The Secret to Migraine Relief Without Pills

Do you spend hours alone in the dark in your bed during a migraine? We know it’s the only way to get through the throbbing head pain that’s made worse with bright lights and excess noise.

Even if you have migraine medications for pain, they may not work, or you may not want to take them too often for fear of developing medication overuse headaches (MOH).

Our team at Montclair Rejuvenation Center, led by our highly skilled and experienced medical director, Dr. Kelly Distefano, understands how migraines affect quality of life and that pills aren’t always the best solution.

Apply hot and cold therapy

Hot and cold therapy are common remedies for pain conditions. If tense neck and back muscles are contributing to your head pain, applying heat may relax the muscles and ease the pain. Use a warm, moist towel or heating pad for hot therapy.

Cold therapy numbs the pain. For migraine relief, use a cold pack, a plastic bag filled with ice, or a frozen bag of peas, wrap it in a towel, and place it on the neck for 15 minutes. Remove the cold pack after 15 minutes to avoid damaging the skin.

Lower the lights

Migraines can make you more sensitive to light. If you feel the pain coming on and you're sitting at your computer in your brightly lit office, dimming the lights may ward off the pain. 

Early research shows that green light therapy may help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. Green light is a narrow band of light that calms and soothes the body and may activate chemicals that counteract the nervous system reaction that leads to migraines. Your migraine doctor can provide guidance on green light therapy. 

Get some caffeine

Small amounts of caffeine from coffee or tea may also ease your head pain. But don’t overdo it,  too much caffeine may affect your sleep, triggering another attack. 

Boost hydration

Are you drinking enough fluids? Headaches are a common symptom of dehydration and may trigger a migraine. Fluid needs vary and depend on age, activity, and weather. Healthy adults need about 11 to 16 cups of water a day. Try to meet your daily fluid needs to prevent migraines from dehydration. 

If you want to hydrate quickly, we can help with our intravenous (IV) vitamin therapy, providing the fluids and nutrients your body needs to support health and wellness.

Consider Botox injections

If you have chronic migraines (15 or more headaches a month) and traditional medical interventions aren’t working, you may want to consider Botox® injections. This is the same medication we use to reduce wrinkles.

Botox for migraines works by temporarily blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain and by relaxing your tense neck muscles. Though results vary, some people experience fewer headache days and less pain with Botox injections.

Migraine headaches can disrupt your life, but you can get relief without pills. Do you want to learn more about how we can help you get migraine relief? Call the office most convenient to you — Verona or West Caldwell, New Jersey — or use the book online button to schedule a consultation. 

If you’re in West Palm Beach, Florida, come visit us at our new medical spa, Wellington Rejuvenation Center.