Migraines in Teens and Kids

There’s nothing worse than watching your children suffer in pain. Migraines in teens and kids can come with a whole variety of symptoms.

Knowing what to look for, how to communicate, and locating the proper resources is essential for their well being.

I had my first migraine headache when I was around twelve, and my fifteen-year-old son just had his first migraine or tension headache a couple of weeks ago.

I’ve had life-changing success with the daith piercing for migraines, and while I have no idea if this would help adolescents, it might be worth discussing with your doctor.

About Migraines in Teenagers and Kids

Thanks to the Diamond Headache Clinic, the oldest and largest headache center, I’ve got a great slideshow to share with you.

Wow. I had never even heard of abdominal migraine before. The human body is so complex and interesting.

It never ceases to amaze me how all our nerves intertwine and how we process and perceive pain.

Now, let’s be super clear, aside from taking a few university level anatomy and physiology classes–while I loved every second and aced them all–I am not a doctor.

Because kids and adolescents are still growing, a lot is still changing in their bodies–physically and chemically. It makes sense that their symptoms of migraine and other types of headache would manifest differently.

Each of us is so unique. My migraines came with very specific signs that others may share or have no similarity.

Know What to Look For

Any time your child changes behavior–starts sleeping more, eating more or less, looks groggy, or is acting ‘off,’ you should take note and talk to your doctor.

Some of these behaviors are typical of growing teens. My son can sleep 20 hours a day and eat 16 meals in the 4 hours he manages to stay awake when he’s going through a growth spurt.

But when he was wincing in his sleep from the pain in his head, I knew something was up.

I’m not positive that he was experiencing a true migraine headache or a tension headache.

We are going to discuss more with his doctor, but because of our family history, if he’s going to start having issues with migraines, being proactive is so important.

Communicating Pain

Expressing feelings can be a struggle for adults. With kids, it can be almost impossible if they are in agony and don’t understand why.

Depending on their age, it’s important to ask the right questions.

• Where is the pain? Have them point to it.
• Is it sharp? Constant? Throbbing?
• Does it hurt to look at the light?
• Are you dizzy?
• Can you eat? (The answer can help determine if they’re nauseated or not.)

These and other questions will be asked by your doctor, and the proper treatment plan will be put into action.

This might include medications, lifestyle changes, and/or further tests.

Because I’ve had such excellent results with my ear piercing for migraines, I highly suggest talking about it with your doctor.

Again, I have no idea if this could help children, but it’s definitely worth researching.

Also discuss possible diet changes with your doctor. Maybe decreasing sugar and processed foods can be a quick fix for reducing migraines. It’s worth a try before taking harsh medications.

Have your teen keep a journal or do it for them. Write down what they eat in a day, their activities, and how they feel. After a few months, you may notice clear patterns.

Perhaps certain foods are triggering a migraine. If you keep a journal, trigger foods will be a lot easier to spot. For me, it’s dark chocolate and soy. Either one of those two foods equals guaranteed migraine pain for me.

If you are looking for more information or to find a doctor specializing in migraines in teens, visit the Diamond Headache Clinic online.

Do you know of any teenagers suffering from migraines?

Do they know about the migraine piercing?