Migraines: Dealing with the pain and searching for relief

When her vision blurs and the world looks pixelated, Dale Aren knows what's coming.

Soon she'll be able to see only half of what's in front of her. Her words will get mixed up on their way from her brain to her mouth, and while trying to say, "I'm going to lie down," she'll throw in words such as "attic," "garage" and "shoe."

And you better believe there will be pain. Intense, debilitating pain in the base of her skull for up to three days.

"I've heard people describe the pain as feeling like someone is drilling through your head," said the Charleston resident. "Mine is more like somebody took my head and stuffed it on a picket fence."

Migraine sufferers, most of whom are women, know how life-altering these extreme headaches can be.

Migraines show no concern for a lengthy to-do list or well-laid plans. They'll make it impossible to finish a work assignment or cook dinner. They'll interrupt a jog, a date, even a long-awaited vacation.

It's no wonder people are going to great lengths to find relief.

"When you have a migraine, you can't function," said Emily Pieper of Goose Creek. "Sometimes you can't even think."

Until recently, Pieper's migraines each would last one to two weeks. "I have four kids," she said. "I don't have time to be getting headaches."

Suffer-agettes

Women are three times more likely than men to experience migraines, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

One reason is that migraines are affected by changes in estrogen levels, said Dr. Chuck Kelly, neurologist and headache specialist at Tidewater Neurology of Mount Pleasant and Goose Creek. Also, migraines can be worsened by mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are slightly more common in women.

Kelly describes migraines as "a disease where people have a propensity to have a headache." Classic symptoms include a severe, throbbing headache with nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to sound and light, but the classic type of migraine occurs only about 40 percent of the time.

Some people experience weakness, numbness or double vision. Some have Acephalic migraine, which includes other neurological symptoms but no headache.

A migraine often is misdiagnosed as sinus headache or tension-type headache, and less than half of those suffering from migraines are ever officially diagnosed with them, according to the National Headache Foundation.

"If somebody's having a lot of headaches and isn't satisfied with taking over-the-counter medications or is just taking pain pills for it, it's a real disease and they need to seek out help from somebody who has a lot of experience with it," Kelly said.

Migraines are probably genetic in nature. While the specific gene that causes migraines has not been identified, the risk of developing migraines is increased four times in relatives of people that have them, Kelly said.

"The important thing to know is that there are solutions," he said. "We have a number of medications and other treatment options including injection therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic care and other adjunctive therapies that can help."

What a relief

One migraine treatment that's growing in popularity is Botox.

The procedure works not only in helping relieve the muscle spasm but also with pain regulation in the brain and scalp. It can be very effective for people who have tried multiple other medications, Kelly said.

After suffering from migraines for more than 20 years, Pieper is now finding relief with Kelly's help and prescription drugs. She said she takes a preventive medication every night, and keeps pain medicine with her at all times.

The 38-year-old said she's "very happy" to have had only two short-lived headaches in recent weeks. It's a welcome change from migraines that lasted up to 14 days.

Aren tried prescription drugs in the past, but said chiropractic medicine has helped more.

Every six to eight weeks, Aren gets her back realigned. She also goes if she starts to feel a migraine coming on. And she practices the relaxation exercises Dr. Bruce Gwinnup taught her.

Aren said she now gets fewer than five migraines per year instead of about two dozen.

Less traditional approaches aimed at preventing or relieving migraines abound. Internet sites suggest aromatherapy with lavender and keeping an amethyst close by. One migraine sufferer suggests soaking one or both of your hands in ice water.

Rosalyn Kramer Monat-Haller of Summerville takes 10 tiny pills of a Chinese herb twice a day, and gets acupuncture once a week.

The 64-year-old said she's been getting migraines since she was in her 30s. About six years ago, at the suggestion of her physician, she went to see Dr. Zhibo Ding. She said the Chinese acupuncturist and herbologist has drastically reduced the frequency and intensity of her migraines.

Monat-Haller said that since finding a fix for her migraines, she's more functional and life is brighter.

"With a migraine you want to cover your face and be in the dark," Monat-Haller said. "Getting the relief is phenomenal; it brings sunshine back into your life."

Reach Kristen Hankla at 937-5548 or khankla@postandcourier.com.