Silberstein himself has suffered migraine pain since childhood. You push through the day. That's what migraine patients do, they push. The first crucial issue, says Silberstein, is for patients to get involved in their own care. Aerobic exercise increases the brain's production of endorphins, chemicals that reduce pain and enhance mood.
Exercise also helps people sleep better, which is important because insomnia can cause migraines.
Patients should tell doctors what they want and don't want with medications. Some are willing to accept more side effects to get rid of headache pain. Some are willing to accept more pain and discomfort as long as the medicine doesn't affect their ability to function. Not all pain medications work for all pain disorders. She found relief in an injectable medication that halts her migraines before they become full-blown.