Have you tried exercising through a migraine?

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  • caramel1920
    caramel1920 Posts: 271
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    I exercised through a migraine once...once! I will never do it again! Quiet, dark room and rest for me!
  • busterbluth
    busterbluth Posts: 115 Member
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    true migraines are debilitating and you can't "work through them". If you can function then it is probably just a really bad headache.
    That is absolutely untrue. Migraines vary between individuals. I was diagnosed with migraine after a thorough workup. Sometimes they are debilitating, sometimes they are not.

    People should not assume anyone is a "drama queen" because their migraines aren't as bad as yours.

    Do you just get the auras?

    I get migraines nearly every day (it's getting a little better); sometimes/some parts of the day it's just aura (though my current meds help this), but if the headache part starts it eventually always leads to a full-blown, full-body migraine if I don't take an injection. I'm going to be trying Botox soon.
  • SueGremlin
    SueGremlin Posts: 1,066 Member
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    true migraines are debilitating and you can't "work through them". If you can function then it is probably just a really bad headache.
    That is absolutely untrue. Migraines vary between individuals. I was diagnosed with migraine after a thorough workup. Sometimes they are debilitating, sometimes they are not.

    People should not assume anyone is a "drama queen" because their migraines aren't as bad as yours.

    Do you just get the auras?

    I get migraines nearly every day (it's getting a little better); sometimes/some parts of the day it's just aura (though my current meds help this), but if the headache part starts it eventually always leads to a full-blown, full-body migraine if I don't take an injection. I'm going to be trying Botox soon.
    I get both headache and aura, and on separate occasions. The auras aren't that bad, they are a 20 minute inconvenience followed by a minor headache.
    The headaches come on their own, usually. If they are very bad, Imitrex generally stops them dead. (but sometimes not).
    I do, however, feel very lucky that I don't usually get the migraines that render me locked in a dark room and vomiting.
  • bluestarlight19
    bluestarlight19 Posts: 419 Member
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    I can't exercise through them at all. I don't get them too often but when I do, I need to curl up in a dark place to sleep them off. If that isn't working, try Excedrin migraine meds. They have aspirin, Tylenol and caffeine in them. I usually only need one pill, but I take it as soon as I feel it coming and it stops it in its tracks. If I don't have that on me, then I take some Ibuprofen and find a high caffeinated drink like coffee or pepsi max.
  • the_journeyman
    the_journeyman Posts: 1,877 Member
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    My migraines take out my right eye and of course have plenty of pain involved. I at least try it, as changing bloodflow to the brain can help a headache. I don't normally even get headaches unless had a bender the night before, but do get a random migraine. I find a good hard workout basically causes my migraine to 'blow out' or something. After a few minutes of misery when I first start some cardio it just suddenly starts to fade. I have to do something SMOOTH that doesn't jar me though, like the elliptical or bicycle. Jogging on the track or treadmill is too much.

    JM
  • onefitdiva
    onefitdiva Posts: 331 Member
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    I have done it but it is awful, I was just wishing for the workout to be over already so I could lay in a dark, cool room and rest.
  • latinqueencee
    latinqueencee Posts: 120 Member
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    Although not a migraine, I went running with a horrible sinus headache....ugh, I thought my head was going to explode. I completed the run but nearly cried on the way home, popped a percocet and went right to bed. I will never do that again. I wouldnt recommend it, I say stay home, get better then attempt working out once headache is gone.
  • Julie2402
    Julie2402 Posts: 126
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    If i get sumatriptan down me quickly then i can carry on, i will feel awful but i push myself. If i don't have tabs in time then i am totally laid up, sickness, flashing lights etc!
  • VonRockette
    VonRockette Posts: 159 Member
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    I've tried to do cardio at the begining of a migrane. It was awful. The blood pumping felt like it was punching my brain. I stopped the workout and then it left me feeling defeated and sad. I learned my lesson. Take care of headache first - then you can worry about working out.
  • whtlatina1214
    whtlatina1214 Posts: 765 Member
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    yes. its nearly impossible if i'm in a gym. if im at home alone i can usually make it though.

    sometimes if its really bad i'll just do some yoga with the volume on as low as possible and zen out.


    im the same way . and today that is exactly what im going to do prob walk my daughter @ the park depending on how crowded and the weather and then ima do some yoga or beginner pilates .. cause i have a migraine and im feeling nausea...
  • javo1977
    javo1977 Posts: 1
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    Going to the chiropractor was the best thing for my migraines! I had gone to a few 'specialists' had MRI's and CAT Scans ... so as a last resort I consulted a chiropractor -- and my frequent migriaines are now down to maybe one every two months! I'm like many people who have responded -- when I have migraines I have to be in a dark room with no noise so exercising is not an option. I would highly recommend setting up a consultation with a chiropractor. Good Luck!!
  • MelissaE27
    MelissaE27 Posts: 682 Member
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    I have very bad migraines and very often.. dont mess around with them they can be very dangerous! 4 years ago I had a migraine for 4 days thinking ah its just a migraine no biggie.. well boy was I wrong.. I actually had a migraine stroke.. it took me a year of physical therapy to walk again.. now I am on an anti-seizure medication to control them... work out during a migraine for me?? NO WAY. .. best wishes to you
  • AdrienneKaren
    AdrienneKaren Posts: 168 Member
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    I've had 3 migraines in the past 7 months. They're hormone related. Two out of the three resulted in my Mom dragging me to the ER because home remedies didn't work. I really wanted to give walking a shot to see if that would help (because walking does wonders for so many ailments), but I couldn't see out of one eye and got dizzy when standing. Now I've got Imitrex so maybe next time I'll get enough relief from that to allow me to go on a walk.
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,250 Member
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    Just wondering. These headaches are kind of new to me. Luckily they aren't debilitating, just ruining my day eating and exercise-wise.

    I remember being 30 minutes into an hour long swim session and suddenly getting the vision disturbance. At first I thought it was something under the water on the floor of the pool and then I realized what was really happening.

    I must admit, I was loathe to stop the session and knew I have approximately 45 minutes before the headache appeared, so I finished the swim, got changed quickly and legged it home - in time.

    I am not too convinced that I would be able to continue running in the same situation though......

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