How to Treat an Opthalmoplegic Migraine

The term ophthalmoplegic migraine is a misnomer. The ophthalmoplegic migraine isn't a migraine at all, and it's now classified by the Classification of Headache of the International Headache Society as a neuralgia. The pain caused by this condition centralizes around a patient's eyes, causing a headache. This rare condition mostly affects young children who also experience transient palsies of the extra-ocular muscle along with eye pain and dilated pupils. The ophthalmoplegic migraine affects the third cranial nerve. The patient suffering from ophthalmoplegic migraine pain can take some steps to relieve the agony.

Instructions

• 1

  Lose ophthalmoplegic migraine pain by monitoring your diet. Keeping nutrients and vitamins in balance keeps your body functioning properly and prevents blockage that worsens migraines.

• 2

  Keep a symptom journal, tracking each time an ophthalmoplegic migraine occurs. Include changes, environmental surroundings, exercise and activities you participated in before the ophthalmoplegic migraine onset. This journaling can help determine factors you might manipulate to alleviate ophthalmoplegic migraine pain.

• 3

  Take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve and Anaprox).

• 4

  Rest and relax as much as possible when the pain hits. Stress increases the pain, and relaxation helps it recede. A lack of sleep can contribute to prolonged headache attacks and catching up with sleep removes the pain in some patients.

• 5

  Consult with your personal physician regarding medications you might take to treat an ophthalmoplegic migraine. Take the medication according to the doctor's instructions to alleviate pain and to prevent the migraine from getting worse.

• 6

  Massage pressure points near the eye where the pain radiates. Massage stimulates blood circulation and provides headache relief.

• 7

  Follow-up with a detailed eye exam after experiencing ophthalmoplegic migraines. Vision tests rule out other eye diseases and uncover new symptoms. If conditions worsen, the eye exams help the primary care physician determine which steps to take for the patient's optimal pain relief.