Chamonix Osteopath

20/10/2020

Really good advice about letdown migraines. It’s really useful to be aware of a variety of triggers that may push you over the headache threshold. Also useful to know that a decrease in cortisol can be a trigger also as stress reduces.

When a migraine comes on at the end of a busy workday, it's often a case of a Letdown Headache - a common pattern. Get 8 tips to prevent another attack.

13/09/2020

Bye I’m off.
Thanks to Neil and Jackie and all my colleagues and patients at La Clinique du Sport for an enjoyable couple of years in Chamonix. Berkshire is going to seem particularly flat after 12 years in the mountains.

09/09/2020

Hanging out in the Val Ferret today enjoying my last few days in the mountains before returning to Berkshire where apparently it is impossible to climb outdoors.

09/09/2020

Let's all raise our voices- wait, bad idea- for Migraine Awareness Week. This week is widely celebrated across the globe, including in the UK and Australia.

Each day in the UK alone, there are over 190,000 people suffering from a migraine attack. In about 75% of undergraduate medical schools in England, headache medicine is not even included in the curriculum. So if you feel like your doctor is not providing you with proper validation and care- there may be a reason. Less than 50% of migraine patients are satisfied with their current treatment.

What is your favorite fact about migraine that you wish the world better understood?

17/08/2020

💣Truth bomb- there’s no cure for migraine. That’s right- as a genetic disease, we will never be "cured." However, there is tremendous hope for managing migraine and keeping our attacks in remission. Let’s go over a few of the most common preventives and tips on finding the right one for you!

Believe it or not, CGRP monoclonal antibodies were the first drugs EVER designed specifically for migraine, and they only came to the US market in 2019. These other classes of preventives were originally designed for other conditions, but evidence has proven that they can also effectively treat migraine disease. So when a doctor prescribes an antidepressant, they are not claiming that depression is the cause of your migraine disease or that you are depressed at all. These medications simply are effective in treating multiple conditions.

So who should take a preventive medication? You and your physician should discuss if a preventive makes sense for you. You may want to consider a preventive if: you have more than one migraine attack a week, your acute treatment isn't effective enough, or you are unable to take acute treatments.

So what classification is right for me? Unfortunately, there is not enough research done for your doctor to determine which class of drugs may work most effectively for you. They will consider any pre-exisiting conditions, other medications you take and your lifestyle to determine where to start. It may take quite a bit of trial and error to find an effective medication and dosage. You might even find that a combination of drugs works best.

Remember, as there is no "cure" for migraine, we are focused on progress, not perfection. A treatment plan is deemed successful if you achieve a 50% reduction in frequency and severity of attacks. This is why a migraine diary is crucial to successful management of your treatment!

Do you take a preventive? What has been your experience?

17/08/2020

I’ve always found this to be quite interesting due to wandering vagus nerve.

Migraines affect the digestive system, and scientists discovered that the gut affects migraines. Explore the gut-brain connection and its migraine link.

08/08/2020

I’m absolutely devastated by the loss of my friend and climbing mentor Jean Louis Le Garrec.

07/08/2020

Another fun day out learning with Chamex and Arcteryx. It was hot but the mountains were spectacular in the sun.