The Super Hero Guide To Vanquishing Migraine Pain, Pt. II
One of Super Woman’s greatest super powers is, well, her power. Wonder Woman is one strong lady—and we’re not just talking about her Amazonian strength. Wonder Woman has mental fortitude, courage in the face of fear, and endurance.
In part 1 we said you can’t stop migraines from attacking, nor can you always control the pain that comes with you. The one thing you can do: keep them from destroying you. They’re powerful, but you are more powerful. Even the unconquerable, seemingly undefeatable intractable migraines can be beat.
Tapping your inner power starts with accepting help and support from other people.
All Great Super Heroes Have People
No matter a superhero’s natural (or mutant) abilities, one thing always makes them more powerful: their team.Wonder Woman comes from a tribe of women who raised her to be graceful, strong and resilient. Batman is a pretty solitary figure (he lives in a cave, after all) but he has Alfred to care for him. Superman was raised by loving parents and had the support of Lois Lane (though she may not have known it).
There’s always an assistant, a sidekick, a butler, a league. No one operates alone.
I. Find and Hire a Research and Development Director (=Physician/Other Provider)
Batman and Ironman are as successful as they are because they put their money into the best people and minds. They’re busy fighting villains—they don’t have the time to do all the research themselves, and they would surely forget to eat if someone weren’t looking out for them. You need someone looking out for your health, too, especially if you suffer from intractable migraines.
Your person—your Alfred, Pepper, or Antiope—needs to be someone who understands your strengths, weaknesses, and foes. They must understand migraines as well as your unique physiology so that they prescribe a treatment plan that works for you. Because what works for one person may not work for you.
Wonder Woman doesn’t use a gun, a cape, or a Batmobile. If you gave her any of these, would she be as effective? Surely not. She was trained to fight using certain tools and techniques, and she excels with them.
In the same way, you can’t rely on a doctor who prescribes you any old pain medication. Resolving your migraines is a little about them, and a lot about you—how your body responds, what your body needs, how a unique combination of factors inside of you contribute to and counter migraines.
It’s going to take some time and some mistakes. Not everyone you go to will have good ideas or be able to help. Not all treatments will be effective.
You’re on your own hero’s journey to find a solution so that you can give your best self to the world. Migraines are tough but you’re tougher. Time is going to pass and you need an effective, lasting solution to your intractable migraines.
Here are some resources to help you on your way.
Migraine Specialists
Most major cities have one or more hospitals with headache clinics and/or neurology departments. Specialists can do testing and diagnosis, as well as (in some cases) surgery.
Find a Headache Medicine Specialist f rom Migraine Research Foundation
Functional Medicine
The 5 Principles of Functional Medicine by MindBodyGreen
How End Migraines (with Functional Medicine) Article by Dr. Mark Hyman
Acupuncture
Acupuncture Therapy from Migraine Relief Blog
Acupuncture: In Depth from National Institutes of Health
Acupuncture May Be Effective for Migraines from WebMD
Find a Physician Acupuncturist from the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
Other
Non-pharmacologic Treatments from American Migraine Foundation
Osteopathic Treatment for Migraine Relief (articles) from Osteopathic Healing Hands
Find a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
II. Join Forces and Multiply Your Power
You know migraines can be beat. You’re working with a specialist to find a treatment. You’re practicing realizing your inner strength. Now, you team up with other migraineurs to defeat migraines for everyone, and support each other through what is often a really difficult battle.
Just like the Avengers and Justice League, you, too, need people who understand exactly what you’re going through. They’ll help support you, keep you strong through the hardest times and give you advice. When you’re about to surrender to the belief that your intractable migraine really is intractable and will never be beat, they’ll carry you through.
Tons of great communities are out there. We recommend three in particular.
- We have a Migraine Relief forum right here on our page, as well as an active Facebook community. We also welcome your personal stories.
- #SpeakYourMigraine highlights the impact of migraines on individuals with the aim of turning “private pain into collective change”.
- Migraine Research Foundation shares stories from migraine sufferers, some of whom have found solutions to their pain.
Image Credit: Hermitosis
If you’re a chronic migraine sufferer and become pregnant, you might be surprised to learn that pregnancy can actually ease migraine symptoms in some women. However, this is definitely not the case for everyone. Some pregnant women experience even more chronic migraine pain and symptoms during their term. If you fall into this category, don’t despair; migraine relief is possible. Pain and symptoms caused by migraines can be managed, and there are ways for pregnant women to mitigate and reduce their symptoms substantially.
Even though it was a “few” years ago, I can still remember the buzz and excitement when I was driving away from home to embark upon my college journey. I was leaving my hometown of Houston, TX and moving 12 hours away to Nashville, TN.
