tagging me in a post on Facebook mentioning it. Apparently, the "Daith" piercing can be effective in migraine relief. I'm not sure how it works, but the piercing must be on the correct nerve to numb or stop the pain from a migraine. I don't know if this works for all areas of pain (for instance, my sister gets migraines the back of her head by her neck. Mine are always over my left eye), but it appears to be a medicine-free alternative for migraine relief. I have not mustered up the courage to get this piercing (my other sister has it-said it didn't hurt at all) but I'm sure I will eventually.

4: Johnson & Johnson Soothing Vapor Baby Bubble Bath

Wait, what? Yes, you read that correctly. Thousands of people are claiming that this body wash prevents migraines. I can see the logic behind it. In my early years of migraines, my mom used to put Vick's Vapor Rub right on the spot of my forehead that was crippling me. It did ease the pain. Apparently, if you rinse with this vapor body wash, and breathe in the vapor deeply, it can ease and prevent migraines. I'm not sure the effectiveness of this one, but for only $5 it is DEFINITELY worth trying.

All in all, if you're on a medicine that works, don't stop it. It is not worth the trial and error to find what natural remedies work. But if you are like me, and all the medications are not longer effective, some of these alternatives may just be the key to ending your pain.

Love,

-A