Favorite Migraine Tools for Attacks

June 2, 2022Colie

a flat lay of migraine tools including salonpas, seabands, ear plugs, nerivio, and a icepack headband

Sometimes you can’t stop a migraine, but here’s a list of my favorite migraine tools to help ease the pain and feel better.

Migraine attacks are rough. Even when you bring in the hardcore abortives, you still have to ride out the effects of the attacks. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite migraine tools to help with the symptoms that wear you down over time. I want to give credit to two wonderful creators that I have learned so much about migraine from: Momming with Migraine and Migraine Babe.

a screenshot of the headache app with the month of headache days and a place to log headaches

N1 Headache

This is the migraine tracking app I’ve been using for about 2 years now, and I really like it. It’s very easy to use. There is a paid version that I think it worth it for the extra features, but you can try it out for free first to see if you like it. It lets you log a bunch of factors and add your own. It compiles the data over 3 months and will tell you possible triggers and protectors. This app is how I discovered that citrus was triggering my attacks. If you aren’t willing to keep a food journal (which is a ton of work), this app will keep track of common migraine triggers like onions, nitrates, caffeine, and citrus. I don’t think I would have figured that out otherwise. You can export your data and share it with a healthcare provider. It was well worth the $50 for me in the end. I’ve also heard good things about Migraine Buddy, but I didn’t want to change up what was working for me.

Colie wearing the icepack headband around her head covering her ears

Koldtech Halo

This wearable head icepack is amazing! Often, cold can help with the throbbing head pain, or it can at least distract you a bit with another sensation. I used to wrap a big clunky ice pack around my head which worked, but I looked ridiculous. I love this one because you can wear it with out looking too weird and the small icepacks that slide in to the headband are more directed to pain points around your head.

Pillow Cube

I bought this pillow in a point of desperation (it’s very expensive), but it turned out to be amazing! It’s a foam pillow designed for side sleepers. I always woke up with neck pain, and this really helped with that. I don’t know if this directly affected my migraines, but it’s all about lessening triggers wherever you can! Honestly, I recommend it to any side sleeper even if you don’t get headaches.

an overhead shot of the teal foam cranio cradle

Cranium Cradle

This funky little piece of foam is designed to apply pressure to points at the base of the skull when you lay on it. I love using this when I feel like there is tension in my neck. I like to lay on it while I do mindfulness activities to try and relax.

a white hand with the black sea band around the wrist. The white acupressure point is centered on the inside of the wrist.

Sea Bands

Sea bands are designed to wear on your wrists and press on an acupressure point that helps with nausea. They are great for motion sickness, and I wear them if I know I’m going to be in the car for a while. I feel like they help me with the queasy, lightheaded feeling I get if I’m in the car too long. I wore these on my last Disney trip, and I think they made a difference. There is another brand that look cute and more discrete that I want to try next.

Loop Earplugs

Sound sensitivities are common with migraine attacks, and for me loud noises like fireworks are definitely a trigger for me. I love the loop earplugs because they are small, discreet, and comfortable to sleep with. They have two versions that I like for different situations. The “Quiet” version is silicone and blocks out most sound. I love these for sleeping when I’ve got severe sound sensitivity and all the sounds in the house are bothering me.

The also have another version that dampens background noise, but still lets you hear people talking. I like to wear these when I’m in a loud store or I’ve got mild sound sensitivity. They are also great for concerts and movie theatres that are just a bit too loud. I feel like these take off some of the edge and can help if I’m feeling like I’m on the verge of an attack.

These are some of the migraine tools I rely on to make it through my attacks and even prevent them at times. Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll dive more into prescription options and other devices that are out there to use as an acute treatment. I want to dedicate a whole post to my favorite non-drug tool Nerivio and the science behind it.