12 MONTHS SINCE I DID THE DEED
It's a bit scary putting a close up of my ear and face on the screen - all those years of wear and tear are on display for all to see, but you can't show a picture of an ear piercing without having part of your face end up in the picture!It's been just over 12 months since I took the plunge and had my daith pierced to see if it would help the chronic debilitating headaches I dealt with several times a week for most of my adult life. I wrote a post on it last year after a few months (HERE) to describe what it had been like and what my thoughts were on the process.
SCEPTICISM
I'm a bit of a sceptic when it comes to anything that's a bit out of mainstream. I know lots of women who love New Age remedies, alternate medicines and treatments, and Eastern philosophies etc. I'm not one of them - I tend to stick with modern medicine and what the doctor tells me.But when you've had headaches for years and soldiered on through the working day loaded up on painkillers, when you've tried several different doctors, when you've Googled all the remedies and reasons you can think of, the time comes to look outside of the box. That's what I did and that's where the whole daith piercing idea came from.
RESEARCH
I'm big on checking into things, I looked online for as much info as I could find and joined a Facebook group (The Daith Club - For Migraineurs) that was specifically geared to daith piercing for migraine relief and had reputable piercers on there giving advice that made a lot of sense.There hasn't really been any definitive research into the effectiveness of the piercing in regard to whether it works - although there is this research from the Minnesota Physical Medicine Blog that is in process. It seems to lean towards there being a correlation between the piercing and a reduction in headaches:
"The general consensus is that the majority of individuals who underwent the daith piercing procedure for migraine relief showed marked improvement in all modalities, although it is worth nothing that for a small percentage of individuals, their migraines got worse after the piercing."
MY EXPERIENCE
After a year of having the piercing I can say beyond a doubt that my headaches have significantly reduced in frequency and intensity. I no longer end up vomiting in the mornings, I don't need several lots of painkillers in a single day, I can go for weeks without a headache, or with a mild headache that responds to food and a cup of coffee. It has made my life a lot more pleasant.I checked with my husband (who has to live with me and my headaches) and he agrees that there has been a big improvement. Neither of us sees it as a miracle cure, but I'll take an 80% reduction any day. My only wish is that I'd found out about it sooner and tried it when I first discovered it, instead of dithering around the decision.
EARRINGS
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| my original earring my preferred titanium earring |
END RESULT?
So, would I recommend a Daith piercing after a year's trial? Without a doubt. If it doesn't work, then you still have a pretty cool piercing, or you can take it out. You need to have it done by someone who has lots of experience (I've seen some horrible mistakes online where inexperienced piercers have put it in completely the wrong place and caused a lot of problems). You have to be prepared to treat it with TLC for the first few months - and maybe ride out an irritation bump or two.Ultimately it comes down to how much you hate having migraines and chronic headaches - after 30 years of them I was ready to try just about anything, so this was a walk in the park and I just wish I'd done it sooner.
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional nor am I providing medical guidance. This post should not be taken as specific health advice. It’s a post that relates only to my own health. If you have similar issues, I'd advise you to speak to your own Doctor or health professional.
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Daith piercing is something that I knew nothing about. I am so glad that it has helped to reduce your headaches. As I know many migraine sufferers, I will definitely pass on this information.
ReplyDeleteI figure anything is worth a shot if you are a chronic headache/migraine sufferer. The amount of meds I've taken is ridiculous - every pill I don't take is one less damaging my kidneys etc
DeleteIsn't that interesting!!!
ReplyDeleteI thought so Leanne - and stranger still is that it actually seems to work!
DeleteI had never heard of ti either but anything which helps reduce those headaches must be good. I have very few headaches since I went through menopause as many of mine were linked to the time of the month (even with a hysterectomy because my ovaries were left). I too have had some severe pains down the side of my jaws from the head and the dentist diagnosed TMJ. However, since the cancer nothing tops that & I shall see how things improve following the surgery! Thank you linking up....and I shall be back!! Denyse xx
ReplyDeleteMine are hormonal too Denyse and no sign of menopause in my near future (weird as that may seem) I don't think it helps TMJ type problems, but certainly normal headaches and migraines seem to be relieved by it for the majority.
DeleteThat's incredible. I have never heard about daith piercing to help migraines. I have a couple of friends who suffer from migraines. I'm definitely going to tell them about this.
ReplyDeleteOnce you start researching there's a lot of anecdotal evidence out there Melody - still early days, but it's certainly gathering momentum.
DeleteI have never heard of this! I've struggled with chronic headaches since my teens. Rounds of muscle relaxers and migraine meds help, but who can live on muscle relaxers?! I'm glald this had worked for you! I'm such a chicken, though, I don't know if I can do this, haha!
ReplyDeleteI put it off for quite a while because I thought it would be a waste of time and money (and pain) but it hurt a lot less than a chronic headache does and I have reduced how many painkillers I take by at least 70% so I figure it was worth it Wendy.
DeleteI was interestied when you wrote your first post, now I am really interested! Yes I get migraines. On my right temple more so I will look into who is experienced to have it done on my right ear. I am thinking my acupuncturist might be a good source. She knows her way around a needle
ReplyDeleteJoin the FB group I mentioned in the post Haralee - they have a wealth of information and it would give you a better idea of who to go to and how to look after it. I'm expecting you to email me a pic if you ever take the plunge (or it might warrant a blog post!)
DeleteOMG, I never even knew this was a "thing" but now since you have the picture and wrote about this, it makes sense. My doctor appointment I wrote about this week....the doctor I saw had this and I had never seen this before. I was going to ask her but forgot... glad it is working for you...
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those things where something done for appearance had a secondary benefit and now people are doing it for the secondary benefit rather than the appearance. I think anything that kills headaches is worth a shot Renee!
DeleteAmazing! And the funny thing is that this treatment has probably been around for eons! So glad this worked for you. Passing this on to my family members who are chronic sufferers.
ReplyDeleteI think different piercings have become a lot more popular in the last decade or so Diane and this one was a rarer one until the headache factor came into play. It's quite a discrete piercing so a good one to get if you're not a bit "out there"
DeleteThis is new to me. Have at least two friends with debilitating migraines. Have shared on my Facebook timeline and about to tag them. Glad it worked to you. Can't imagine if it made it worse!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was worth a shot Leisa - a small minority say it didn't help and maybe a sore ear didn't help but the vast majority are reporting an improvement and that FB group I mention has thousands of followers so there must be something to it.
DeleteI hadn't heard about Daith piercing until your post last year Leanne. So glad it has helped you. BTW are they two more piercings you've had done LOL:) Have a great day x
ReplyDeleteThey were piercings I used to have that I stopped wearing earrings in - I think the daith inspired me to ressurect them Sue - I might take them out again when I get sick of them - but not the daith!
DeleteI'm glad you have found relief. I considered giving it a try but a co-worker has not had any luck at all with her Daith piercing. And her ear hurt for an extended period of time. Aren't migraines just the pits? Mine are easing up (after 20 years of having them) and I believe that is from being very pre-menopausal. I'm so happy for you for finding some relief.
ReplyDeleteMine definitely have a hormonal component to them Dawn - and I'm hoping that one day they might disappear on their own. I think the piercing is something that has to be done in the right place by an experienced piercer and looked after well. Mine wasn't particularly sore. But it doesn't work for everyone - I guess it depends on what you're willing to try if you want to reduce all the meds.
DeleteWow, I've never even heard of it before Leanne!
ReplyDeleteIt's not really common knowledge Deb - but when you get desperate you find answers in all sorts of strange places :)
DeleteI'm so glad it worked for you. I remember reading the first post when you decided to try it.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's been a year since I had it done Jennifer, but it's been a lot more pleasant and a lot less medicated year - win/win!
DeleteSO fascinating. I am glad it has given you some relief.
ReplyDeleteme too Paula - it's interesting what weird little things our body has that we don't know about until someone randomly discovers them.
DeleteI'd never heard of Daith piercing! Hallelujah! I've never understood body piercings. Probably why I was 45 before I had my ears pierced.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly a big trend to have multiple piercings and tattoos these days Brenda, but a lot of people have this one as their only "out there" piercing - other than just the one in each earlobe - because it's worth a shot at killing off these headaches.
DeleteWOW! You go lady! never knew this would help headaches but so glad it worked for you! Sure is better than taking all those toxic meds.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Leanne! Your post received the Most Clicks at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty. See here: http://grammysgrid.com/wednesday-aim-link-party-21/
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you found something that helped reduce your headaches. One of the side effects of sleep apnea is that I wake every morning with a slight headache, but I didn't realise it until the doctor mentioned it! I really noticed a difference when I started using a CPAP machine.
ReplyDeleteI got no relief from mine. But I love the piercing; it's super cute!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was the same - she says it didn't help her's (that are caused by tension and clenching her jaw) but she loves the piercing so it was still a win.
DeleteEntão... Depois de 38 anos de sofrimento com enxaqueca, finalmente tenho o alÃvio das dores depois de ter colocado um daith piercing a 6 meses... É inacreditável, mas é a pura verdade! Pudera eu ter tido essa "LUZ" a muitos anos atrás...
ReplyDeleteHi Marcia - it does make a big difference doesn't it? I wish I'd discovered it sooner too because it would have meant suffering through a LOT less headaches!
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