Migraine Ice & the Comprehensive Anti-Migraine Plan
Written: Aug 26 '01 (Updated Aug 26 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Soothes away the pain, pleasant smell
Cons: Will not work on its own for regular headaches, and not for major migraines
The Bottom Line: One of the better weapons in my anti-migraine arsenal... though it won't work for everyone.
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| luvrdaisy's Full Review: Migraine Cooling Headache Pads |
My sophomore year in college was a low point in my life. I barely attended classes, got most of my assignments through friends, and was very lucky to have understanding professors. I spent several days each week curled in a ball at the foot of my bed, covered in layers of blankets, rocking back and forth. I had a bucket next to me, for the waves of nausea were almost too much to make it to the other end of the hall where the bathroom was. Any light caused flashes of pain in my already pain-ravaged skull, and any sound echoed through my brain like it would in a cavern.
Nothing helped. The massive doses of Extra Strength Tylenol were more likely to give me ulcers than make my migraines disappear. The only relief came in some Acetominophen and Codeine that my roommate had brought back from Canada, and disappeared quickly.
After that semester, I went to a neurologist who put me on prescription Zomig. My troubles, I thought, were over for good. And so they were, it seemed. One of these little pills could stop a full-blown migraine attack in its tracks, and though it left me reeling and disoriented, it got rid of any and all pain I might have been feeling. Then, late in my junior year came the horrible news. I had to stop taking the medication because of possible side effects with other prescriptions I was on. Bummer, huh?
In the years since, I've worked out a pretty good plan for combatting migraines without the benefits of a prescription, and that plan has included Migraine Ice cooling/heating pads.
First Things First
How on Earth do you combat that internal train wreck of a migraine without a prescription? Often, it comes down to knowing what your triggers are. Common migraine triggers are:
chocolate
red wine/beer
cheese
very salty snacks
lack of sleep
lack of exercise/fresh air
stress
I suffer with pretty much every one of these triggers with the exception of red wine (thankfully, as it's one of my favorite things). In order to lessen the risks of getting migraines, I've cut my chocolate consumption drastically, given up all cheese except velveeta, and completely abolished anything that combines salty with sweet (peanut butter cups, nestles toll house cookies, etc, as that seems to exacerbate my problem). I have replaced these foods with sweet vegetables (yellow peppers, good roadside stand corn, fruit) and leafy greens (spinach). MSG can be a big factor in migraines, so read those labels carefully.
In addition, I have made it a point to never get less than 6 hours of sleep a night. It's impossible for some folks to do this, but if you have migraines, sleeping becomes a priority. I have also rediscovered the benefits of spending time outside and exercising. Bored? Thinking of watching TV? Don't do it- instead, dress for the weather and get thee outside immediately. Walk, jog, bicycle, or ride a horse- anything to get some exercise and fresh air. Not only will you be combatting a migraine problem, but you will be increasing your fitness. Getting a gym membership also helps. The more physically fit you are, the fewer migraines you will have (holds true for most people, though unfortunately not all.
Making these changes alone (without any medication) has cut the number of migraines I experience by at least 75%. From 4-7 a month, I am now getting one per month or even less (went for three months without one).
Nice, but what does this have to do with Migraine Ice?
Decreasing the number and severity of migraines is wonderful, but then there's still the problem of what to do when you actually get one. The key, as most migraneurs are aware, is detecting an oncoming migraine early, before it becomes severe. At that point, you take the OTC medication that works best for you (but never any "migraine" versions of regular medication- they are all THE SAME as the extra strength versions; advil migraine, excedrin migraine, etc... avoid the marketing gimmick!), and lay down.
Here's where Migraine Ice comes in handy. Migraine Ice pads are cotton strips or temple pads that have a cool mentholated gel on the inside that sticks to your head. Much like Icy/Hot works to soothe a sore muscle, these pads sooth your forehead. If you are very sensitive to smells during migraine attacks, you may want to avoid these. However, for me, the smell was light enough as to not be bothersome, and I found it effective.
So effective, in fact, that I went out and bought about ten boxes of these to keep stocked in my medicine cabinet, my car, my office, my boyfriend's house, and his parents' house (you never know when you'll get one). I can now take half the amount of Tylenol or Aleve that I used to take and acheive superior pain relief. I truly thought that Migraine Ice was a gimmick until I tried it, and now I'm a convert- these things are truly the most useful over the counter innovation to hit the migraine market (again, for most people, not all, unfortunately).
How exactly does this work?
OK, I give up. I have no idea how it works, but the menthol in these strips delivers that light tingling sensation and makes my head feel better. Actually, it probably doesn't make my head feel better, but allows me to relax enough for whatever medication I have taken to have an effect.
You see, the biggest problem for many migraineurs is that they pay attention to the pain. It's impossible not to, as the pain is all consuming and horrible. But if you are able to get your mind off it, you will find that your medicine has a much greater effect than you had previously hoped. Migraine Ice, because of the pleasant tingling sensation it delivers, sooths you just enough to get your mind off the pain for a little while, which decreases the overall pain levels. Therefore, Migraine Ice is not a cure in and of itself, but is part of a comprehensive migraine attack plan.
How does it stick?
These gel on these pads holds itself to your skin remarkably well, and I've found that they stay in place while at work, while driving, and while walking. However, I would not recommend any of the above activities while suffering with a migraine, and prefer to lie down if possible. The pads do not start to fall off until they've been on a while, as the gel starts to dry out a little bit. If you take one off before it dries out enough to fall off, it doesn't hurt. It sticks to your skin but doesn't really glue itself there, and you can pull it back and re-stick it multiple times. If you have them on for a while, you may no longer feel the cooling sensation- it then helps to press them back down a little with your hands. Pressing seems to renew the effect of the menthol a little bit.
What about ice packs and cold washcloths???
The idea of soothing one's aching head with cold is hardly new. People have been using ice-packs and cold washcloths for this purpose for quite a while. I admit, I have too. And I've had mixed results. Ice packs, I find, are too cold, and end up hurting my head more than they help it. Cold washcloths don't last very long, drip water in my eyes, and though they cool my head, don't deliver that pleasing tingling sensation of the Migraine Ice pads. They are, of course, more expensive than the other options but I feel they are well worth it considering that they work so much better and aren't messy.
Final Thoughts
Migraine Ice gel pads are expensive. A box of five forehead pads is around $7 (of course I recently got this box with an extra four temple pads for free!). There are drugstore brands of the same product at a bit of savings, but I've tried these and they tend to not stick as well (I don't know why). However, a migraine is not something to be messed with. If you are seeking a well rounded approach to combatting these headaches, the gel pads are a necessary part of your arsenal (unless you are ultra sensitive to smell). They will help you relax and help sooth you just enough for whatever pain relief medication you have chosen to kick in. They also seem to relieve that feeling of nausea that often accompanies these headaches. They will do nothing for a full blown headache, but like all treatments, are much more effective when used at the onset of a migraine.
The only problem I've had with these pads is that my cat goes bonkers for the smell of them and has been known to tear them from my head as I lie on the couch. I'm not sure these are things animals should consume, so I would try to keep your pets out of the room whenever you use them.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
luvrdaisy
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Location: Baltimore, MD 21093
Reviews written: 58
Trusted by: 23 members
About Me:
The ol'electric cattle prod doesn't work quite as well without its batteries, DOES IT, FarmerBrown?
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