[Closed] Help Required: Close to giving up mountain biking - migraines

unfortunately i have no advice to offer just wanted to wish you well that you can find a remedy for your migranes and keep riding.

Could be exertion?

Yes. Look into exercise induced migraines. I get them weekly. After 6 months of collecting data from a HRM and keeping a diary I worked out that any effort of 88-90% or above of my maximum would trigger one. Tried beta blockers for a while which helped keep heart rate down but I didn't like the idea of taking them forever so now I just manage the best I can. Keeping hydration at the forefront of my mind helps a bit, but mainly just taking it a bit easier over the course of a ride and avoiding flat out efforts. I can time them now more or less so they coincide with overnight whilst I sleep.

I’ve tried sumatriptan, cocodamol (only thing that cuts through the pain)

Ibuprofen works better than anything else for me, but I hate taking them due to potential long term negative side-effects.

Isn't it worth stopping bread?

Ibuprofen works better than anything else for me, but I hate taking them due to potential long term negative side-effects.

What are those, then? I take them most days, but only when I get up, and then sometimes during the day. I get occasional migraines, just the sparkly ‘C’-shape followed by a nagging headache, which ibuprofen helps with, but I also have an arthritic knee, so a couple in the morning with occasional doses if my knee plays up during the day. I have a prescription for Zapain - codein/paracetamol, but id rather take small, regular doses of ibuprofen than codein and paracetamol.

As above i get them but not to the same extent as you stoofus. Similarly too much sugar doesn't help but a mountain bike ride with some hard climbs will be likely to bring on the onset of a comparatively mild one which I have to nip in the bud with ibuprofen. I seem to be able to manage the exertion better on the road bike, the climbing isn't as strenuous as round here there aren't many climbs where the veins in the side of your are popping just to maintain momentum.

You're not going to like this OP but I got an ebike, not primarily because of this reason but bloody hell it's pretty much eliminated the riding triggers.

What are those, then?

Mainly gastrointestinal problems but also increased risk of heart failure. If you are taking them long term you should tell your doctor and they may prescribe something to take alongside them to protect your stomach.

They can do a fair bit of damage to you, kind of ignored due to the fact they are so widely available for pennies a packet. People just don't realise.

Flashing lights in my eyes for half hour followed by the feeling that someone has hit be round the head with a cricket bat.

Ditto.

The only thing I found that made any difference was taking Imigran Recovery at the onset of symptoms.

Two reasons why I get headaches when cycling

the first and by far the longest to diagnose is an arthritic neck. I’ve damaged some vertebrae  when I was younger and it has been getting steadily worse but I can control it with a more upright position and or shorter rides. It comes on like a pain at the t the back of the head but effects my vision. It can also be culmulative - if I ride a lot over a few weeks (even if each ride is only a couple of hours) I can end up with an almost permanent headache. Only diagnosed when I had an mri scan on my head and neck

the other is wearing the wrong riding glasses. The arms press on a point (I guess artery) behind my ear and when I get above a certain level of exertion I get an almost instant headache but it goes it if take the glasses off.

Not sure if any of that helps but it’s my headaches experience

Fellow migraine sufferer and Degla rider but not both at the same time fortunately. Some of my suggestions might sound a bit leftfield but I guess you are at that point anyway 🙂

First, just the thought of riding in a group at Degla on Sunday morning is giving me a migraine. Have you tried riding on your own at a nice slow pace when it’s a bit quieter? Sometimes keeping up with your mates can put more strain on you than you think and a busy Degla car park can stress you out before you start.

If it could be heat related have you tried riding without a hydration pack and used a water bottle instead? You are just in T shirt and shorts I take it (and not in a long sleeve jersey with a full face helmet)?

When I spoke to pharmacist a few years ago she advised me to take co-codamol before entering a potential migraine triggering situation. Have you tried taking co-codamol at the start of the ride?

Seems strange that you usually get them after the ride and not during it. Is it worth trying a bit of a cool down lap round the green route to bring your heart rate back down slowly?

The only times I have had migraines riding seem to have been triggered by adrenaline (I.e after a crash or scary moment or when I have been a bit over excited).

There must be a solution, don’t give up!

stu

Seems strange that you usually get them after the ride and not during it.

I don't get mine until after, between an hour and two. Same with my other triggers.

I get headaches after long rides but after 20 years or so have put it down to sinus pains, must be exposure to cold air which sets it off. The simptoms can be similar for migrane and sinus.

Also get headaches almost every monday, put that down to irregular sleep at weekend.

I used to suffer with them but after quite a few diet changes, I found giving up bread (or breads with yeast)and chocolate has pretty much done the trick. I still get one now and again but nothing like as often as before (2 or 3 a week previously now less than 1 a month).

I also found I feel much less bloated after giving up the yeast so an extra bonus (and i'm 2 stone lighter but I think thats the chocolate)

Have you considered circulation as the issue?  Apparently dilation of the blood vessels is often a cause.  I suffer from severe migraines and cluster headaches and according to the neurologist - this can be the reason.

Things that work for me: -

- Sumatriptan, probably effective 70% of the time but gives me a constricted feeling in my throat, a  feeling like I have been slapped hard on the back of my head and neck stiffness

- Dunking my head in ice cold water or under a running cold tap.  I had one start in the Alps a few years ago and put my head in a icy stream.

- A cloth tied tightly around my head - often wet and cold! I use an ‘ice towel’ at home but have also used a buff

- Combination of the above.

Maybe some of that can be adapted for you?

What about essential minerals?  Salt potassium etc? Could try a dioralyte mid ride before the onset.

Glasses and contact lenses for riding....

Glasses 80% of the time then possible problems with the contacts. The diopter value is the same for each eye but the astigmatism value is slightly different...

I can put them in the wrong eye, see perfectly well but the headache after a while can be desperate.

I don't know much about migranes so sorry if this is just ignorant irritating advice but here goes.  Have you tried riding without a helmet?

For me, if I have my helmet done up so it feels snug (ie not at all uncomfortable) at the start of the ride then after half an hour I have an incredibly intense headache that feels like it affects my entire body.  It's actually not so much of a problem cycling because I can loosen it off or just take it off for the climbs and tighten it up for the descents.  It made me give up motorbikes though because my choices were to wear a helmet that was so loose I'm not sure how well it would work in a crash or have to stop every 30 minutes and wait for the blinding headache to abate.

Could be something to do with my funny shaped head putting far more pressure on the forehead than it does on the sides or back.

You seem to have tried cutting out some potential dietary triggers. I'd be looking for perhaps a physical trigger, perhaps one particularly associated with cycling.

While you've tried different sports, I'd still be thinking that something related to holding your position on the bike, or wearing a helmet/pack is impinging on a nerve or blood vessel.

I've posted this before, but my wife had something akin to severe migraines for years, which we've tracked down to a nerve impingement in her shoulder/neck.

I get migraines and headaches a lot to the point that a headache that lasted a  week was normal. After going to the doctors a number of times and after a mini stroke (unrelated) i have been perscribed propropronol (sp?) And the effect has been dramatic. I dont get headaches much at all evidenced by all the paracetamol around the house.

I still get migrains though but not often, just comming out of a two dayer this morning and got the post migrain high/ hunger.

I also get excersion headaches so after a hard ride i would end up with a bad headache, i've tried hydrating, sugar and food but nothing has solved it.

Was i've found is if i get too hot when exercising this can trigger it (but it has no relation to out side temp) and driving home with aircon on full cold helped on some rides.

Failing that if i know i've had to push on a ride i just take two cocodimol before the headache starts, as you say they are the only thing.

Have you work out triggers? i get stress ones and excertion ones.

I find I get migraines (flashy lights etc) when I don't sleep enough - one night isn't a problem, it's more of a cumulative thing: a few nights on the trot where I'm missing half an hour, an hour etc. Reflections don't help either, polarised sunglasses are a help here.

My ex-wife was getting very sharp headaches, a bit migrainous I thnk.

In the end my osteopath found a muscle deep in her shoulder, and consequently difficult to get to, that was causing it. Worked on the muscle, including long need acupuncture, and they went for about a year and a half until bad posture at work trigered them again.

That whole muscle/trigger point thing might be worth looking into.

I used to get migraines on a regular basis when I worked in IT Support, particularly at the end of a week when I was on helpdesk duty.

When I switched to development they more or less stopped.

could they be stress related, where the bike ride is the release? Change of career perhaps?

anyhow, if I get one, two Migraleve Pink tablets as soon as I become aware of the onset more or less sorts them out - I still get a headache but it’s nowhere near as bad as it would otherwise be, and the nausea is almost nonexistent

As per TurnerGuy and martinhutch, really:

My wife used to get infrequent migraines.

For a reason I cant remember, she went to a physio who spotted a posture problem. The physio suggest a visit to a chiropractor who identified something else posture related.

Based on a few stretches and controlling her sitting and standing posture, her incidents have reduced significantly. When she does get a migraine, I can usually see has posture control has deteriorated

Try a few physios and chiropractors until you get a combo you click with.

Hope you get this sorted.

Used to get exercise related migraines quite often in hot weather, like you I had concerns of having to give up riding. Mine were definitely triggered by heavy exertion in the heat and switching from bright sunlight to shade. I've got fitter which helps with the exertion and am careful about sudden alterations in lighting immediately after rides (when changing & showering etc), not had one in about a year now so don't despair.

I only drink water when riding and have taken precautionary ibroprofen sometimes on very sunny days but not sure if that prevented it or not.

Used to get horrendous regular migraines as a child following an assault by a teacher which included a nasty concussion.

I tried absolutely everything to stop them as I had built up a hefty codeine dependency trying to mitigate the effects.

The only thing that stopped them occurring was cannabis, which I smoked for about ten years. That was fifteen years ago and I might get the start of a migraine (blurred lines, flashing spots)  two or three times a year but if I have a quick rest they go away.

How does dunking your head in cold (not freezing but cold water tap run a for a minute cold) water effect you?

I don't have problems like you but when I have a had a migraine, or even bad headaches this is one of the best things for me.  Right from neck up. Discovered it surfing in January in hail!

Apart from getting an ebike

If it's exercise/exertion related then trying an ebike might be a possible solution?

Mrs g gets a lot of headaches gets relief with antacids and paracetamol most caused by stress an staring at laptop for hours on end ..so posture is likely an issue . good luck seems like lots of good advice to try

A few ideas:

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">- try taking magnesium supplements or at least adding electrolytes to your water when riding</span>

- keep well hydrated

- as someone else mentioned above, I find that wearing glasses gives me a headache from the pressure above my ears, so I don’t wear them

- Having frequently experienced neck pain that leads to migraine, I also have physiotherapy on my neck a couple of times a year, and keep the weight in my backpack to a minimum. I stopped carrying water in a bladder and instead carry a bottle on the bike frame

Really appreciate the comments. Been a hard couple of days.

I'm thinking the following steps;

- Get a heart rate monitor, try keeping heart rate lower than 90% of max.

- Get fitter, do a couple of sessions on the turbo trainer each week, paying attention to above.

- Don't go cycling if it' due to get over 20°C or is really sunny. Have a pair of cycling sunnies to hand and take ibuprofen before I start.

- Might kick caffine on the day of a ride too.

I think my diet's fairly sound, so although I could give up more, like bread, if I'm staying off refined sugar, I need something to live for!

Can anyone recommend a heart rate monitor that gives fairly noticeable alerts when I move through zones? And some lightweight shades that I'd be able to ride with through woods. Agree with the comments above that the need to be comfy.

Cheers peeps

I have identified that my migraines have immediate and underlying causes, the underlying cause being stress.

I have changed my lifestyle and particularly my working patterns in recent years - I work as much as I can handle without anxiety, but rarely more, avoid confrontations and try to balance family/bikes/mountains/socialising to as close to optimal as I am able to plan, and I am getting better at it all the time.

When the immediate triggers come along - light, rapid temperature changes, aggression in my case I nowadays seem to have a fighting chance to take avoiding action before I succumb.

I havnt Read all the replies so I may be repeating, but...

ive always had migraines, I can have them for days. In the last few years I’ve really looked to my diet and like you have cut out many things. Everyone is different so my triggers aren’t yours but I really do think diet is key and keep looking at it, certainly some of the things you say you eat I wouldn’t touch. It’s also not sugar, bread can also kick me off, but maybe it’s sugar in that, who knows.

the other thing that really helps me is regular excercise, running mainly. If I do nothing I get migraines.

its also worth looking at what painkillers you use. I’ve found anadin extra to be brilliant at the first sign of one. Also ice on the pain point in my head, that works well.

since I’ve been doing this the difference is night and day for me to the better, so keep plugging away and search for what works for you.

Migraine sufferer since age 10 here, keep a poo diary, no poo today = migraine tomorrow. It’s like that red sky at night thing...

Helmet too tight? Are you 100% sure it isn't?

If blood levels then why cut out sugar? You might actually be needing some...diabetics can get severe headaches after a hypo if they haven't treated it quickly enough...not suggesting you a diabetic but it might be something similar.

– Get fitter, do a couple of sessions on the turbo trainer each week, paying attention to above.

I'm not sure that low heart rate workouts on a turbo are going to help, especially if there may be a temperature related element.  I've not been in a school for a very long time, but when I was the "fitness freak" staff used to pop down to the PE dept at lunch times to train.  Are you sitting on a gym without realising it?  I'm also not trying to stir up the usual "teaching is easy" debate - but I don't see any obvious reason why being a asst head excludes becoming much fitter.  FWIW my friends who are all way fitter than me have one major difference - they commute by bike.

 Helmet too tight? Are you 100% sure it isn’t?

I'm fortunate that I don't get migranes more than twice a year (but when I do they are so bad I will vomit).  I can think of nothing I would want to do less than put my MTB helmet on if I had one.  My road bike helmet is a bit cooler and less enclosed and thinking about doesn't scare me as much - perhaps there are aspects of the design/helmet choice that would help.

Nevertheless, two migraines in two rides.

Probably best not go to the science department in your school with that overwhelming volume of data showing correlation!

I’ve given up all refined sugar products  for two years (which did help) so you can see how much I’m prepared not to get one.

But you haven't tried avoiding bread or caffeine despite them being well known factors for other people?

Apart from getting an ebike.

Before going that way I'd want to eliminate the posture question (so riding different bikes) and any possibility that it is a stress related link (if it even is bike related) by riding a more relaxed route with a different group of people.  Ultimately though if it is intense exercise induced an ebike seems a sensible solution - or just walking the worst bits!

Might kick caffine on the day of a ride too.

This might have the opposite effect i.e. give you a headache. I know that migraine is different for different people. For me Sumitriptan works. Missing meals can trigger a migraine as can dehydration. Sometimes I can go for many months and just forget about them. At other times I get a migraine every few weeks for a spell. Things like cheese and red wine are irrelevent, though alcohol isn't good, obviously.

No time to read the original post nor all the replies, but my bout of migraine suffering ceased after two visits to a cranial osteopath.

She is based in Salisbury if that's anywhere near you, might be worth a visit.

I used to get migraines frequently ...

I once had a day off due to a migraine and my boss made some "don't really believe you" comments.

Then he asked what's wrong with my eye... all the blood vessels had burst...

Anyway, for me I randomly found several triggers ...

Given what everyone has already said these are specific so mine won't be yours... I guess cheese, red, wine etc. all being the common obvious ones but if it was that easy 😀

One of mine was diet ... you say you tried cutting out everything but you probably haven't, even if it feels like it.

Another was specific flowers ... (as you asked could it be the place?) - not the pollen btw... but for me geranium and lavender.... lavender actually gave me huge blisters if I rushed against it....

Stress and posture are another option for you. My unscientific feeling on this though is perhaps these are the icing on the cake and its a combination ???

Anyway, I'm of an opinion that there is a solution or are solutions for everyone.  It's just finding it or them systematically.

Bike set up? Is your riding position right for you? Lots of seatpost showing with slammed stem and straight bars or drops may work for some and I'm not suggesting that's how you set up your bikes, perhaps consider trying saddle height, stem lengths and rises, spacers, position of brake levers etc.

There seem to be a number of people here who are long term migraine sufferers, I am too, however I have identified my triggers, which to a small extent include food and drink intake and quantities, so I'm as mindful as I can be with those.

Interestingly, I identified that the main cause for my migraines was my attitude to life and how I was dealing with life, so very much a psychosomatic trigger. Resisting life, not going with the flow and fearful of being driven, especIally when I was in corporate-ville with everyone needing goals, aspirations, targets, ambition, blah blah blah blah... I'm in my mid-fifties and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up... apart from being a dolphin.

There was a lot of other stuff too obviously and what I'm suggesting is that along with your looking 'without', in terms of diet, exercise, posture, bike set up etc, also look 'within' yourself. Many ways to do that, counselling/psychotheray, meditation, yoga, mindfulness to name a few obvious ones. Find the one that works for you, rather than the ones that work for an Internet forum full of male ego's and denial 😉. I imagine there will be something that is the constant trigger 'for as long as you remember', quite possibly how you chose to interpret the messages you received and how they were delivered.

Good luck.

I don't usually have headaches but I did notice in hot weather that wearing a helmet that used pressure from the back on the front of the helmet to secure it gave me them. I switched to the Specialized helmets with the band all the way around inside (other vendors may be available I've just stuck with what works for me) and have not had a problem since. Might be a pressure point thing.

Hope you can work through it.

sbob!!!!

Jesus..... Assaulted by a teacher?  You can't just slip that into conversation and leave it like that!  What the hell happened and what was the outcome?

Cheers

OP.

DON’T DISCOUNT MUSCULAR/SKELETAL FACTORS!

Shouty block capitals aren’t usually my style, but the single biggest revelation in me reducing my migraines from once a week to a fortnight to once every six months or so was that it was being caused by my neck muscles.

Regular stretching and loosening up exercises for my shoulders, neck and mid back seem to hold them at bay (fingers crossed). Nearly everyone goes for dietary, or hydration triggers first, but I know a good few people whose migraines were physically triggered. I know a couple of people who never had migraines, but started physio for bad necks after computer-based jobs and that started them having migraines.

Just to say, also, that I would really urge you to keep exploring the options. I have found migraines very debilitating over the years and considered giving up various things, but don’t let them rule your life!