Migraines are not just a headache, they are a neurological disease.

I get tension headaches, dull headaches, left ice pick migraines, and then of course the Skull Smusher AKA the brain ATTACK.

I've had a "tension headache" for about a week now. I have tightness around the forehead and back of the head. It feels like a rubber band being stretched back and fourth. The pain is not "horrific" nor is it "mind blowing" but it does hurt. It's almost a kind of hurt that is just annoying and aggravating because you can feel it at all times. I have to say though, I did take my acetaminophen/butalbtal this morning at 7 am.  I had just had enough of it and wanted to knock it out. Sure enough the RX did just that.

The migraines: They come on sudden, I can feel my pulse increase, and I can feel my blood pressure go up. The pulsating is "ungodly pain". It is like your brain living in it's own personal torture chamber. The pain is without doubt "horrific" and words can't describe it. It's beyond verbal explanation. It feels like a roll of thunder going off in my brain while the scalp feels like the pulsating heart is going to rip it's way right through every hair follicle I have. These defiantly call for the "RX".  I don't even waste my time on OTC anymore trying to ward off this kind of pain. So for me, the "pain" and formation is the difference. I know everyone's pain is different and no one particular migraine is the same for any of us.

I remember this one poster that came along a while back, and he was trying to come on the board and say that HIS  "Cluster" migraine was worse than any migraine any of us on the board could have. My reply... "Sir", Clusters are without doubt supposedly the MOTHER of all Migraines, BUT do not judge the pain of your cluster to the pain of my Skull Smasher, because I can guarantee they are one of the same if not worse. I don't necessarily think it's about the "type" of headache or migraine you get. It's the pain that accompanies it and how your body tolerates that pain. So to that guy who said his "Cluster" was the suicide migraine, please do walk a day in the life of others before you make a such a statement. Please begin with me, I'll gladly pass you the SM for about 15 min's, and I'll show you another sucidial migraine that doesn't bear the name "Cluster"; then come see me, let's talk and see if you feel the same way?  I'm sure a LOT of us have had migraines with such severity that a bullet seemed to be the only RX that would work. Of course this is irrational thinking, but never less it is "thinking" that has at one time or another occurred to us with that kind of unbearable pain .I guess it all boils down to the "pain". 

I currently take Prescription Magnesium Oxide 400 mg's twice a day for prevention. I have Toradol (NSAD) for pain in action, and I also take Bupap (acetaminophen/butalbtal) for the severe ones. I have Topamax for prevention, but I haven't started it yet. (still a bit scared of those side effects.)