Navigating Teen Migraine – How a Small Medical Device Can Make a Big Difference!
This blog is part of an educational project supported in part by Theranica, maker of the Nerivio REN.
“I was 12 when my migraine attacks started. Up until that point, my two main concerns in life were getting into the cast of the school play, and hoping my crush would notice me during study halls! Suddenly, my whole focus shifted. Now my thoughts and energy revolved around pain management, treatment plans, and possible courses of action for my health.” (Lily R.)
Migraine often strikes early in life, impacting teenagers, “tweens,” and even young children. As an invisible disease about which there is still too little that is known, migraine changed my life for good. From age 12 my “normal” life was put on hold as I learned to recognize attack triggers, became accustomed to new and unwanted routines. I had to navigate the complex world of disease treatment. For the average adult, learning to manage migraine can be challenging to say the least. For a teenager or young child, it is just outright overwhelming. Already facing a myriad of challenges as we navigate schoolwork, extracurriculars, sports, and just plain old “coming of age,” migraine quickly becomes the “gift that keeps on giving” – a gift that we can’t give back, no matter how awkward or stressful our lives already are.
Migraine Medications for Teens?
After my migraine attacks began, I quickly started taking medication to try and control them. For me, honestly, it wasn’t a huge deal to take medication, because I already had other health challenges in my life that I’d been dealing with for many years. However, for many young people, and certainly for their parents, the idea of having to start a medication regimen so young can be truly daunting. There are concerns about side effects, interactions with other conditions, or just plain distaste about putting something foreign into our bodies – especially when we are so young.
The reality is that most medications given to children for migraine have not been tested on kids under 18… let alone kids who aren’t even teenagers yet. And yet the alternative – not treating the attacks – seems impossible. For parents watching their child in agony, hidden away in a dark and quiet room, not knowing when the pain will stop, not knowing when the next attack will begin…the choices can seem impossible. One mother of sons with migraine wrote about her experience during the adolescent years:
“Each day was another challenging stepping stone, just trying to navigate what seemed to be a treacherous and uncrossable river. There were no good choices; only bad and worse ones. Going through debilitating migraine attacks myself was terrible; but watching two of my sons go through it starting at age 9, was beyond heartbreaking. Each treatment option seemed to cause worse problems than the ones before. The unknown was often terrifying. And yet, NOT treating was untenable.” (Shoshana L.)
Medical Devices for Migraine?
Thankfully the migraine treatment landscape is finally starting to change, and one of those key changes is the rise of FDA-cleared medical devices. There are currently 6 FDA-cleared medical devices for migraine, and three of them can be used to both PREVENT and STOP attacks for adolescents age 12 and up. One of these devices, the Nerivio REN, is cleared for children as young as 8! This is potentially life-changing for so many. Along with countless others, I WISH Nerivio had been around when I first started my migraine journey. I can’t help but feel that it would have transformed my experience – not to mention my parents’ heartbreak as they watched me navigate the early years of migraine disease. However, I am so grateful that it is available now and that I can add it to my migraine toolbox. It’sa treatment that does not have any of the side effects often seen with medications.
Once I was introduced to the Nerivio, which wasn’t until I was halfway through college, I immediately fell in love with it. I loved that I could control it through an app on my phone. I didn’t need to leave a class to use it. And, most of the time my friends and teachers didn’t even know that I had it on, because it would be hidden underneath a sleeve or sweater. It even has a tracker which helps me see how many migraine days I have each month and whether they are getting fewer or not. But, what’s most useful about the Nerivio for me, is the sense of security it brings to every day. It is tiny and fits in any backpack, purse, or clutch, and so I can take it with me anywhere. Just knowing I have the Nerivio with me at all times literally changes my whole day. It’s like having an extra layer of protection, and I love it!
Nerivio Has Given Me Back Some Control
What is most sad to me, as I see other young people struggling to come to terms with this disease, is that most people don’t take migraine seriously. Despite it being a complex neurological disease that is often disabling, there is still a tendency for people to just take it in their stride. Kids are often not believed, or parents simply don’t know what to do to help. Teens frequently end up missing out on classes, extracurriculars, and social events. Many times, “sufferers” are called melodramatic, or they are accused of using migraine as an excuse. The stigma itself can be terrible. However, this is where, again, devices such as Nerivio can be a lifesaver. Medications can “knock you out” for a few hours, or even days. If you start a Nerivio treatment quickly enough, it can be possible to just keep going with your plans.
Honestly, my life, pre and post discovery of the Nerivio, has been completely different. I am calmer, my anxiety levels about migraine have greatly decreased as I have found something to give me back a bit of control. And, I am able to feel safe knowing that even when I get an attack, I have the tools to be able to work through it. Now I am also passionate about wanting to raise awareness and help other young people who live with migraine – especially the adolescent migraine community. Young people SHOULDN’T feel cast aside or ignored when they are struggling to come to terms with this disease. They SHOULDN’T feel blamed or stigmatized for something that is not their fault. They SHOULD be taken seriously when they talk about symptoms such as debilitating pain, vomiting, brain fog, speech changes, and more. And they SHOULD be made aware of, and given access to, devices such as Nerivio, which have the potential of giving them back their lives.
Let Us Know…
Are you a teen with migraine, or are you the parent of a teen with migraine? Have you ever tried a medical device such as Nerivio to help manage your attacks? What has it been like living with this disease for you?