Migraines...ugh!

Robbi

Barefooters
Dec 1, 2011
131
133
43
Cape Town, South Africa
Hi folks!

I'm knocking on the door of sub 5min/km on my standard 13.5km run, so I've been pushing it a bit harder to break the barrier :). However I have been triggering migraines in the process, generally about 2-3 hours afterwards.

I have a history of migraines and they run in the family, but before this threshold I was down to one every 18 months or so. I've triggered 4 this way in the last 2 months.

I'm pounding a recovery shake (whey protein and maltodextrin meal replacement thingy) immediately after, and then as soon as possible I have a real balanced meal. I prefuel with a hot cross bun :). So I THINK it's not fuelling...I don't feel wiped out when it doesn't happen.

Any migraine sufferers out there dealt with this? What triggers did you find?

Ta :)
 
I understand that a pinched nerve in your upper back/neck can cause migraines. Have you had an x-ray to see if there could be a problem there? :doctor:

I'm sorry you are having to go through this. I know how migraines can get.
 
Well, I don't think it's a pinched nerve...they run in the family, my dad, all my uncles and my brothers, we all get 'em. Generally there is a food or light trigger, though in this case hard exercise seems to be a stressor. The local pharmacist has warned me away from energy drinks, so I'll try real food instead of the protein shake and see if that helps.

:)
 
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Well, looky there!
 
Migranes suck......I have lived with them for 37 years. Triggers for me are increased stress, weather pattern changes, some food choices (diet changes) and reduced levels of stress (basically the reduction of my normal level of stress to nothing) and when I am running for long periods of time dehydration if I do not maintain my hydration levels to where they should be. Up to 7 years ago I used to be hit with migraines once a week, but since I started accupuncture and went through a Chinese Medicine cleansing (to rid body of toxins and open up the chi pathways throughout the body) the migranines are reduced to about 2 to 4 a year (basically around the time of major weather pattern changes and when I don't keep my hydration up). Best decision I ever made was to go seek out my Chinese miracle worker Dr. Shi (plus she is a huge supporter of my barefoot running so that is a win-win in my books).
 
I started getting less migraines when I started running. I still get one about every two weeks or so but it goes up to two or three a fortnight if I stop exercising. I recognise the warning signs and I'm able to take action early so normally they don't set in unless I leave the pain killers too long then I'm toast for about 8 hours. Good luck with the 5min/km, I just managed a 12km run in at 59mins 20secs and was very happy I could maintain the pace. Good job on finding the migraine trigger.
 
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