5 Things Migraine Sufferers Want Non-Migraine Sufferers to Know

Trying to describe what migraine sufferers feel to someone who’s never experienced one is very challenging.

People may believe a migraine is just like a regular headache, and wonder why there limitations to how someone can function while experiencing one.

If you suffer from migraines or know someone who does, the below will help educate you on the basics of living with chronic or acute migraines: 

1. Migraines are much more than a headache

Technically a migraine is a headache because it occurs in the head but it is more complex than just a headache.

A migraine is typically localized to one area, but in rare cases, it occurs on both sides of the head. Migraines can last between 4 and 72 hours with pain causing a throbbing or pounding that worsens with physical exertion. Light, sound, and strong smells tend to make a migraine worse, often causing shooting pain behind the eyes or causing nausea and vomiting.

2. Aspirin doesn’t do much

Most over the counter headache medicines help against the power of a migraine. There are some OTC medications that can help treat the pain while a migraine is going on, including Excedrin Migraine, Advil Migraine, and Motrin Migraine.

These medications only contain classic pain relievers so most providers turn to prescriptions to help patients. Usually, triptans are used for migraine pain. Brands like Maxalt (rizatriptan), Relpax (eletriptan), and Zomig (zolmitriptan) are among the most popular, but Frova (frovatriptan), Treximet, and Axert (almotriptan) are also used.

3. The time before a migraine is just as bad as the actual migraine.

Nobody knows for sure what triggers a migraine. For some people it’s sound; for others, it’s a certain smell or possibly related to stress. The trigger is different for every person and it doesn’t happen all the time. Usually a couple of days before a migraine strikes, there are symptoms called a prodrome. These can include:

• constipation
• stiffness in the neck
• frequent yawning

Just before a migraine, some sufferers get an immediate pre-symptom called an aura. These are caused when your nervous system goes haywire and can include auditory, tactile, and visual hallucinations that can last for up to an hour. 

4. Changes in Lifestyle may help with symptom management

Because a migraine is made worse by physical exertion and additional external stimuli, most people learn to manage the pain with lifestyle changes.

Small things like trying to relax in a dark and quiet room can help prevent how light and sound worsen symptoms. Caffeine has been noted to sometimes help with symptoms and may help limit the early stages of migraine pain. Alternating temperature therapy also helps as the ice packs numb, and the heating pads may help relax the sore muscles.

5. What can you do to help migraine sufferers?

If you know someone who suffers from migraines be empathetic towards their pain. Telling someone with a migraine that you understand is a huge relief to them. Be supportive. If they need to cancel or change their plans because of a migraine attack, let them know you understand.

Be sure to ask what you can do to help and if you are their manager or co-worker, try to make work conditions manageable should a migraine strike unexpectedly.