Neurofeedback For MigrainesNeurofeedback for Migraines?  Does it work?

Many clients ask me if I ever do any neurofeedback training myself.  The answer is yes! Of course. I’m a big believer in practicing what I preach. So, it’s not just my work with clients that has proven the effectiveness of neurofeedback to me. My own personal training has shown me the tremendous relief that neurofeedback for migraines can offer.

Yesterday was a very tough day.  A migraine headache snuck up on me.  As the day wore on, my fingers began pressing into the muscles around my face, feeling for trigger points to help prevent it from going full blown.  My hands massaged the muscles around my jaw and neck but provided little comfort. The feeling of nausea intensified and my eyes began to hurt.  I started to feel dizzy.

 

Migraines Used To Be A Normal Part Of My Life

It had been quite a while since my last migraine. In fact, I’m grateful to say that I can’t even remember when the last migraine headache was. Just being able to say that marks an enormous change in my life.  For up until a few years ago, I suffered through 5-10 migraines per month for most of my life.  Headaches were such a “normal” part of life for me, that it wasn’t until I was almost 30 that I was diagnosed with migraines. Although my headaches were always debilitating, they attacked me so frequently that I never really questioned them. Icing my head and lying in a dark room were regular things to me.

It was only during an unrelated medical interview with a neurologist that I was diagnosed. He asked me if I ever experience nausea, vision problems or sensitivity to sounds. “Not usually. Only when I have headaches.” The doctor asked a few more questions before he told me I was having migraines. In fact, I had been having them as long as I could remember- and I just suffered through them

Neurofeedback For Migraines- A Path To Relief

But yesterday I thought “That’s right, I know what to do! I’ve helped many clients with migraines. I’ll just do some neurofeedback training”.  I placed the sensors on my head and fired up the computer. A few minutes of training brought some noticeable changes. The heat sensation in my head began to fade. The throbbing pain in and around my eye softened. My left eye muscles released their pull.

Yesterday’s experience reminded me of the dramatic improvement neurofeedback for migraines made for me.  Migraines are a rare occurrence for me. Whereas I used to have a migraine every couple of days, I now can’t even tell you when the last one was. It might have been over a year ago.

Everyone is unique. Before neurofeedback training I tried a host of approaches to to treating my migraines. Massage and acupuncture felt great, but didn’t really cure me of them. Daily meditation is great, but didn’t reduce my migraines. Other forms of biofeedback helped me with stress, but didn’t touch the headaches. Herbal medicines didn’t do anything for me, and I’m always hesitant to put drugs in my body if I don’t have to.

But neurofeedback for migraines was a life changer.  The impact, intensity and frequency all dramatically reduced, and I rarely have to bow out of social events because my head is killing me.

When migraines occur they are weaker and less intense.  I can’t remember when I reached for an ice pack last.

I’ve loved helping my own clients with their migraines.  If you would like to learn more about my work with neurofeedback, click here.