Migraine Miracle?

It may be too soon to tell but... I have not had a migraine since the 7th.  Today is the 17th.  And for me this is huge.  I average 3-4 sometimes 5 migraine days a week.

I don't even know what to do with myself!  It is great.

What changed?  I started physical therapy at Spaulding Rehab Clinic and I am doing my exercises religiously.  Things are moving, releasing, and my posture is changing.  All the damage done to my neck in the past is melting away.

And soon.

I will have my life back.

:)

My advice - if you get migraines - see a physical therapist who specializes in headaches.  They work your neck and something happens - something wonderful.  Isn't it worth a try?

Greening Up

With morning comes another bleak walk on the Cod.  Less fog, but no less gray. 

Although now, the skies look promising - the day is brightening up. 


Yesterday's head pain did not grow into a migraine.  I am hoping the same goes for today.  Once again woke with an aching in my head that I have chosen to ignore because taking the triptans render me useless and retire me to bed - for the day.  So far so good...

The Migraine Discovery

My mother must talk to nearly everybody about the debilitating migraines I suffer because she is always feeding me migraine tips, most of which I have already heard - until recently. 

This someone shared something from her neurologist - of which I had not yet heard.  And I do a LOT of migraine research. I know about the trigeminal nerve and can feel it pulsing above my ear as a migraine spills into my face.  It's been explained to me, I've read about it, and had pictures drawn illustrating it.  The Botox migraine treatment is targeting just this.  I have not yet qualified for the Botox treatment, so in the meantime I seek other solutions.

Below is an illustration of the trigeminal nerve. 
Courtesy of Mayo Clinic

The discovery?  Capzasin No-Mess Applicator directly (and liberally) applied to carotid artery on the left side of neck. 

Below is an illustration of the internal and external carotid arteries.
Courtesy of Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator: Licenses.

The claim - by applying Capzasin to the carotid artery you are essentially stopping the migraine.

My findings - inconclusive.  I have attempted this three times.  The first time it was too late.  I already had the beginning signs - and more - of a migraine when she told me about the treatment.  She ran to the nearest CVS, got the stuff, and I soon applied it to my neck - LIBERALLY.  Maybe too liberally because from my ear lobe to my chest my skin glowed red.  Ultimately, attempt one failed and ended in a dose of Relpax.

On my second attempt, with the first attempt in mind, I sparingly applied the liquid, which did not work either.

And my third attempt - once again liberally - and perhaps applied too late also ended in a dose of Relpax.

Does this work?  I am not sure.  And I am not sure I am going to give it a fourth attempt.  But I thought I would share...in the interest of, well, sharing.

Copy Edit and the Glamour of Grammar

For my class I have been reading a book called, "The Glamour of Grammar," which seems to make people laugh (or at least snicker).  It is by Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute in good old St. Pete, FL.  His references to places I know dearly makes me miss my town.

We head back in April - just for a week - but both of us are SOOO looking forward to HOME.  Hmmm.

The copy editing course I am taking is great.  I absolutely love the professor.  Over the past few days I have been transferring my hand written notes into word documents on my desktop.  It is my way of remembering what she has taught us so far.  Next week is midterm.  The following week - break.  Unfortunately I will have to miss a week to go to Tampa, but I will see if I can get the lecture notes.

Not much interesting to say today... Heading to the allergist for my initial consultation.  Just another avenue I am attempting in my desire to kill the migraine.  Had to fight my PCP to get the referral.  Why is it so hard to understand that a healthy person costs less than a sick one.  I am certain that ONCE we hit on the CAUSE, my migraines will decrease...and my life will get better.  Until then, I am going to fight for referrals because I matter and the way that I feel counts.