This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Wisconsin chapter.

They’re just the absolute worst. Read this to get some advice on how to better cope with head pain.

I have dealt with head pain for as long as I can remember. I was tired of letting my migraines rule over my life, so I went to see a chiropractor in the spring of 2019. He diagnosed me, saying that my pain was due to cervicogenic headaches. A reduced range of motion in my neck worsens my headaches and condenses them in one spot on the right side of the back of my head. The pain with any type of headache or migraine can be unbearable. There are lots of lists out there, but this is my personal list of what I found over the years helps me.

Icy Hot works wonders: I recommend making a run to Walgreens, Target or Dollar General (whatever’s closest) and getting Icy Hot cream. The liquid and spray also work, but I personally prefer the cream. You can also get this in the Biofreeze brand – it doesn’t make any difference. Rubbing this stuff on the back of your neck will feel so soothing when you have a headache.
Epsom salts are your best friend: On your drug store run, I recommend buying a bag of Epsom salts. The lavender scent is my favorite. The store brand will work just as well as the name brand and it’ll be cheaper. There are so many things you can do with the salts. You can relax in a bath with them. You can get a bucket with some hot water and soak your feet with them. Or, you can take a shower and let it sit on the floor, allowing the vapors to rise up.
Electrolytes are an absolute must: While you’re out, get a drink with electrolytes. Pedialyte, Gatorade and Body Armor all work great. My personal favorite is the sugar-free Glacier Freeze Gatorade. If you’re like me, you’re probably dehydrated and you don’t realize it. Although chugging water never makes me feel better, slowly drinking a drink with electrolytes does.
Track your headaches: Write down when you get headaches and report specific details and symptoms in a journal or an app. I use the Migraine Buddy app, which I recommend. Recording your head pain can help you see if weather, diet, sleep, medications, or other things may be causing your headaches. If you decide to seek professional help for your headaches, your recorded history is helpful for them to see.
Medical intervention as a last resort: Seeking medical help for my migraines was the best decision I ever made. I went every three weeks for a while and it greatly reduced the severity of my head pain. But after about two years, I was still getting them while visiting the chiropractor, so I visited a neurologist who prescribed me medication. There is a whole variety of medications one can choose from. I decided on topiramate, which is actually an anti-seizure medication, but can also be used for migraines. It made me incredibly exhausted at first, but I got used to it after a couple of weeks. Now, three months later, I can confidently say that I have been migraine-free since starting the medication and stopping my visits to the chiropractor.

Migraines and headaches suck. Experimenting with different methods of treatment is a surefire way to see what works best for you. Best of luck with easing your head pain!

My Tips and Tricks for Dealing with Headaches and Migraines

They’re just the absolute worst. Read this to get some advice on how to better cope with head pain.

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