Your Questions About Ocular Migraine Treatment

Pat answers:

Each person has certain “triggers” for migraines – for example, chocolate, and red wine are two common triggers for people. If you can determine what yours are, then avoid them.

Pat answers:

Hello… I am a massage therapist (and Certified Rolfer) and can tell you that there are a variety of things that can help. Massage can help, but only if the therapist is familiar with the migraines — otherwise massage can actually trigger them or make a current one worse. Here are some suggestions (I apologize if you already know this, I just want to be thorough):
1. Massage – GENTLE massage to the base of the neck, but not vigorous, more of a holding and traction of the occiput (base of skull) from the top cervical vertebrae can be really helpful. Also, gently pull the eyebrows forward/off the skull to see if that relieves any of the pain. If it does, the migraine is likely sinus related. If not, no need to repeat. (Many migraines can be triggered by sinus congestion, even so deep in the sinus cavity that there are no symptoms present in the nose.) FYI, some insurance covers massage.
2. Acupuncture — sooooo much good here. From the needles themselves to the herbs they give you, there’s a lot that can help. I’m happy to give you names of people I know, but I don’t know where you are. Many insurance companies cover acupuncture.
3. Homepathy — there are several remedies available at health food stores for migraines. It’s likely that they won’t distinguish between different types since the causes are so close.
4. Caffeine — yes, it can really help. Since migraines are caused by vasoconstriction, the caffeine causes vasodilation which relieves the symptoms. Excedrin has caffeine in it, so many people find it helpful. So is a cup of coffee. Obviously if you have health issues (like heart or anxiety), caffeine isn’t a good idea.
5. Biofeedback — amazing work has been done with biofeedback and various types of headaches. Sometimes insurance covers this, too.
6. Home remedies — lay still in a dark, quite room with ice on the back of the neck. Obviously, he can’t do this while flying, but he can put ice on the back of his neck. There are even little portable ice backs that activate when you bend them that he can keep with him. I think you can get these at any drug store, or at least online.
7. Aromatherapy – peppermint can help with the headache and nausea. Drinking peppermint tea, eating a peppermint candy, or sniffing something peppermint. All worth a try.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me!

Pat answers:

Make sure you have up-to-date sources when researching about IOP.

Pressure on it’s own is much less of a useful guide than it used to be thought.

Readings of 22 with no other signs are no grounds to start treatment, even if the average normal is around 16.
I’ve known people run at 27 for years with no change, but they were closely monitored, and that’s the point. Slightly raised pressures, even in the mid twenties, are principally a “heads up” to look carefully at other tests. On their own, they mean little.
(It’s also possible to get glaucoma with presssures of 12-14, so 16 isn’t “safe”, just “normal”.)

If there is some raised pressure, especially against previous records, the only thing that needs to be done at this stage is to confirm good optic nerves and good peripheral field results.
If these are clear then monitoring, perhaps at shorter intervals initially, is all that is required. (3/12, 6/12, then back to annual, if all is stable, perhaps: doctor’s discretion.)
Going onto a life-time of medication, with both cost and side-effect implications, is not the first step. Far from it.