Other Migraine - Any connection to PTSD or tips on how to control them?

[No More]

Hi,
Does anyone know if there’s a particular connection between ptsd and migraine? I’d always been one to get headaches, but after the last uhm, unfortunate event, I started getting super bad migraines. It has been medically checked, there’s no physical reason and I have been diagnosed with chronic migraines. It just seems to time very well with said unfortunate event.
I know some of my migraine triggers are stress, certain noises, certain smells, strip lighting etc

Basically just wondering if anyone has any brilliant tips to control them, or anything that might help reduce the absolute misery of having one.

Thank you - from someone at their wits end under a blanket hiding from daylight and crying about having to stand up

 

[Friday]

I used to get migraines triggered from tension & from sinus pressure & flat light.

- Since I live next door to a rain forest, that meant weekly to thrice weekly sinus triggered migraines that pseudoephedrine could “fix” as long as I caught them early. We (my doctors and I) never figured out if it was pressure on the facial or trigeminal nerve, but either way? Removing the trigger, limited those migraines.

- tension migraines (again, probably the facial or trigeminal nerve being squished, just at the basal ganglia instead of somewhere else along the line) I mitigated with weekly massage. My insurance covered at either $8-$16 per massage, or $20, depending on if it was a percentage or outpatient copay. Weekly massage meant I only got migraines once every few months. Monthly massage would mean 1-2 per week. No massage would mean 3+ per week.

- Flat light means I own a pair of Oakley’s. And don’t wear them in the sunshine, but when the cloud cover is total.

But? The last time my skull was fractured my migraines virtually disappeared. I get them a few times a year. I still wear my Oakley’s by force of habit, just not by necessity. I WISH I could still do the massage.

 

[No More]

I used to get migraines triggered from tension & from sinus pressure & flat light.

- Since I live next door to a rain forest, that meant weekly to thrice weekly sinus triggered migraines that pseudoephedrine could “fix” as long as I caught them early. We (my doctors and I) never figured out if it was pressure on the facial or trigeminal nerve, but either way? Removing the trigger, limited those migraines.

- tension migraines (again, probably the facial or trigeminal nerve being squished, just at the basal ganglia instead of somewhere else along the line) I mitigated with weekly massage. My insurance covered at either $8-$16 per massage, or $20, depending on if it was a percentage or outpatient copay. Weekly massage meant I only got migraines once every few months. Monthly massage would mean 1-2 per week. No massage would mean 3+ per week.

- Flat light means I own a pair of Oakley’s. And don’t wear them in the sunshine, but when the cloud cover is total.

But? The last time my skull was fractured my migraines virtually disappeared. I get them a few times a year. I still wear my Oakley’s by force of habit, just not by necessity. I WISH I could still do the massage.

Thanks, just had a quick google at flat light and you may well be onto something there.
Unfortunately I can’t wear glasses of any description, make me spew. Aren’t I just a f*cking bundle of joys I tried oakley sport ones once in the hope they’d be the magic pair but no.

Massage is a banging shout. My work means I’ve spent the last 10 years breaking most of myself and essentially live at the osteopaths at the minute. I turn into a miserable witch if I miss my weekly appointment so I will absolutely look at adding massage to my cocktail of back cracks

 

[Freddyt]

Hi,
Does anyone know if there’s a particular connection between ptsd and migraine? I’d always been one to get headaches, but after the last uhm, unfortunate event, I started getting super bad migraines. It has been medically checked, there’s no physical reason and I have been diagnosed with chronic migraines. It just seems to time very well with said unfortunate event.

It's probably close enough to be called that but mine is recalled pain. Because there is really no place for your eye to swell and it doesn't seem nature ever intended that to happen so when it hemorrhaged and swelled the pain was........

When I get really stressed they happen, and near trauma anniversary they can be, like yesterday nearly unbearable. I take migraine meds to shut them down when they happen.

So yes definitely connected to PTSD....

 

[No More]

@Freddyt Thank you for your reply, interesting what you say about anniversaries. I’m just past mine, but definitely considerably more stressed at the minute and my moods change faster than a set of traffic lights. I’m sorry you experience them as well. They’re just friggin miserable. I hope you are feeling better today.

 

[RachelBigby]

I don't get migraines inside my head, but I get flare ups of the peripheral nerves outside the skull. They are painful to the touch. Ice packs on my head will bring it down.

 

[Freddyt]

@Freddyt Thank you for your reply, interesting what you say about anniversaries. I’m just past mine, but definitely considerably more stressed at the minute and my moods change faster than a set of traffic lights. I’m sorry you experience them as well. They’re just friggin miserable. I hope you are feeling better today.

Before I had the eye enucleated we were looking for physical reasons. Had every kind of test you could imagine. When they continued after surgery/healing there was no physical reason anymore.

The one thing I knew for sure? They were most active around the spring equinox. Wasn't until I got here and learned about anniversaries that I put the two together.

Yes OK today just tired. Not much sleep and bad dreams after but hey, like I say, the more you worry about sleep the less you sleep.....