How Do I Alleviate My Son's Migraine Pain?

I had migraines from when I was little until I got pregnant with my first child (and now don't have them!!!). After years of just suffering through them, I finally ran into someone who had food allergies that caused migraines and she gave me a photocopy of a list of foods that are known to trigger migraines. I eliminated all of them from my diet and slowly added them back one at a time to find my triggers. 2 of my biggest triggers were peanuts and parmesan cheese! Once I associated that pain with those foods, I had NO desire to eat them and became a pretty high-maintenance eater. That was certainly better than suffering twice a week with horrible pain. I also worked with a guy for several years who had his own list of foods that caused his migraines - Citrus I think was a big one for him. He was SO jealous when I got pregnant and the headaches went away!

It sounds from this Wikipedia article that this has not necessarily been proven true, but it worked for me and is worth a try for your son: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyramine

Ragarding making them go away, it sounds really odd but every time I got a migraine I had a HUGE craving for a cup of coffee and about half a box of Chips Ahoy cookies - I think it was the caffiene and carbs that I needed. They usually seemed to help! I hope your son won't mind getting to eat as many cookies as he can, if that sounds good to him ;-)

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Take a careful look at his hydration level. Dehydration will induce headaches and even mygraines. He needs to drink a significantly higher level of water than any other thing. You'd be suprised how many people think they've had enough fluids are actually dehydrated!! This is an all day, everyday thing...he can't get dehydrated today and then drink the right amount tomorrow and be hydreated--there's still a deficet...drinking the right amount for a regular day also doesn't take into account the extra demand with high physical actions when we increase the need for sweat.

Is he eating enough? Hunger, too, will inspire headaches. Check to see that he's eating on a pretty regular basis, more whole foods than not. One of my husbands favorite things to share with others is that increasing the servings of vegetables in a child's day will reduce the sypmtoms of "ADD"...so that's a double whammy for you.

Also, this may be more difficult to monitor, elimination is important, too. A colon does more than just produce and expell fecal matter. If it's not clearing out well enough, a person can notice headaches, tummy aches, and even anxiety symptoms.

The other thing for you to take caferful consideration of is the "cleaners" you're exposing him to. The common household cleaners have been conditioned to use are very toxic and noxious. They're so muchso that the military won't even allow them to be packaged and sent through the mail until the hazmat (hazardous material) training has been successfully completed. I suggest moving to a natural ecofriendly product like Shaklee (you can talk to be about that privately), seventh generation, or a homemade cleaner from vinegar and baking soda among others.

Check his eyes. Quite often when a child experiences migraines and headaches it a result of straining the eyes. If he doesn't have glasses he may need them, if he does a new Rx may be needed in either direction.

Is he sleeping well. Don't be confused on the lenght of sleep vs the quality of sleep. Is he sleeping WELL. Is he fitful. Does he have problems breathing which wake him often. Again, nutrition and hydration can help in this regard. Is he worried about something maybe he's hiding from you?

Take him to a chiropractor! Sometimes just one adjustment or two does the trick.

When he's having a migraine, firm pressure on the back of his head just above the neck will help to reduce the pain in his head...and there's pressure point in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger, the big toe and second toe, just outside the inside fold of the arm opposite to the elbow...all of which HURT horribly when touched, especially when experiencing a headache or migraine, but do work. You have to hold them for a few seconds at a time over and over for about ten minutes--he'll think you're ridiculously sadistic and maniacal, but it does work. He must drink water,too. I haven't met one yet this didn't work for but NO ONE particularly enjoys the process...only the relief.

Be open to the solutions and trust your intuition.

Hope that helps...

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He may have allergies . . . . to the grass, pollens or something else.
Call Dr.Karen Bates - she will eliminate the allergies naturally! ###-###-####

Where do you live? The reason I ask is because we just found a doctor that has linked migraine headaches to a heart defect. My husband has had migraines since he was about 12 and has had cat scans and they never saw anything. His sister was actually the one who found this doctor and she has the defect too along with migraines. If you can't figure out anything else, getting this simple test done to see if he has it or not is totally worth it.
The doctors name is Dr. Sherman Sorensen and he is at that new hospital on 53rd South and State Street...I don't have his number with me right now but I'm sure you could look him up. The heart defect is called Patent Foreman Ovale or PFO. You can learn about it from his website www.sorensenmd.com

Best of luck!!

If he drinks alot of orange juice or chocolates I would take them away, they are known to cause migraines. Many people go to chiropractors for migraines I did when someone suggested it and I haven't had one in 3 years. I hope this helps and gl

Hi J.,

Have you heard of Body Balance? It's a liquid whole food nutritional made from aloe juice and sea veggies (and has black cherry and honey in it so it tastes good, no sugar). Anyway, I know many people who used to suffer from terrible migraines like you're explaining whose symptoms totally went away after taking this product for a couple of months. I'd be happy to put you in touch w/ one or some of these folks... and here's a little video you can watch about the Body Balance:

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1162234

I'd say it's certainly worth a shot... many times our body doesn't perform the way it should simply due to a nutritional deficiency... and since our soils are so depleted, it's hard to get what we need from our foods these days. The oceans are plentiful w/ minerals which is why the sea vegetation is so great. The company offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, too, so you can't lose!

I'd love to help if I can... please feel free to contact me w/any questions. And you can check out the products here as well: http://www.LifeForceSuccess.com.

Best of luck to you.... hope your son is feeling better soon!

A.

Try acupressure or acupuncture, find a qualified acupuncturist to treat your son and teach you which points to apply pressure to when he has a migrane. You didn't mention stress in your son's life, but I'm sure he must experience plenty of stress considering the fact that his parents are divorced and that he has been diagnosed with a learning disorder. It may be that his migranes are triggered or exacerbated by stress, in which case it would be very useful for him to learn some stress reliving techniques like mediatation and deep breathing. Good luck, I hope that yoru son can find some relief.

I too was diagnosed with migraines when I was 3 or 4. We found that to help releive some of the pain a hot shower would help. I would sit in the shower as long as I had hot water, with it as hot as I could possibly get it. I used to take a tylenol pm and then the hot shower. And then I would go to sleep. Usually when I woke it was pretty much gone. Hope this help. Good luck to you.

I really sympathsize with you and your son. I had terrible migrains from about 12 to 18. I can't imagine having to watch my child go through them. They are very painful. I still get them once in a while, but during my teen years it was a regular (weekly/monthly) thing. I had all of the tests done also and the doctors never really found a cause. It may have been hormones because of my age...which wouldn't be a problem with your son. I also have terrible indoor and outdoor allergies, which may have played a part. During those teen years, I also lived with several pets and both parents smoked...I also had asthma. After moving to college and getting away from that environment, my headaches and asthma cleared up.

The doctors did suggest I get off caffiene, chocolate. MSG, and aspertame (NutraSweet)..as those are known triggers. Food allergies and stress can also be triggers.

Traditional pain meds (motrin, tylenol) didn't do anything for my pain either. Your doctor should be able to prescribe something for pain. They also have preventative meds nowdays that can stop the migrain if you take it as soon as you feel something coming on.

Of course, a silent, dark space and some rest usually helps also. I have also found some relief through regular chiropractic visits...which are safe for people of all ages.

I would talk to your doctor about pain and preventative med options though and check out the chiropractor. Best of luck. Hopefully it will someday pass.

Migraines can come on because of exhaustion, or even changes in light. I can get really bad migraines and this is what I have to do to alleviate them: The room needs to be quiet because hearing is extremely sensitive and causes the head to throb. Then the room has to be dark because the eyes are very sensitive and also makes the migraine worse. I generally have one of those eye covers that women wear or towels. Then the next thing is ice. I have to have ice packs placed on the back of my head near my neck and on top where the pain is the worse and also ibuprofen. After about 15 minutes to 1/2 hour the migraine eases, however, the eyes need to readjust to light and so slowly taking off the towel or the eye cover until the eyes readjust or the migraine will come back. Hope this is helpful.

Hi, I know you have gotten a lot of great responses. The chiropractic avenue sounds right on to me, especially since it often happens after playing sports. But I have something that may help when he is in the middle of a migraine, that I learned from a yoga teacher. Have him do "legs up the wall pose," a really simple pose where he lays down on the floor or bed, scooching as close as possible to the wall, as to swing his legs up and rest them on the wall. This alone is supposed to really help (I've never had migraines, so sorry I don't know first-hand, but as I said my yoga teacher swears by it. However, for even more benefit, make a little igloo above his head, by stacking up some sort of block-shaped pillows or yoga blocks, something along those lines, and then putting a towel over top, covering his head...He can stay like that for 10 minutes or more. It is supposed to really, really help! Good luck!

I have had migraines throughout my entire life, now 33 in the last 6 months have become constant, everyday varying in intensity. I have also had MRI's and found nothing wrong. Each month I feel like a gin pig with another bag of samples and dosage changes when I leave the doctor’s office.
This past week I tried a more natural approach and saw an Herbalist. She did this funky thing with my feet and prescribed herbs and a couple of supplements. I have not started the treatment yet (haven't gotten online and order them but she said everything is going to be reasonably priced) but I am very optimistic that this new direction is going to work.
The reason I tell you this is not only the headaches but you mentioned ADD. This lady asked me if I had concentration issues, phrased it as ADD symptoms. I have had contribute issues in varying degrees but though it had something to do with all the medication....perhaps it has been interrelated all along headaches and concentration. The biggest reason I am optimistic of this solution, she told me this is a fix not a band aid like so many doctors give medications and say now, “take this when you feel a migraine coming on.”). She said this supplement and herb therapy will be about 4 months and I will not only have no more headaches but I will not need any maintenance supplements and herbs after words.
I hope you find something for your son. I have been where your son is and I want to cry, I have spent many a evenings in a dark room with no noise….for a child to have to do that, it breaks my heart.

Hi J. -

I would second the recommendation to take him to a chiropractor. I know it may not be covered by insurance, but it is what has worked for me. I spent 30 years suffering with migraines before I finally tried chiropractic care.

I see a chiropractor in Parker who actually specializes in children. Her name is Amy Trevey - here is her website www.doctorderry.com. She is awesome.

I can also say that for myself, hydration is a very big part of why I get headaches. I seem to need a lot more water than most people - don't know why, but if I don't get enough, I tend to get headaches.

Hope that helps!

J.,
I'm sorry to hear about this. I have migraines and it is pretty awful. Try writing down what he eats every day. Also write down if he was stressed or calm during that day. That will help you see if there are any foods or food combination that you might have to avoid. I have found out that when I combine nuts and cheese I'll get a migraine; or when I'm stressed or tired and I eat peanuts.
I have also found that when I see my migraine is coming, I have to lay down and breath like in yoga. That has helped me avoid the migraines most of the time.
See if that works for him. Good luck!
A..

I had about 3 migrains a week for about 2 years. Sometimes it got to 2 a day! Hormones and puberty were my trigger. The Doc put me on Reglan (Metoclopramide s/p?) and Amytiptolene (s/p?) break the migraine cycle, and for nausia. They worked and reduced the migraines to a manageable 1 every week or two. Anyways, it took alternative medicine to knock them out. Chiropractic, and accupuncture in conjunction with massage. I was on a rigorous schedule. Getting 2 accupuncture treatments a week, once a week at the chiropractor and a massage just before my appointment. It took about a month before I went down to one weekly accupuncture appointment, and monthly adjustment/massage. Finally after 3 months I was going every six weeks to see everyone. The migrains were gone in 6 months. Now I have 1 or 2 a year, and they never came back with pregnancy or birth control!
If western medicine isn't helping turn to those who help his body help itself instead of tricking his body into cooperating.

Hello J.,

My heart aches for your son. I have had migraines for 20 years now, so I know how he feels. Let me tell you some of my triggers. Lack of sleep is my biggest trigger. If I don't go to bed and get up at the same time each day, I will get a migraine. Also, foods are another. MSG or Monosodium glutamate is in a lot of foods and that is huge trigger for migraine suffers. Some other food triggers are processed foods, nitrate and nitrite foods, aged cheeses, nuts, bananas, citrus fruits, like lemons, limes, oranges and avocados. Oh, chocolate and caffeine are huge triggers. Also, something I have learned that if you have done something wrong like had chocolate and then stayed up late, things compounded will lead to a really bad migraine, so if your son does something like eat something that will trigger a migraine, make sure he does everything right from that point on, so that he doesn't make the headache worse by adding other factors onto to it. I hope that makes sense. Another thing I have learned is that migraine suffers should not be doing strenous exercising up to 6 hours prior to bedtime. The brain is too wired and needs to be calming down those hours.

I don't know about children, but for adults there is some good medication for preventing migraines and you should talk to your doctor about them. My doctor just gave another one for allergy and prevention of migraines. A lot of migraine suffers tend to be allergy sufferers too. Well, I hope this helps. If you have any questions, feel free to respond back. I really hope you finds some help for your son. I have an incredible Neurologist who only specializes in Migraines if you need one, I'd be happy to give you his name. Take Care!

I forgot to mention that with migraine sufferers, we need to drink lots of water. Also, to take vitamin supplements of calcium and magnesium. For some reason our bodies lack it and need it.

I am not sure of your insurance or payment options, however I strongly suggest taking him to a Pediatric Neurologist. I have suffered with migraines for years. Sometimes if you cannot ward them off before they are full blown migraines, it is about pain managment and it sounds like your son is in agony. A Pediatric Neurologist can give you pain medication or even a sedative to allow him to sleep it off. Now they even have disolving strips with pain medication in them. The strips allow those of us who vomit with migraines, to take the medication and not lose it a minute later by vomiting. Best of luck to you and your son!

Hi J.,
Talk to your nurologist about kid friendly migraine medications. They have come along way since when I was a kid. I had a head injury playing softball and started getting migraines at age 11 and have suffered from them ever since -almost 30 years. They have changed in frequency, strength, and symptoms throughout the years. In my teens I tried everything available and nothing worked. In my twenties, I gave up and lived with them -and they were bad with the stress of college and career pressures. In my thirties I discovered Maxalt. Yeah! It has been a life savor but it only works if you catch them at the on set. If you already have the migraine, it doesn't work. And sometimes you need a couple of doses because the initial symptoms will go away and then start to come back. But at least it can give some temporary relief or lesson the intensity.
I don't know if he gets any warning signs. I didn't start getting any until 30. Now if one is coming on I get the blurred/blacked out/stars vision and I am able to take a Maxalt and close my eyes and wait 15 minutes and the vision comes back clear and I have warded off the migraine. If I don't catch it then, I get one full blown and there is nothing I can do to help it but lay down in the dark with a cold cloth on my forehead and moan sometimes for days.
I am glad to hear that you understand he has the pain of migraines. Thirty years ago they were not as understood and my mom used to think I was being overdramatic and it couldn't hurt that bad and no headache could last for a week.
Good luck. It would be nice if this was just a phase but if he has already suffered for a few years, better to start working on some relief now.
L. P.

All I can tell you is what works for me. I've discovered some of my food triggers -- aspertame (Nutrasweet) and cinnamon. It took me a long time to figure out those triggers -- you may want to look very closely at his diet. So avoiding those triggers has reduced my migraines by 90%. As for the other 10% -- it helps to recognize when a migraine is coming, and taking an over the counter painkiller + caffeine before it truly hits. It's a very unique feeling, and it isn't really pain. For me, it's a kind of floaty, dizzy feeling, and everything gets brighter and louder. I think it's slightly different for everyone. If your son can learn to recognize when it's coming, that's the best time to catch it. The last thing that did help was, as other people have said, going to a chiropractor.

First of all I'm so sorry that your son has to go through that, I have had migraines since I was in elementry school and Im now 30. Most people preferr cold packs on the pack of the neck or forehead to head the vessels in the brain, me personally I have always preferred heat on my heat and forehead. Laying flat with no tilting by pillows to bend the neck. keep a list of foods that he eats during the week, foods can be a big trigger of migraines and well and long periods of pressure on the head make sure his football helmet is not to tight. Hope he gets feel better.

Do you want to know the truth about migraines or any headache for that matter? They are mostly caused from the neck. My husband is a holistic physician and works with a chiropractor. I myself get migranes which are caused from my neck. I'll explain. When the neck muscles get tight from sports, poor sleeping habits, bad pillows,stress etc. the muscles develop something called trigger points. They are kinda like knots but tend to be really sensitive when you press on them. With the right kind of pressure on top of the trigger point, they dissolve.Trigger points usually are the cause of headaches and muscles pain throughout the body.When you press on them they almost always send radiating pain to an area close by that is hurting such as a headache. After about 1-2 minutes of pressure on the trigger point you release your hand and the painful area is eliminated. The problem is that you need to find a trained person who can identify the trigger points. Most of them are at the base of the head where the muscles attach. A good massage therapist who can do trigger point therapy would help him. Also when the muscles are tight they can cause his neck to subluxate. In normal terms this means his neck can pop out of place and he needs it put back in because you can do trigger point but if the neck is out then the trigger point will keep coming back. I promise you that if you get him to a good massage therapist and chiropractor BOTH together and get him a couple treatments that he will start feeling better. I promise. Most people don't know this. This is a blessing that I can help you. Let me know if I can further help you.

My nephews all have migraines. They are of course on meds. Mt oldest is now 11, then 5 and the two year old hasn't actually shown signs yet. the others started at 2 or so. anyway, she works with the diet. she has removed red, high natural chemical, processsed chemicals, and other things. You might even try removing milk (but maybe still have "baked" in dairy like butter.) Go organic and cook fresh. Remove as much corn syrup as possible. Try reading Allergy Friendly Food. It has a good right up on natural chemicals (like tomatoes are really high...pears are the lowest fruit)

I'm sorry I don't have any great advice for you, just know that I really feel for you and especially for your son! I suffered from migraines as a child, and still do as an adult. In fact, I've got one right now! I'm so sorry your son has to go through this - the poor thing! I guess I would suggest that you get him in to the doctor to see what prescription medications are available, since it seems his migraines are pretty severe. And make sure to get something that doesn't react badly with his ADD meds. Good luck - my heart goes out to both of you!

My migranes didn't stop until I was on birth control (hormone imbalance can cause them). But in the mean time, I used 2 ibuprophen, 2 tylenol (those are safely combined, I went through a doctor for this) taken with a full Mountain Dew (has the most caffiene). Now, we weren't soda drinkers, neither did we do the caffiene thing, but it worked and I did it as rarely as possible. I would also reccomend diet as he doesn't need all the sugar.

My husband is a Chiropractor and has great success with children with migraines. The longer you wait to get chiropractic care the longer it will take to fix most likely. Getting adjusted is very safe. Safer than taking an asprin. My kids are adjusted on a regular basis. MDs will only prescribe drugs which if they help will only cover up pain not fix the problem. My husband has a chiropractic website that has all sorts of great info. Just click on headaches or search migraines. obergchiro.com This website also has info on ADD. Hope you son feels better soon. :o)

I also have genetic migraines in my family. In our case it's related to a drop in seratonin and runs in the female side. The things that i've found to help are:

1-Excedrin. Works better then my RX migraine stoppers. Does have aspirin in it so that increases the risk of Reyes but it's up to you... I took it from age 7 on and I'm fine

2-Sleep. Pretty much just lying on the floor in a dark place and passing out. I wake up drained but i'd rather be drained then in pain

3- Shower. If you can afford the water bill- this is one of my favourites. Right after I got pregnant and couldn't take excedrin I found this technique. Pretty much I would just climb in the shower and found a temp that make the migraine fade. Then I would curl up on the floor of the shower with the lights out. My fiance checked on me periodically to make sure I didn't drown or knock something into the tub to plug it if I fell asleep.

4-Gatorade and food.. Water won't help if he is losing electrolytes in sweat. Also try having him eat something if he can tolerate the smell even if its only crackers.

5-Sometimes the weather is a factor. I've never had this happen to me but found it during research to try and stop my own. It has something to do with the atmospheric pressure. You can look into it for a trigger but I don't know how you could prevent it.

6-Caffeine and acetaminophen. It's basically excedrin without the aspirin.

If your dr puts him on a preventive or something to stop the pain. Please monitor him closely. I went through about 6 different types at age 6 and 7 before deciding I would take the risks of excedrin. The side effects can be horribly severe.

Have you tried a chiropractor, his neck could be causing the pain or his skull plates are jammed together and need adjustment? I know when I bang my head getting in or out of my car sometimes I bump my head then here comes a headache, I finally asked my chiro if it was possible they could be out or jammed he checked and fixed the problem. Now he laughs and says I was the only one he knew that likes head adjustments. Now I tell my friends and he fixes them too.When I get my head adjusted I usually have a headache for the rest of the day. You might have to look around for the right chiro. Might try to find one from the Palmer chiropractic school.
Good Luck hope you find out about the headaches.

Hi J.,
Kudos to you for having more than a "full plate" going on with family, work and school. My prayers are with you for continued strength and answers.
I would like to make a couple of suggestions. I have read that dehydration can be a big factor to migraines, and so I suggest you make sure Kolton is getting more than enough water every day. At the site, www.myfooddairy.com, the recommendation for water intake is body weight x .5 for number of ounces daily.
Also, sometimes the "gut" is overlooked for answers to numerous health issues. With all the additives in foods and such, and taking meds, etc, it can mess up a persons good & bad bacteria growth in the intestinal tract. For that I suggest a Probiotic/Prebiotic product that you can check out at my website: http://www.shaklee.net/sowing4health/product/Optiflora.
Also, Vitamin B & protein are often suggested and don't forget to cut out the sugars.
All the best to you and your family.
God bless,
L.

My sister has had terrible migrains for a long time and she went to a holistic doctor that does massage, chiropractic care, accupressure and body talk. She said it is amazing what Dr. O'Righly (not sure the spelling) can do. Her office is over in Littleton area. Good Luck!

I know you've gotten quite a bit of advise, but I would suggest that he may need chiropractic care as well as better nutrition. I believe that a lot of our ailments these days are due to poor nutrition. My daughter has been very cranky and said her head hurt all of the time. She has had some falls on her bike and off of things. She's been in a clumsy phase. I took her into my chiropracter who does the NUCCA method, much better than the traditional. They use 5 points on the neck to help adjust the spine and don't mess around with any other part of the body. Anyway, my daughter is feeling much better after one treatment. She just needed to re-align things. I've been going there for several years now after a car accident and severe pain in my neck and back. The other chiropracters were actually making my condition worse, not better. I was so grateful to my mother who suggested this method and I have my life back now. My mother-in-law suffers from migrains and won't see a chiropracter. I know it would get rid of them. When our bodies are suffering like that, they are trying to tell us something. Good luck.

try having completely avoid eating msg (monosodium glutamanate). i know it's worked for some, maybe it might help him. good luck.

Hi J., I am so sorry for your poor son. I can sympathize - when I was little I had migraines every once in a while for several years. They were horrible. I found that the most important thing for me was to recognize the warning signs (like spots and lights in my vision) and get in bed and fall asleep as quickly as possible before the pain really came on. I have gotten maybe two migraines my entire adult life, and I have popped a Tylenol PM or Benedryl to help me sleepy. Can a child take something for sleep? Luckily, puberty seems to have broken my migraine cycle, I outgrew them and I hope the same for your son.

Years ago when I had migraines there weren't as many treatment options. I'm quite sure that now there are several options of prescription medications that can help with migraines, since you're correct that over the counter pain meds won't help. You really should ask his doctor about prescription options. I really wish there had been options like that when I was a child. Good luck!

Hi J.,
I am no expert in this area with the exception of having a dear friend who has migraines. I did some research for her online and so I learned a bit about what may trigger them. Let's talk diet first...Make sure your son is staying completely away from caffeinated drinks (soda pop). Then take note of his sugar intake. This includes sugar, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. It's also been noted that some of the "sugar wannabees" (Splenda) are causing serious side effects including migraines. These sugar subsitutes have also been linked to kids having attention disorders. So like I said, watch his diet carefully and make sure he's drinking (literally) gallons of plain pure water. God Bless!

Have you tried Chiropractic?!! If you have a chiropractor ask them about it. If not I'd love to refer you to mine!! You can check out his website at www.SpineGeek.com He can also help with the ADD!!! And help your son get off of his medicines.

Or give them a call to ask more questions about how they can help. ###-###-#### His name is Dr. Joseph Arvay. He is located at about 104th and I25. If this is to far for you to go, give his office a call and they can refer you to someone closer who does the same type of Chiropractic work.

I pray you will check into Dr. Arvay's clinic. I know this would be a blessing in your life! It certainly has been for my famly!!

i have had migranes all my life they were a lot worse when I was younger and going through puberty was really bad. The best thing I can tell you is get him on some medication he may still get terrible headaches but not nearly the pain of a migrain. When he is having a migrain put him in a dark room put an ice pack at the base of his head and try to get him to relax. The best thing is the masage his feet and the palms of his hands. there are pressure points on the feet and hands that relax the whole body and the ice pack helps with the pain.

Hi J.,

Just a thought, have you had him checked for scoliosis? I had really bad migraines in elementary school and it turned out I had severe scoliosis. I had to have surgery to correct it, but haven't had headaches since.

Good Luck!

I have lots of experience with migraines, I was diagnosed at 8 years old, I have a daughter that has had them since 9 and a nephew who started getting them at 6. They are not fun! One suggestion I have is to keep a journal for your son...Food eaten, activities, the weather, stressful events, etc. These things are usually triggers, yes even the weather. I have 30 years worth of journals, and my stongest trigger is a rapid change in barometric pressure. So, even a summer thunderstorm will trigger a headache, if I am tired or stressed. The stressful situations may not seem a big deal to you, but they may be for your son. Talk with him find out how he is feeling about activities he is involved in, or issues at school or with friends. Children often worry about things that we could never dream of. Sleep is extremely important, my nephew and daughter really struggle if they do not get enough sleep. Even one night with a bad dream can produce a headache if sleep is disrupted for long enough. Lack of sleep plus stress is always compounding the problem. Also, even if one certain food doesn't trigger a headache, perhaps too much of one thing can. For instance, too much sugar, salt, or nitrates can put someone with migraines into a headache pattern. Also we often associate the aura of a headache with something that happened right before a really bad migraine, and that can trigger another one. For example, my mom made scalloped potatoes once when I got a headache, ever since, I cannot even smell scalloped potatoes or I get sick...it has been 25 years since that happened. It is pretty strange, but I still don't make or eat them. Circulation also plays a huge role in migraine health...make sure that your son is getting aerobic exercise daily to keep circulation strong and healthy. Understand that you can do everything right and migraines will still come. It is a disease that you learn to live with. The key is prevention...staying healthy and learning triggers so that you don't inadvertantly bring more into your life. As for treatment...we use the excederin that melt in the mouth for the kids...as he gets older there are new medications that work quickly at the first sign of an aura, maxalt, imitrex, etc. We don't use these on our children, as they are not recommended for use in kids. The excederin melts work quickly and can be taken anywhere, much more quickly than tylenol or ibprofen...liquid medicine also works well, if nausea is not present, however sometimes it can make them start vomiting. I hope our experience helps you, good luck!

ugg. Migraines are aweful and tricky. There are so many old home remedies that work for some, not all people. My mom and i both have to get into a tub to relieve ours. I really do think that it is the sensory deprivation that helps in that respect. Also, try plain aspirin. The anti inflamatory part is what really works best for me. Blocking migraine pain is sometimes impossible, but if you relieve the swelling, you get a notch or two down on the pain meter.

The smell of green apples really does it sometimes too. Not complete relief, but much better.

The baseball incidents was probably due to bright light and a migraine coming on in any case. Invest in some great shades for him and a baseball cap (probably already had one on for baseball). You already know, but, noise and light just compound it all.

Good luck. Migraines are something that you have to learn personally how to deal with. Try keeping a chart of pain intensity and times for your son. It will help you with doctors visits.

I know a lot of people don't believe in it but try some homeopathic remedies. There is a biomeridian machine that can determine and treat things like this with minerals, herbs and other homeopathics instead of synthetic drugs or chemicals. I know personally of several people that have finally gotten the help they needed this way when all medical roads were dead ends. It may not be proven medically so they don't know how it works but it does. Get someone who is experienced and knows their stuff and you wont regret it. you could research this machine to see if you want to try it. good luck. email me if you have questions.

Although it hasn't been working while I've been pregnant, I've been able to keep from using any Rx meds for my migraines since starting to use Mangosteen juice. I take an ounce when I first feel it coming on, and take another ounce 20 minutes later if it isn't gone. Two doses is all it takes. I used to take heavy scripts that just let me sleep until it was gone. This has been a life send. I can recommend a couple of reliable brands if you're interested. The ones you find at Sam's Club and Costco, etc., don't work. Our nutritionist is a big believer in this and recommends several brands. GL! I hope he feels better soon.

Has your son been checked for potassium deficiency? The RDA for an ADULT is 3500mg and you can only buy supplements in 100mg doses. Potassium is required for every muscle function in your body. Potassium deficiency also contributes to migraines. The best and easiest source is "No Salt", a salt substitute readily available in the grocery stores. It is potassium chloride. My husband was experiencing muscle and joint aches and pains (going on 12 years), including his intestinal tract, migraines, no stamina, the list goes on and on. The doctors ran every kind of test imaginable and couldn't find anything other than low potassium. He was told to increase his potassium consumption but not how to go about that. The doctors don't even know what to do other than write another prescription. He ran into our friend a veterinarian at the store, and she is the one who told him about the "No Salt". Incredibly, within about 12 hours of starting to use "No Salt", all the pain he had been experiencing was almost completely gone. He says that he now feels like a 30 year old instead of an 80 year old and he is only 49 years old. I have switched all of our salt shakers over to "No Salt" and do all of my cooking and baking with it. It may be psychological, but he is 100% better, and has had no migraines since he started supplementing with "No Salt" 6 weeks ago. A side note...Leslie Fischbein of Kacey Fine Furniture died recently from low potassium. Hope that this gives you another avenue to look into. Listen to your "Mothers instinct" that there is something wrong, and continue seeking help for your son, even if that means changing doctors. God Bless.

Hi,
Not sure where you live, and after reading thru the responses already I too am a believer in chiropractic care. I used to get migrains and still do sometimes, just much less often now. I see Dr. Ty Johnson in Colorado Springs. He has totally changed how we do things for the better! The only other thing that seems to help is sleep.

Have you ever taken him to a chirpractor? He could have some neck alignment issues that are causing the headaches? I would try that for sure!!!!

You have a busy life and having a child with 'special' needs so to speak makes it tough. Clean up his diet and clean him out. Cut out as much refined sugar, artificial ingredients, processed foods etc. All this can trigger a migraine. Doing this will also help with his ADD. I have had a couple of migraines in my life and your right, nothing OTC will come close to helping with the pain. Unfortunately it is a waiting game. He may have environmental allergies that trigger the migraine, stress and even small changes such as schedules could also contribute. I hate to hear of a child suffering, this is extreme pain. If you can, take him to a Naturopathic doctor who might suggest accupuncture, message etc. I honestly believe they will be able to help more than a 'regular' MD because they actually treat the cause and not just the symptom. Insurance may not cover this but do some research. Best of luck, and God bless your little guy!

Was this the same doctor who gave him long-term meds for ADD and long-term meds (initially) for migraines? Boy, I'd be switching doctors in a heartbeat.

The ADD is going to have to be treated eventually by behavioral modification, because a person can't just be on drugs for 70 years, so I'd look into that now, rather than waiting until he's 18 or 28. (Plus remember, ADD is one of the most misdiagnosed disorders in America, so it's worth a second opinion.) Yes, the migraines are a bear. I'd suggest going to a new doctor. I know that they have meds for adults that you only take on the days that you have migraines, so I'm thinking they must have something like that for children.

Sorry to be annoying. This is the approach that I would talk. Long-term medicine alters our body's chemistry -- I would do almost anything to avoid it, so that's where my perspective is coming from. Good luck to you!

Mygrains are a cardio vasicalar desease that is genetic. My Dad has them still and he is in his eighties! I have them as well as my sister. My daughter has them also. Triggers can very according to the person as well as meds that help them. I would see a neurologigist for any suggestions. I could be allergies or stess. Even over-excitement from the game and the let down.
I take Midrin. It is the only thing that helps me, but it will help if he can learn to identify the onset to head it off at the pass.
Chiroparctic helps too.
C. B