What causes pain during a migraine headache? Why don't pain killers work for it?
962213
The horrible pain you experience from a migraine is from the DILATING OF BLOOD VESSELS.  First they constrict at the onset of the headache, then they dilate and this is the intense pain you experience.  Migraine remedies like Imitrex, Maxalt, etc... are all VASOCONSTRICTORS.  They constrict the blood vessels; thus reducing the pain.
39997
you must be from the UK.  paracetamol = acetaminophen in US.  there are so many questions to figuring out why you might still have a headache after taking medication.  if it is really bothering you, consider the following questions and talk to your healthcare provider: what were you doing when it started? where does it hurt? how long have you had the headache?  does the pain fluctuate or ever go away?  what does the pain feel like? does anything make it better or worse?  have you tried any other measures for relief (heat, cold, etc)?  any other symptoms (nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light/sound/smell, fever, stiff neck)?  \n*is this the worst headache of your life?  \n*is there anything different about this headache?  \n** if the answer to either of these is yes, you may want to go to emergency and see what's going on.  otherwise, follow up sometime this week.  hope that helps and you feel better.
268771
No one knows exactly what causes cluster headaches. Many experts believe that cluster headache and migraine headache share a common cause that begins in the nerve that carries sensation from your head to your brain (trigeminal nerve) and ends with the blood vessels that surround your brain. \nOthers believe that the pain arises in the deep vascular channels in your head (for example, the cavernous sinus) and does not involve the trigeminal system. \nPreventive treatment: This includes ongoing use of medications proven effective in holding off headaches or limiting their number, even when you are not experiencing headaches. Examples are drugs like beta-blockers (propranolol [Inderal], atenolol [Tenormin]), anticonvulsants (topiramate [Topamax], divalproex [Depakote], carbamazepine [Tegretol]), tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [Elavil], nortriptyline [Aventyl]), and calcium channel blockers (verapamil [Covera]). Though widely used, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressant (fluoxetine [Prozac], paroxetine [Paxil], escitalopram [Lexapro]) is relatively ineffective for headache. \nAbortive treatment: This is designed to stop a headache once it has begun. Medications include ergotamine (Bellamine, Cafergot), acetaminophen-isometheptene-dichloralphenazone (Midrin), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45 Injection, Migranal Nasal Spray), and more recently, the drugs of the triptan family (almotriptan [Axert], eletriptan [Relpax], frovatriptan [Frova], naratriptan [Amerge], rizatriptan [Maxalt], sumatriptan [Imitrex], zolmitriptan [Zomig]). \nIn addition, many medications used to treat migraine headache (Excedrin Migraine Pain Reliever/Pain Reliever Aid, oxygen, prednisone [Deltasone]) can also be used for cluster headache.
105960
As you state, there is no cure for migraines currently. Migraine is an inherited disease of the brain that has to do with a neurotransmitter called serotonin. At least 70% of migraine sufferers have a family member with migraine. Although medication is the mainstay of treatment, there are many methods of reducing the number of headaches you experience. Some simple ones include limiting your caffeine intake to one cup per day or eliminating it all together. If you do drink caffeine then you should not miss a day due to the potential of withdrawal headache. Regular exercise can prevent headaches. Get regular sleep. Wake up at the same time everyday, even on weekends. Too little or too much sleep is a common headache trigger. Go to the National Headache Foundation website for a list of food triggers. Identifying triggers will require completing a headache diary for several weeks to several months. There are vitamins, which have been proven to reduce headaches. Magnesium 400mg and riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 400mg have both been shown to reduce headaches. It may take up to 3 months to see the full effect. The only downside is the number of pills and the cost. To alleviate this problem for my patients, I worked with a vitamin manufacturer to develop a multivitamin with the above doses of vitamins plus all the vitamins in a regular daily multivitamin. Due to interest outside my practice we have made it available over the internet.\nWe also recommend a trial of physical therapy, which has been very effective. Behavioral therapy is also important since the number one trigger of migraine is stress.\nDon't give up. Remember migraine is a disease just like diabetes is. Diabetic don't make enough insulin, you don't make enough serotonin.\n\nGary A. L'Europa MD\nFellow of the American Headache Society\nDirector, NeuroHealth\nMedical Director, The NeuroHealth Headache Center\n227 Centerville Rd\nWarwick, RI 02886
531605
More information on the nature of your headaches would be useful.\n-Where in your head is the pain most prominent?\n-Do you get headaches at a particular time of day? Or after a particular activity\n-Do other symptoms occur with your headaches? Nausea? Sensitivity to light?\n-Do you have trouble with your eye sight?\n\nOf course you should get a doctors opinion, but frequent headaches can have many causes and not all of them physical. Are you under a lot of stress? Do you eat regularly? How is your diet?\n\nIf you see a doctor and have your eyes checked and nothing is found to be wrong, I suggest you try an herb called Feverfew. You can get it in capsules at any health food store. I used to get Migraines and after suffering through the drugs that doctors use to treat severe headaches, I discovered that Feverfew, taken once a day, stopped my headaches from returning without the nasty side effects of prescription drugs.\n\nHope you feel better!
626965
Something in your environment may also be triggering them, for my wife it was either cleaning chemicals or personal products, both can be quite toxic, when we switched to safe alternatives her migraines stopped and have not returned.
50794
If your Doctor said that it is not migrains then it is probably tension headaches.  This is cause by contraction of some of the back muscles related to stress such as Trapezius, semispinalis capitits, splenious capitis etc.. Basically this tension that most probably is triggered by some sort of stress puts pressure on a spinal nerve coming out of the spinal cord that inhibits the optimum potential of your body to function properly.. Chiropractic uses a non invasive procedure to remove that nerve interference and permit the body to function in harmony without obstruction.. Chiropractic is proven and documented by peer reviewed journals to be effective with patients that have headaches.. What you don't want to do is rely on medication because your body will adapt to the chemicals and you'll always have to take them to feel normal.. Don't forget about the side effects that all medications have especially to the liver!!!! Get your spine checked and the headaches will go away..
726418
Lots of migraines are caused by irregular blood flow to the brain, caused by a variety of things. Excedrin migraine can help because it's 3 ingredients all do something to correct the problem: Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor and stimulant, Aspirin is a blood thinner and pain reliever, Tylenol is a pain reliever. \n\nA cup of coffee does the same thing as caffeine. A nice hot bath can help dilate blood vessels and increase relaxation and the steam does good things, too. Similarly a nice shoulder/neck massage can help relax muscles and blood vessels and provide some quick relief. Be sure to rub the base of the skull and around the temples.\n\nIf the above isn't working, you should try to avoid triggers. Some people have food allergies that can cause migraines. Some are triggered by inability to regulate body temperature (you've been exercising, and now it's time to cool off, but your body doesn't slow down like it's supposed to and you get a migraine). Some are triggered by bright or flashing lights. Some things you might avoid include chocolate, caffeine, and food dyes (red 40 and yellow 5). \n\nYour wife would do well to talk to a doctor (neurologist if possible, GP in a pinch). There are several prescription drugs for quick relief after a migraine starts, ask about Imitrex and Zomig. Both are available in pill, injection, and nasal sprays and start to work in less than 5 minutes (except for the pills, which takes about 40).\n\nHope that helps and good luck,\nOdd
168653
The over-the-counter and prescription medications that are used to treat migraine pain fall into two general categories: those for use during an attack and those that help prevent attacks. A sufferer may need to take different medications to address distinct symptoms. For example, some drugs can help relieve the nausea and vomiting, while others may ease the head pain.\n\n"It's important to have as many drug options as possible for migraine," says FDA's Levin, "because different people respond differently to medications, and what works for one patient may not help the next."\n\nAn over-the-counter drug may help some migraine sufferers with mild to moderate pain. In January 1998, a version of extra-strength Excedrin called "Excedrin Migraine" became the first over-the-counter medicine specifically approved by FDA for migraine.\n\nPeople who want to use an over-the-counter migraine medication should see their doctor anyway, Levin says, to rule out more serious conditions. (See "Should You Call a Doctor?")
182123
Short of having a prescriptions pain killer for migraines, there is not a lot you can do.  Try sleeping in a dark, cool, and quite room.  Keep yourself comfortable.  Don't eat or drink anything.  Cool (not cold) water is okay, but you probably won't care for any.  Don't try to drive or leave the house.  Don't answer the phone.  Don't move at all if you don't have to as all of these things will make the migraine much worse.  My best advice is to get a prescription and take it at the onset of a migraine.  You will feel better in 1/2 hour and most or all of the symptoms will be gone in 1 hour.
181024
My migraines (fairly infrequent, thank GOD) are caused mainly by massive stress, flashing lights, or lack of sleep.  What you should really do is keep a headache diary - this is how I narrowed down my triggers.  Keep a notebook by your bed and every night before you go to sleep make a note of what you ate, your stress level, how you're sleeping, anything out of the ordinary.  You may find common threads.\n\nAs for while you're suffering - for me the trick is catching it early.  I have to take some sort of analgesic when I start getting the tunnel vision and the metallic taste in my mouth or I'm in for a world of hurt later.  If I don't catch it in time then keeping my hands extra-warm seems to help.  (I don't know why - I just go with what works.)\n\nMy best to you - I feel your pain.  My mother always said you should never hand a gun to someone with a migraine because they'd surely shoot themselves.
461549
I just answered a similar question for someone else. I'll paste the answer below. Also...Excedrin now puts out "Excedrin Migraines". I've found that on the rare migraine I get now...it helps a lot! \n\nAnyway, here is how I finally stopped getting migraines so frequently:\n\nMigraines are caused by fluctuating hormones. I've suffered from them terribly! I finally found a doctor who gave me this advice...and it's very rare now that I get them! :)\n\nHe told me to stay away from the following foods for a week before my period is due..and until my period stops:\n\nOnions, caffeine, chocolate, red wine, cheeses, foods with electrolytes and nitrates (such as gatorade, bacon, ham, processed meats), nuts, dried fruit and yogurt.\n\nSounds like there is nothing left to eat..but you manage to find things when the alternate is those AWFUL migraines.\n\nI hope this helps you too!
686510
If you can get away. . .a dark room with no noise.  There are many prescription drugs to deal with migraines, but I have luck with an aspirin based over the counter medication, and at least an hour of QUIET and DARK.  Try to catch them early, before they knock you down.  I sympathize.
217433
See a neurologist.\n\nThey can prescribe meds to PREVENT headaches, and to stop them once they start.\n\nYou have to find out what is causing your headaches. Migraine? Tension? Cluster headaches? Sinuses?\n\nRight now, take either a hot rag, or one you have chilled in the freezer, and put it over the part of your head that hurts.\n\nTry to relax. Quiet. Dark...
81181
Only answering for myself, as I understand that a number of pains are listed under both "headache" and "migraine": a headache is a painful tightening of muscles of the skull and neck that result in pain.  This pain is like other pains such as toothache, bruise, etc., but a migraine feels like you do when you fall hard on the back of your head, like you got smacked with a two-by-four board, only, it doesn't go away in minute but stays and gets worse.
164249
Hi. I can relate. I am a brain tumor survivor and I know how bad migraines can really be. Whats worked for me is the eucolyptus and spearmint all natural headache relief available at Bath and Body Works. Also, if available have someone massage your temples while you close your eyes and relax. Prescriptions don't work for some of us. Hope this helps. \n\nGood luck and best wishes,\n\nChris
293907
I have suffered from migraine headaches all my life and threw pain killers away years ago!  I use Imitrex (or Relpax, Maxhalt, Frova are some of the others). They are vasodilators, not pain killers. They work in about 20 minutes and usually don't cause dizziness or such side effects.  They changed my life!  Headache gone!  Ask your doctor. If you don't have prescription coverage, he can give you samples, cause the drug reps give out tons of samples.  Good luck.