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2nd Worst City in CA8938 Posts
A week and a half ago I started getting migraines for the very first time in my life. It would occur whenever I exerted a good amount of energy (working out in this case). The first time it happened, it was incredibly sudden. One moment I was doing push-ups... and the next moment I was on the ground clasping my head in pain. I never realized migraines were such painful beasts. If I were to describe the pain, I'd say it felt like I was stabbed through the temples... not that I've ever experienced that! >_>
Fortunately, I had some Ibuprofen. Unfortunately, it had no effect whatsoever. The migraine faded away after a couple minutes, but I had a headache the rest of the day.
The next day I woke up with only a slight headache. I felt decent so I thought I'd try working out again. Not a good idea. It happened again, and for the rest of the day I just rested while suffering from a terrible headache.
It took me another couple of days before I would visit the doctor. The migraines and headaches continued, so I felt it was time to at least visit the clinic on campus.
After entering the clinic I told the assistant exactly this:
1) I've had a headache for the past few days
2) It would occur whenever I'd exert energy
3) I felt like my head was being split apart.
The assistant understood and let me see the doctor. What did the doctor do? Took my blood pressure, prescribed me some bufferin and sent me off. I was flabbergasted, but who was I to question a doctor? For all I knew it could have been some magical pills that would cure me in one go, so I took it gratefully and was on my way.
Yeah, right. Like that helped. The next couple of days were just as bad. I decided it was time to go to the hospital. However, by this time it was Saturday, and the outpatient clinics in the hospitals nearby were closed early. They were also closed on Sunday, so I had to wait until Monday. As long as I rested and didn't exert energy, I felt like I could hang on until then. On Sunday, however, I developed a new symptom: my neck was in pain whenever I would sit down or walk. I had no choice but to lay down if I wanted to remain pain free.
Let me tell you why this all sucked so bad. I was finally on break for a couple of weeks after finishing an intensive language course that left me with little free time for six weeks. I had plans to climb Mt. Fuji, sight-see here and there, hang out lots, and finally enjoy my time here in Japan. But nope. I was forced to cancel all of my plans for a while. =_=
Anyway, through the suggestion of a staff member on campus, on Monday I went to see a neurosurgeon. Luckily that staff member accompanied me to the clinic, because God knows I wouldn't be able to understand all of that medical lingo.
They gave me my very first MRI. I was actually kind of excited, despite my pain. Although there were a bunch of banging and booming sounds engulfing me, I was able to just close my eyes and rest for the 15 minutes that it lasted. I was quite exhausted. The only annoying part was that my nose started itching halfway into it and I couldn't scratch it. Worst. Torture. Ever. ><;
Here are my MRI results!
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2qHs4.jpg)
Yeah, my brain is that pretty! The two black balls are my eyes. No abnormalities, woo!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/VLBw7.jpg)
Arteries in my brain. No aneurisms. I was so relieved to hear this!
So my brain was fine. What a relief. According to the doctor, I apparently have incredibly stiff shoulders. Due to me working out with such stiff shoulders, it affected my neck and in turn gave me migraines and headaches. What a blunder on my part. I need to make sure I stretch post-workout too. 
I was prescribed some pills (called noirotoropin (ノイロトロピン） in Japanese, looked it up but couldn't find out what it is in English) and something else I'm supposed to rub on my shoulders and the back of my neck three times a day to help untense them. I don't know what it is but it's pretty effective!
It's been two days since then. My neck is pretty much fine now, but I think I'll be a bit cautious and not start working out again until Friday or Saturday. Maybe some light jogging, but that's it. The headaches have completely disappeared as far as I know, but I don't dare push it.
For those who have been following my study abroad blog (I'm sure there are barely any but I hope you are reading this), I'm sorry for not having been able to catch up. I was planning to during this break time but then this happened. Now that I'm pretty much all better, I'll start catching up right away. v^^
 
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Sorry to hear man, Migranes really are no Joke I have gotten a couple in my life and they are horrible.
what works for me, dark quiet room, Advil + caffeine
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I had something similar when I was 15-16 years old, started out as small headaches and gradually grew, soon I got accustomed to always having a headache, and what I called headache is probably what some would call a migraine...
So father took me to a nurse, and she said my neck had stiffened because I simply wasn't moving it enough, I could just barely look down on my right shoulder, and I could hardly even turn my head to the left. Dad asked the nurse if it was caused by too much time at the computer, and she said normally these days yes, but since I could look down and touch my chin to my chest whitout a problem, she said it was probably from reading too much. (Shut my dad up for a month or so).
Now I regulary stretch my neck muscles... When I'm standing in line waiting for example I lower my shoulder while tilting my head to the opposite, and ocassionaly look over my shoulder, and I haven't had headache problems since.
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I have migraines all the time as well Usually when i'm stressed. The migraine isnt the worst part though because i have this wierd aura beforehand. I go blind for about 30mins. Not completely blind, but i cant watch TV and i have trouble walking, it's really scary. Then for the next 24 hours i'll have a very bad headache, strength varies though.
I've just learned to live with them, i dont think theres much you can do. But GL!
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seems like youre being proactive with your health, have you recently quit something as well? ie nicotine, caffeine, etc.
those migraines could be attributed to withdrawal symptoms.
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Oh I've never had an MRI before, it looks neat! I don't think I've had a migraine either, and I probably didn't because I'm sure I would've remembered it. I rarely get headaches too, even when I don't eat for long periods of time. From what I hear they're hell and the way you explain it, it sounds nasty . Keep yourself in good health man ^_____^
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2nd Worst City in CA8938 Posts
On August 24 2011 22:27 mechavoc wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Sorry to hear man, Migranes really are no Joke I have gotten a couple in my life and they are horrible.
what works for me, dark quiet room, Advil + caffeine
Ah. What's weird is that I didn't get increased sensitivity to light and sound. Advil certainly didn't help. :S Just laying down and resting does wonders for me though!
I believe it is! Thanks for that. :D
On August 24 2011 22:40 Danjoh wrote:+ Show Spoiler +I had something similar when I was 15-16 years old, started out as small headaches and gradually grew, soon I got accustomed to always having a headache, and what I called headache is probably what some would call a migraine...
So father took me to a nurse, and she said my neck had stiffened because I simply wasn't moving it enough, I could just barely look down on my right shoulder, and I could hardly even turn my head to the left. Dad asked the nurse if it was caused by too much time at the computer, and she said normally these days yes, but since I could look down and touch my chin to my chest whitout a problem, she said it was probably from reading too much. (Shut my dad up for a month or so).
Now I regulary stretch my neck muscles... When I'm standing in line waiting for example I lower my shoulder while tilting my head to the opposite, and ocassionaly look over my shoulder, and I haven't had headache problems since.
You know, that's awfully similar to what I experienced. I'm gonna do the same and start stretching my neck more. Thanks!
On August 24 2011 23:03 Deadlyfish wrote:+ Show Spoiler +I have migraines all the time as well Usually when i'm stressed. The migraine isnt the worst part though because i have this wierd aura beforehand. I go blind for about 30mins. Not completely blind, but i cant watch TV and i have trouble walking, it's really scary. Then for the next 24 hours i'll have a very bad headache, strength varies though. I've just learned to live with them, i dont think theres much you can do. But GL!
That sounds a lot worse than what I experienced. Fortunately, I think I'm almost over the hurdle. Hang in there!
On August 24 2011 23:57 ligas wrote:+ Show Spoiler +seems like youre being proactive with your health, have you recently quit something as well? ie nicotine, caffeine, etc.
those migraines could be attributed to withdrawal symptoms.
Does online gaming count? lol. I was never addicted to any substances so no, can't say that I did. :S I haven't gamed online in quite a while though. ;;
On August 25 2011 00:16 Sephy90 wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Oh I've never had an MRI before, it looks neat! I don't think I've had a migraine either, and I probably didn't because I'm sure I would've remembered it. I rarely get headaches too, even when I don't eat for long periods of time. From what I hear they're hell and the way you explain it, it sounds nasty . Keep yourself in good health man ^_____^
Thanks a lot. ^^ This may sound kind of odd but I'm kind of glad I experienced this... Now I know what a migraine feels like, so I won't stress out too much if I ever experience it again. :X At some points I thought I was gonna have an aneurism and die.
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glad to hear things worked out for ya! :D I actually hopped in a magnet not too long ago to test out a new protocol here at the research center. The banging sounds surprised me too except my scan lasted for 4 hours compared to 15 minutes =p though, we had a head clamp, so i was allowed to just sleep and that clamp would make sure i don't move.
I wish i knew more about MRI so that those pictures actually make sense to me lol. They look like they're susceptibility based like SWI or SWAN but i'm a noob and for all i know they could be proton density weighted. Still exciting to see some other peoples brains :D I found out i have very mild demyelination occuring near my right globulus pallidus which may be a sign for multiple sclerosis later on in my life but i'm good for the next 30-40 years at least so he says haha
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EPT
