Posts
145
Joined
9/5/2012
Location
Highland mills, NY, USA
Edited Date/Time
12/8/2020 12:11am
I get wicked bad migraines anytime I ride. I have been riding since I was 6 and love the sport but the idea that I'll be vomiting, sweating, dizzy and having wicked head pain makes it terrifying to ride. I thought it was just during the hotter months but it seems to be more and more no matter the temperature. I've tried everything I can think of and nothing helps. Anyone else experience any form of this? Any ideas, meds that help or eliminate it?
. I’m 75% sure my migraines are stem from breaking my nose as a kid a couple times, and having a bad deviated septum. I’ll take a Zyrtec before I ride to help open airway (not even sure if it helps that much) and excedrin post ride. I drink a ton water throughout the week. I’ve been trying to get sent to an ENT for a while now, but my Dr always wants to try “something else” before a referral.
-Race fuel (or exhaust of any kind)
-Something in the dirt where you ride
-Sunlight?
-Are you eating bananas, protein shakes, or some other possible food trigger?
-A heavy helmet
-Noise
-Do you get migraines when you do other outside activities?
Your best bet would be to eliminate them one at a time.
EDIT: My wife gets terrible migraines every week, so I know your struggle. I hope you can overcome it.
Now I just get a super uncomfortable stomach cramp every few rides..
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They really hindered my riding when I was a little younger because I would hold back and not exert too much. Once you cross the line the debilitating headache that would soon follow was not worth it.
Now I’m 35 and have found something that works for me 95% of the time. I can ride as hard as I want for for as long as I want and not die from a headache later most of the time.
It’s called Methylfolate.
I discovered through a totally different issue that my body does not break down folic acid as it should. It’s called MTHFR. Look it up. There are a few types of this and it’s being studied more and more.
I can now take some methylfolate directly after I’m done riding and be ok.
I get mine from a vitamin shop.
It’s worth a try!
Consider seeing a chiro regularly. Everyone is different but I'm seeing results from regular visits.
Even later in life when I moved to Phoenix and suffered through my first summer, I had to adjust and drink even more as my migraines settled back in. I didn't realize how much water I was losing in sweat because of the dry heat and I wasn't soaking wet like in higher humidity climates.
In addition to water, my go-to these days are the Ryno Power Electrolyte pills and Hydration mix.
Pit Row
Not migraines, but my friends and I used to always talk about "Moto-headaches" after a day of racing. Now that we're a little older and smarter, pretty sure they were the product of a combination of dehydration, sun, exhaust fumes and exhaustion. Still get them from time to time but they go away with rehydration and something to eat.
At the smallest hint of a migraine, I take one. Usually holds the pain under control, and I can function "almost" normaly.
If it has already started, then it takes at least a couple hours to work.
As I've gotten older I get less headaches. I think the main reason is because I have leaned my triggers over the years and work to minimize them. Dehydration is my biggest one. I have learned that my digestive system just does not absorb liquids efficiently. I can drink gallons, piss my brains out, and still be dehydrated. In the Army, combat medic training and using IV's at races helped me understand how much better I felt when I could bypass my digestive system. Don't discount dehydration as a source for your headaches by saying "I drink lots of water". I've found I need lots of electrolytes. Too much water just dilutes your electrolytes and can be counterproductive. Also, avoid purified water like Aquafina or Nestle Pure Life. It has little to no electrolytes in it. I have a subscription with Hydrant now it and it makes it much easier for me to stay on top of my hydration and get Electrolytes. I drink 2 packs a day.
I am very sun sensitive. I am a photo-sensitive sneezer. If I am in the sun for 10 minutes without sunglasses or tinted goggles it is a guaranteed headache. I am sensitive to strong smells, especially chemical smells. When I get a headache, my senses get hyper-sensitive. Light, noise, smells will make my head pound horribly.
When I am at the track, I stay on top of hydration, stay out of the sun as much as possible, and try to avoid overheating. I will change all my gear between motos because sweat logged gear does not breathe and I can feel myself overheating. I've had 2 total heat strokes while in the Army so I am really careful about this.
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