I've suffered from headaches and migraines

[outofideas]

I've been dealing with headaches and migraines since I was a teenager. I've had MRI's done and all that comes back are inflamed blood vessels And from my understanding that's what headaches are. And then back in October I fell down my deck and have been in pain ever since. I had an X-ray done and nothing was broken but my doctor wouldn't approve a MRI. Most likely because of insurance reasons. 

What kinds of things do fellow headache and migraine sufferers do to keep flair ups limited and what kinds of medications have worked best for you?

thanks for reading

 

[blissopifree 2]

Propanel seems to work for a family member and one other friend swears by them.

Both get bad migraines or cluster headaches but if they use one pill a day it seems to alleviate them,so they naybe the answer to your problem @outofideas?.

Peace 

Bliss....

 

[US Army Veteran]

I suffer from migraines regularly and headaches daily. I got a Traumatic Brain Injury while in the service but the VA isn't much help. None of the Triptan meds work for me. The only thing that has worked the past 8 years is Fiorcet and it has begun to stop being effective. Any recommendations!

 

[Louis76]

Fiorcet w/ codeine has worked well for my migraines. 

 

[US Army Veteran]

Fiorcet w/ codeine has worked well for my migraines. 

Didn't know there was a Fiorcet w codeine. I'll have to ask my VA doctor next time I see her. Perhaps that'll help cause I've been on regular Fiorcet for 7-8 years since my fall in the Army. Thanks Louis76

 

[Louis76]

Didn't know there was a Fiorcet w codeine. I'll have to ask my VA doctor next time I see her. Perhaps that'll help cause I've been on regular Fiorcet for 7-8 years since my fall in the Army. Thanks Louis76

My doc prescribed me the Fioricet w/codeine and it works great when you have a bad migraine or cluster headache! I tried everything and this med has worked wonders so far! Good Luck! 

 

[US Army Veteran]

My doc prescribed me the Fioricet w/codeine and it works great when you have a bad migraine or cluster headache! I tried everything and this med has worked wonders so far! Good Luck! 

Thanks again Louis. Can't wait to see my doc at the VA again to ask about the med. you've been a great help friend!

 

[Louis76]

?  There's 2 generic brands that my pharmacy carries. For some reason the old generic formalation is cheaper with my insurance?

New formulation : (less Tylenol)

butalbital 50 mg, acetaminophen 300 mg, caffeine 40 mg, and codeine phosphate 30 mg.

old formulation : (still in production)

butalibal 50mg ,[acetaminophen 325mg], caffeine 40mg, and codeine phosphate 30mg.

 

[US Army Veteran]

I see one of my VA docs on Thursday I'm gonna ask him about it thank you so much sir!

 

[DeniseMarie]

I have also found butalbital a miracle solution to the most devastating headaches.  I have not had it in several years now.   I was thinking about this subject today, as I have had a migraine going on 5 day today : (    

 

[Slegna Owt]

I wish I knew where you were finding these drs - severe migraines for 10+ years and my PCP won't do anything but refer me out and the neurologist I went to won't prescribe pain meds. It's been a struggle to say the least..

 

[US Army Veteran]

I wish I knew where you were finding these drs - severe migraines for 10+ years and my PCP won't do anything but refer me out and the neurologist I went to won't prescribe pain meds. It's been a struggle to say the least..

My neurologist just put me on a low dose of Depakote. Which helps as a maintenance headache/migraine medication. You have to take it daily but it keeps them from coming as frequently. It's definitely been helping.

 

[Slegna Owt]

My neurologist just put me on a low dose of Depakote. Which helps as a maintenance headache/migraine medication. You have to take it daily but it keeps them from coming as frequently. It's definitely been helping.

My neurologist won't prescribe anything but nasal sprays and antidepressants - all doctors in my area don't care if you are in legit pain. I'm probably going to end up driving over 2 hours to see a decent doctor.. but hoping it's worth it.

 

[US Army Veteran]

My neurologist won't prescribe anything but nasal sprays and antidepressants - all doctors in my area don't care if you are in legit pain. I'm probably going to end up driving over 2 hours to see a decent doctor.. but hoping it's worth it.

Good luck. Hope you get the help you deserve.

 

[JexLex]

I know this isn't pill related but look into getting your daith pierced. It's amazing for migraines and anxiety. Google it. I took my 16 year old, who we almost lost to depression/anxiety/suicide to get hers pierced and I got mine done as well, since I hold headaches for days and have anxiety as well. Once it heals for a few days, it's seriously a miracle. I'm very serious. No joke. Look it up and go to a clean tattoo shop that does piercings. My only advice, follow the aftercare instructions to the T, because it will hurt as it heals, but infections are no fun to get rid of. All about the acupressure sites in the ears.  I enjoy my meds but for those of you really suffering...it's incredible. 

As for my baby, 2 years of treatment facilities who wanted to just stabilize her and get her out, 5 months in a residential treatment facility (finally) that the insurance company wouldn't help with (bc she hadn't "attempted enough times") and $66,000 later (and losing a lot of material things)...we didn't lose her. She's thriving, getting ready for college and is loving life. Never give up. 

 

[US Army Veteran]

?  There's 2 generic brands that my pharmacy carries. For some reason the old generic formalation is cheaper with my insurance?

New formulation : (less Tylenol)

butalbital 50 mg, acetaminophen 300 mg, caffeine 40 mg, and codeine phosphate 30 mg.

old formulation : (still in production)

butalibal 50mg ,[acetaminophen 325mg], caffeine 40mg, and codeine phosphate 30mg.

My doc didn't like the idea the first time but I'm hoping to get the point across my next visit. I'll keep you informed!

 

[mttx]

I've suffered from migraines off and on for decades. I started seeing a headache specialist a couple of years ago and none of the meds in her arsenal had any effect at all. So she began giving me Botox injections every three months which have helped substantially. I took Fioricet when I was younger but she won't prescribe it due to it being notorious for causing rebound headaches. The problem is that I still get migraines occasionally and Fioricet is the only thing that helps. I still have some that I got from another doctor am almost out.

 

[Def_Starr]

i been experiencing this headache, which i think is a tension headache and not a sinus headache since i had my dental cleaning , and the weather change but i also stopped certain meds..., so i think mine is tension related and w/ding from medication and going back on my original track, than again i had a similar experience 2yrs ago and that happened in the spring time after a dental cleaning, one tooth makes every part of my left jaw hurt when i get the tension headache, but theres nothing wrong with the tooth for the dentist to butcher up, so i am nervous and stressed about it , i still have my INS , just to scared to go see doctor from doctor if the primary cant address, i hate waiting in doctor offices and  filling paper work out.

, i hope its nothing serious for me, i had mri's done before but for lower back and neck not the head, but the same headache that pops out of nowhere anytime with presure behind the eye and above the left jaw ??? 

so now i find mself reading other post for help , i am using flexeril a muscle relaxor atm instead of excedrine and advil which i been taking since xmas is whee the headaches started, but i 2weeks time off so i am using it to rest/recovery/keep it light/no stress /avoid taking other meds, 

the excedrin works, but i want this to go away on its own.

 

[Dumbo88]

MaxAlt is hands down the best migraine med I have used.  It only works for legit debilitating migraines, doesn't do anything for regular headaches.  But a migraine that makes you light sensitive and crippled, one pill dissolved under the tongue and its gone in 10 minutes.  Amazing stuff.  Perks don't even cure the pain but with maxalt its gone almost immediately.