new migraine treatment

Read and learn more about new migraine treatment. For more, visit the Migraine Headache website MyBrainPain.com

Q: New migraine treatment?
Have anyone heard of this new natural migraine treatment “Migrowin”?. It’s a herbal supplment but i’m not sure if it works or not? have anybidy tried it? do u think it’s good or just another scam?

check this website for information: www.gurujiherbal.com

A: Have your heart checked first:

http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html

Q: Questions About New Migraine Treatment.?
After years of being treated with narcotics (serious ones) for “headaches”, I have been finally diagnosed as a classic migraine sufferer and started on Topamax 25mg daily to begin and 400mg B2 daily. Can anyone give me any feedback on this? I will be going in to hospital for 3 days early Oct, to have lignocaigne fed through a drip to cleanse me of the pain drugs, as the neurologist thinks my daily headaches are drug induced, has anyone undergone this procedure or heard of it? He has warned me head wise it is very painful! This is he first time I have seen this Dr and I trust him implicitily. Any info would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Jums

A: Topamax works extremely well in some patients. Migraine treatment is very tailored to the particular patient..so in this case, I would trust your neurologist (we try )
If you think that something is wrong, talk to him, and tell him your concerns.

Q: Where can i get rTMS treatment in New Delhi?
i understand that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a new technology which is set to change the treatment of psychiatric treatments as an effective substitute to the shock therapy (ECT).

it is used to treat a number of psychiatric and neurological disorders (depression, schizophrenia, stress disorder, OCD, phobias, ADHD, eating disorders, addictions, Parkinson’s Disease, migraine, multiple sclerosis, refractory epilepsy, fibromyalgia and chronic pain) without side effects.

i know sufficiently enough about the technology. but where is it available in new delhi and what are the costs involved? which is the best place to get it?
i read that it was recently introduced in india.

A: Yes, rTMS is available in India now after it received its clearance from the US FDA very recently in October 2008 for treatment of patients with depression who do not respond well to treatment with antidepressant medicines.

It is basically a non-invasive procedure which involves magnetic stimulation of specific brain areas to produce neuro-physiological changes that result in recovery. In that sense, it is a substitute for the electric shock therapy which is considered more non-specific and has some stigma attached to it. It can be used in addition to the regular medicines and is considered to be extremely safe with no side effects.

As far as centers where this treatment is available in New Delhi, you may want to contact Dr Sunil Mittal at Cosmos Hospitals Delhi Psychiatry Centre in Delhi (011-43666666) which has this facility. I’m sure with time more doctors will offer this therapy, but for now it seems that they are the first to offer this in Delhi/India.

(For more information on rTMS, you may search online on wikipedia and other online journals. There’s quite a lot of information available.)

Q: Are there any new treatments for Migraine headaches?
I started having Migraines at 15. By the time I was 20 I was having them everyday. They just vary in pain levels; sometimes I have the full blown; pounding, cant, eat, sleep, nausea, light sensitivity etc. Where all I can to is hide in a dark, quiet room with an ice bag on my head, these can last for 3 days. While other times, it is moderate pain that I can treat with pain medication and be able to somewhat manage the day. I never drive while on narcotics. (I just don’t want that to be an issue)

Over the years I have been to numerous neurologists, had every conceivable scan and test. I have been in pain clinics, in Chicago, San Fransisco and Utah. I have been on every drug or herb that promised relief- or prevention, nothing helps. When Imitrex was introduced, it sounded like a miracle. The very first injection stopped my heart; even though I have no heart problems. It was a blessing that I was in the hospital when they tried it, so they could get my heart going again. Because of that extreme reaction I was cautioned to never try Triptans again. So I cannot use; Relpax, Axert, Frova, Amerge, Maxalt, Zomig or Treximet. I have heard that Botox helps. But there is no way I can afford the hundreds it would cost.
Is anyone aware of anything new- I’m honestly at the end of my road- Thirty years of constant pain is too long.
Thanks for your answers!
Dares to care- I have also tried chiropractors, Some who did full adjustments, others sho did little clicking thing in my ears, saying they were minimpulating the small bones i my ears, neck etc. physical therasipts, acupunurists. I honestly don’t know of a specialty I haven’t seen.

A: First of all, many things that are diagnosed as “migraines” are actually cervicogenic headaches (neck caused) instead. A misalignment in your neck can cause a headache that mimics a migraine ( even to the light sensitivity and nausea). A “True” Migraine is related to circulation.

I would recommend that you try a chiropractor. If it is a cervicogenic headache, realigning your neck should take care of most of the headache. If it is a “true” migraine, the chiropractic still may help( even though chiropractic only helps between 40-50% of true migraines). But it may be another option for you.

I really wish you the best.

Q: Migraine Treatment?
My wife suffers from persistent migraines. I mean, almost daily, frequent emergency room visits, the worst.

Over the last 15 years she’s tried amost everything the neurology profession could think of, with no help.

I’m wondering: is there anything “new” out there that chronic migraine sufferers have had success with? Thanks.

A: First thing, she needs to stop with the ER visits. I have to assume that by going there she is getting narcotic drugs. That may dull the pain, but it also causes rebound headaches, which are more painful than the initial one in most cases.

Has she tried meditation? Diet changes? Chiropractor? Psychiatry? Increased her magnesium intake? Acupuncture?

There are many all-natural remedies out there that may be worth giving a shot. Just do a quick search for “natural headache relief” and see what you can find. Good luck.

Q: Would you volunteer to help a new online community about migraines?
A new web site is looking for volunteer health information reviewers to share their opinions on the best information on the web about migraines. We feel that reliable information is hard to come by quickly and easily and are organizing information on migraines to better help people find the information they need.

We need help from people with knowledge abor experience with migraines to look over the content our experts have found (migraine symptoms, migraine treatments, related migraine conditions, etc) and tell us which links are most useful to you, and what you think will help others. It won’t take much time to be a volunteer – you can do as much or as little as you want to, and you will help many other people like yourself by sharing your opinion. Also, by volunteering you will get to see the best and most current research that health experts have found online about migraines. Please visit our web site to learn more or to volunteer. http://www.movinghealth.com Thanks so much
And I also want to ask advice on the best way to get volunteers. thanks in advance!

A: As a person who suffers from the terrible pain of migraines would assist with the on-line community volunteer. Unfortunately I am returning to Iraq in 3 weeks and my time and access to the Internet will
be limited due to my duties over there. As to seeking other to volunteer….you can always post your request on Migraine Support Group bulletin boards on the net, contact local hospitals, pain clinics and the offices of doctors who deal with migraines…..such as neurologists.

Good luck.

Q: How much do the scientists who make new drugs profit?
How much would, for example, the doctor who created treximet (migraine treatment) or a doctor who found treatment for Huntington’s disease profit from the creation of that drug after selling it to a pharmaceutical company?

A: They generally work for the pharma, it is too expensive to develop on one’s own. Sometimes a small company will develop a drug and have the larger pharma do the clinical trials (which cost millions of dollars). Then they share in the profits. Depending on the drug, it can be in the tens of millions or more. But again, rarely does one person get that kind of money.

Q: Neck Pain from Botox injections via migraine therapy?
I received Botox injections from my neurologist into my face, head, neck and shoulders as a new treatment for migraines. Its been two weeks since I received the treatment and my neck is still in so much pain. Could this be a possible reaction of some sort? My neurologist says I shouldn’t have any pain from the botox injections except some minor uncomfort at the injection site itself. Ive tried heat and ice on my neck and it doesn’t seem to help much. The severity depends on the day. Some days its not to bad other days its almost unbearable. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

A: See another specialist in the same or similar field. You should ALWAYS have a second opinion in things related to the spine and neck even if in long term care under one you trust. Same thing applies for heart and liver. A single expert will miss things because of his focus on what has been the problem.

Q: Why does the medical community insist upon regularly scaring migraine sufferers to death thru media stories?
Migraines, especially those with auras are very scary things to live with. More than a few migraine sufferers have committed suicide rather than continue to endure these monsters after all treatment options have come up short. Yet, every 6 months on average, there will be a story run on the nightly news or as an internet headline to the effect of “New Study Shows Migraine Sufferers 8 Times More Likely To Suffer Stroke Than Non Sufferers” or the recent, “Studies Link Migraine to Brain Damage”. These stories are all repetitive in nature (2007’s “new revelations” are the same, almost verbatim, as those which were run last year, and the previous year, etc etc) Who is real-world-spamming Migraineurs with these horror stories and for what purpose????? It’s not as if it’s some sort of ailment that most people can actually DO something about in response to a public health alert.

A: http://www.newstarget.com/021789.html Read this, you will find that it has everything to do with the multi billion dollar pharmaceutical giants that finance our media.

Q: New info on Neural Migraines?
I’m just getting into the aura phase of my migraine with all the flashes and stuff and it got me thinking.

I’ve done a lot of personal research on migraine’s years ago, but I have not kept up with the new stuff. And doing a search for it didn’t turn up anything new in previous answers.

So does anyone know, or have any good links, to the latest info on treatment?
Or even just info on what specialists think is really going on now?
Or has it all stayed the same and they really have no clue.

And yes of course I’ve been to the Dr about them.
But you know how they are sometimes. I might as well be telling them I have aliens in my brain.

A: About the only new thing, and it’s not all that new, is the use of Botox for migraines. Some of the top folks in the field have had good luck using Botox injections in forehead and temple areas. Just googled, and see that it was published on in 2003, so definitely not new! There is a lot of interest in pharmaceutical treatment of migraines, and there’s a lot of research being done in the field.

If you’d like to read about some of the newer treatments a good place to start is Science Daily. Here’s a link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/headaches/

Q: Do you suffer from migraines?
What medications or other options do you use to treat your migraines? I have chronic migraines and am looking for some new treatment options.

A: OK It really depends on the type of headache you have. So I will give you the major types of headaches and the symptoms. You may be suffering from a cervicogenic headache or the combination of both. Cervicogenic headaches can mimic migraines. Ot like the previous responder mentioned, the chiropractor can do certain things and that can reduce the affect of the migraine. It will vary from person to person. I have had some patients that had complete relief and I have had some patients that had “true” migraines (whicha are vascular in nature) and had very little effect from chiropractic. But you will never know how much until you try it. However, check out these descriptions of common headaches and see which symptoms match yours.

Migraine- One sided, more common in females, Sensitivity to light, pain behind one eye, throbbing, brought on by bright lights, chocolate, cheese, red wine or menstrual cycle.
Can also have an aura and have a funny taste.

Hypertension- At the top and back of your head. Throbbing. You usually wake up with this headache and after about 3 hours it subsides. Usually caused by High Blood pressure. Need medicines to reduce blood pressure.

Cluster Headache, adolescent to adult, more common in males, one sided, usually over temple or eye area, may have a blood shot eye, wakes you up at night, runny nose, sweating, tearing of the eyes, Worse in spring or fall, lasts 15min- 2hrs. relief for a little bit and then comes right back.

Muscular tension- A band-like distribution around head (like wearing a very tight head band). Brought on by stress, tension, fatigue, work.

Temporal Arteritis- Only over age 50. One sided over temple area, pain in jaw, burning, aching throbbing, sensitive scalp, fever. tender arteries. If visual symptoms- go to ER with this one.

Cervicogenic(neck caused)- Pain in upper neck and back of head. Pain when moving the head. daily, reduced movement in neck area. Brought on by stress, head movement and head alignment. Can mimic a migraine including nausea. If it is a head and neck related alignment you can have temporal headaches or headaches that arc from behind the ear forward. Possible sharp pain behind your ear at the base of the skull along with correlated shoulder pain.

Sinus- Localized, certain positions are worse, steady throb, worse in the morning.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage- abrupt onset, constant stiff neck, feels like someone hit you in the head, Caused by high blood pressure, stress or aneurysm. Life threatening.

Brain Tumor- Onset morning and evening, varies from mild to severe, may throb, wakes you up at night, symptoms getting worse, neck stiffness worse than ever.

Subdural Hematoma- caused by trauma. It is a slow bleed in the brain. Natasha Richardson died from something like this.

OK now that I have told you the types of headaches. Here is what you do for them.

Migraines, muscular tension, cervicogenic, and some sinus and cluster headaches can be helped by a chiropractor. If it is sinus, you need to ask the chiropractor if they have a sinus/cranial treatment (not all do).

For Hypertension, cluster, temporal arteritis (unless it has visual component) and brain tumor- go see your doctor

For Temporal arteritis with visual impairment, subarachnoid hemorrhage and subdural hematoma, go to the Emergency Room right away.

I hope this helps.

I wish you the best.

Q: Im afraid a few of my migraine attacks recently caused permanent damage.?
Im afraid a few of my migraine attacks recently caused permanent damage. I had migranes when i was younger. and was migrane free for 2 years. This past april I was getting over an infection that lasted about 3 months. since i was on a steriod treatment my migranes returned and are now very violent. Im left with lasting afterimages, confusion at times(well after my migraine has past) numbness. can migranes cause vision problems since april ive had snowey vision that wont go away as well as ringing in my ears.
im worryed about these recent migrane attacks. What treatment options are out there?
I went to a neurologist like 2 days ago, i guess he must have been having a bad day because the whole vist lasted no longer then 15 min. and no test were done. i plan on going to a new neurologist.
Im 17 years old.

are close to fainting and/or blackouts normal with migranes?

A: I think you need a CAT scan or MRI or something. Don’t worry about it, just make sure there is no tumor or aneurism up in there.

Q: Which doctor should I listen to for treatment of my ankle? If either?
I injured my ankle in the middle of October. I was simply walking, tripped and thought that I just rolled my ankle and foot. I believed that it was nothing serious as did many people around me, it did not swell very big and hardly even bruised at all. I was strongly encouraged to rest it, take Advil, elevate it and rotate heat and cold on it. I did this until the past week it was finally getting to the point where I could no longer stand it. The pain seems to be spreading up my leg and becoming more intense. I finally chose to see a doctor. I went to a smaller clinic at first because I knew they gave discounts for self pay patients.

This doctor looked at my ankle and foot pretty extensively. He mentioned that I most likely tore ligaments in my ankle and was very concerned about my Akiles tendon because as he showed my boyfriend it was hardly responding on my hurt ankle when compared to my other ankle. He strongly encouraged me to go to another doctors office who did in house x-rays so that it would not cost as much, yet he strongly believed that x-rays were needed to properly diagnose me as he said. He also said that I would need a walking boot at the least so that I would finally give my ankle a break and time to truly heal. He also stated that my foot was injured as well.

I then went to my old family doctor because I knew that they did x-rays in house and that the doctors looked at them themselves instead of sending them out. By the time that I saw this doctor I had already waited 2 hours in their waiting room so now I am really starting to wonder about a lot of what she said. As soon as she walked into the room before even looking at me said that x-rays were not going to tell us a thing and they were completely pointless. She then looked at my foot, and I will admit she looked more at my foot than the first doctor did. However when I tried to explain that I had constant pain in the back of my ankle and up my calf she just said that I did not. If I mentioned anything that the first doctor said she would just put her hands in the air and wave them around. She said that my foot was hurt where all of the bones connect together and that now I have severe arthritis in my foot. About my third time asking what to do for the pain in the back of my ankle she finally responded with well your foot is small so the pain has to go somewhere. It seemed very strange to me, but I had a migraine and was very hopeful that she was right and nothing was wrong. Her treatment recommendation was to keep doing everything that I had been doing from the beginning (advil every 4 hours, which I will admit I was not extremely strict with then but have been since, heating my ankle and foot when they hurt) and to stop using cold on my foot because I need to get new blood flowing into my foot. All of this did, and still do make sense. However, as I explain to her if I put heat on my foot it is swelling quite large and makes it EXTREMELY painful and difficult to walk on. I asked her about the boot that the other doctor recommended and she said their expensive. I do not have insurance so it was nice that she was concerned, but she did not say it would not help. She said to try doing this treatment for 10 more days and unless I am surprisingly better come back. I have since left a message for her asking if she understands this is what I have been doing the entire time and asking if the boot would help because that was not clear to me. She only works part time though so I am not sure when I will hear back from her again.

To explain I get pain in the back of my ankle pretty much at all times. When I try to stand or walk it hurts throughout my ankle and on the bottom of my foot towards the heel but on the outside. It is very hard to move my toes (the second doctor said this was not a concern but I was not sure) and it is painful when I do move them. Not extreme pain but very uncomfortable. The swelling in my foot goes throughout all of it and even around the whole back part of my foot, sometimes even up to the middle of my calf. It swells daily, even if I try to elevate it often, but when I wake up it usually is not swollen. I work from home so I do try to walk as little as possible, but when I do walk it is very difficult. As I explained the the doctors when they move my foot and ankle around for the most part it was not severe pain, but it was uncomfortable and it is very stiff and hard to move on my own. I am not sure what else you need to know, but if anyone has any idea which doctor I should listen to please let me know! I just know I finally went to the doctors and paid so much money because I was wanting to end the pain not be told to do the same then for another week (after 6) then come in to pay another office visit and then “talk about some other things to try” as the second doctor said. I do understand I should have went in right away but I didn’t because I didn’t want to pay over $100 to be told to heat and take advil l

A: Hello,

It is very hard to tell exactly what happened to your foot, and it must be frustrating to receive such poor feedback from doctors.
According to your description it sounds like you hurt the ligaments in your foot – especially around your ankle and that requires treatment and it won’t go away easily just with time.

It is impossible to diagnose a condition but it could be achilles tendinitis involved with this injury.

If you can give provide answers to these questions I will be able to help some more.

1) Do you have pain in your heel at all?, if you do where exactly?
2) Do you have high or low arches?
3) Does it hurt if you press on it?
4) Is there any swelling in your achilles tendon?
5) What kind of shoes you usually wear?

In the meantime I would suggest normal treatment which involves stretching and icing at least 4 times a day – avoid heat just ice.
Even though the ice doesn’t help at first, it reduces swelling so you should keep applying it, you should also try and avoid walking on your foot completely – use crutches if available.

Unfortunately this is all you can do at the moment and you really should seek professional help by a podiatrist (specializes in feet) or an orthopedic sports doctor.

I am really sorry for your pain and frustration ans wish you the best of luck and a quick recovery!

If you prefer you can write directly to me at itaiw@yahoo.com

Q: Does anyone know a doctor who would perscribe medical cannabis in the Denver area?
I have severe migraines. I heard this was a possible treatment, I’ve tried others like b12 vitamins, getting enough sleep, and getting new glasses. Nothing helps. A doctor or a place to find one would help, thanks!

A: http://www.coloradomedicalmarijuana.com
This site was recommended to me by a doctor.
There’s an ad for a place every day in the Denver Post.
The Westword has dozens of ads

Q: Whats crossing a line in a friendship?
I know this one person who told me that she sometimes gets migraine headaches and it runs in her family. The other day I heard about this new treatment for those type of headaches and I asked if she heard about it and she said she hadn’t. I was uncertain about the details, so I went to print out the article, but at the same time I ran into several other articles about the same topic. One of the articles is about how sex and orgasms can help a migraine. Everything I found was on a news website and the sources being doctors. The last thing I want to do is make things awkward and uncomfortable, so I was wondering do I hand her the articles I found on the subject including the one on orgasms. I’ll be honest I think this person is absolutely beautiful. She is married, but if she wasn’t I would likely try for her, but I’m looking for a committed relationship myself, so I don’t go after married women. I was wondering if I hand her an article on sex would that be crossing a friendship line?

A: Tell her simply and straight forward here is all the information I could find. I hope something in there helps. If she starts listing through them and sees the article, joke about how her husband could help her out and make her feel better. Then play it off like nothing. Because honestly two mature adults should be able to handle a situation like this.