Keep a headache calendar/diary. This is very important. Bring it to
your next appointment. Mark down when you get a headache, how bad it is on
a 1 to 10 scale, and what you took to help the pain. To download a
headache calendar you can use,
click here.
Obtain a headache book and learn as much as you can about your
condition. Click
here to view a list of books.
Try to keep current with medication refills. Having medications on
hand avoids having to scramble for refills during an acute headache
attack.
Migraine is a threshold disorder. Much of what is recommend is
intended to raise the threshold, i.e. make it harder to get a headache.
Non-drug treatment
Stick to a regular schedule. Try to eat, sleep and wake at
approximately the same time each day.
Try to identify headache triggers (food, alcohol, prolonged hunger,
sleep deprivation, etc.) and avoid these triggers whenever possible.
Learn acupressure (finger acupuncture) for headaches. It is simple and
often effective for mild to moderate headaches.
Click here for easy acupressure steps
you can use.
Try to make a concerted effort to regularly reduce stress in your
life. Learn and practice relaxation techniques (click
here for more information). Biofeedback can be very
helpful for headache sufferers.
Associated medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia
and substance overuse/abuse (nicotine, alcohol, caffeine) should be
discussed with your doctor. Successful headache treatment requires that
these associated conditions be treated effectively.
Drug therapy
Treat headaches early and aggressively.
Do not take immediate relief medications more than two days per week
or else rebound headaches may occur. If applicable, take your preventative
medications on a daily basis.
Treat nausea aggressively. Reglan (metoclopramide) is usually the best
choice. Even if you do not have nausea, Reglan allows headache medications
to be absorbed better, especially if taken 15 to 20 minutes before the
other headache medications. Reglan should be taken at the first sign of a
significant headache.
Goals
Remember your treatment goals:
Eliminate emergency room visits for acute headache treatment.
Have a home program that is well tolerated and works.
Minimize impact of headache on work and family activities.
Follow-up
If you have an appointment scheduled, be
sure to keep it. If the headache
pattern worsens, call your doctor.
