Long Covid Tips

Migraine Cocktails for Emergency Pain I hate to keep coming back to headaches as I am aware that chronic post-viral migraines affect only about a quarter of long-COVID patients (typically those with a history of migraines).  However, given how debilitating they can be, if even one reader learns something here that helps, it is time well spent. From time to time, even with all of my treatments, my migraine gets increasingly intense until I cannot handle it.  It can reach pain levels above what I experienced passing a large kidney stone, having a hand covered in 400 degree oil (commercial kitchen accident) and broken bones.  But the good news is that migraine cocktails can quickly beat it back in an emergency. What is in a Migraine Cocktail? My neurology and pain relief specialist has standing orders with a local hospital for me to be able to order an emergency intravenous (IV) migraine cocktail infusion.  This is a custom-tailored mix of drugs she developed for me and...

Therapeutic Origins and Purposes of Botox Most people think of Botox as a cosmetic vanity procedure to hide wrinkles.   But cosmetic uses came long after it was invented for therapeutic purposes.   In the 1970s, botulinum toxin (Botox) was used to weaken muscles that cause crossed eyes, as an alternative to surgery.   After positive outcomes, it started being used to prevent muscle spasms for people with other neuromuscular conditions.   In 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a variation known as BOTOX ® Cosmetic for cosmetic use, almost 30 years after it started being used therapeutically.   In 2010, Onabotulinum toxin A (Botox) gained formal approval from the FDA to treat chronic migraine headaches.   I share this history because it is important to understand that Botox is a legitimate medical treatment for many serious problems.   Botox is a big help with my chronic migraine pain as it partially numbs the areas where heada...

Long COVID and Migraines A common post-viral long-COVID problem is persistent migraine headaches.   Although they do not seem to affect the majority of post-COVID patients, they commonly plague those who had a history of migraines before their infections.   For those not familiar with migraines, they can be excruciating, and tend to come with nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and various other symptoms.   Imagine the worst hangover of your life, where everything is too bright and too loud, your head feels like it is being crushed in a vice and you want to vomit.   That is pretty much me every day, year after year. What is Nurtec ODT and How Does it Help with Migraines? But the good news is that after trying just about every common migraine remedy without much relief, my specialist prescribed me Nurtec ODT.   Nurtec ODT comes in little white tabs that you place under your tongue and let melt/dissolve to be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. ...