Those sticky Ice pad things.

They are called, I think Migraine Ice in the US and 4 Head here. Doubtless there are others.
Has anyone ever gotten anything from them?

They sent some out from our MAA to trial.
Apparently they were thought to be quite good.
For me they are totally useless. Don't even touch the pain.

Wondered whether its just me, or they are only for media type migraine...

They're a complete waste of money and IMHO, are just something created for the landfill.

The only thing that works is something that is truly frozen. The things you are talking about seem to have eucalyptus or something in them to make you think they're cold.

They do have something minty ish dont they?
I was amazed when they did the test and members of the Migraine group voted them good.
It did make me wonder what kind of migraines some of these people have.
But far be it from me to be controversial....

it was such a waste of money for me...i make my own wraps..just cloth and fill them with rice...stick them in the freezer...my family calls them my night caps...i have several so i can alternate threw the night if i need too..

magic

All of the "icy/hot" topical preparations function as a distraction. Our brain only can focus on one spot that hurts so it provides a skin irritant which re-focuses your brain away from the area that is hurting. If it works then it's usually a safe cheep method of pain control.

Narcotics diminish the stress/fear reaction from pain but don't stop the pain signals. You just interpret them differently in a non-threatening way.

Thanks Brent. I guess they work for some people, but cant imagine them helping full on migraine.
Some of the people in survey must have been less effected I guess.

Interesting, Brent. Wonder if that's why it always seems like my pain moves around? I always feel like I'm chasing my migraine around in various spots.

Those patches never worked for me. They just don't stay cold enough for long. I need super-cold on my head!

I have people come in with that stuff smeared all over them and my room starts reaking bad. Then my sinuses get irritated and the fun starts.

uhhhmmm. nope.
Not for migraine at least.
I prefer real ice packs. They give me real relief and help me to abort attacks when I don't want to use abortives.

I have 6 blue gel ice packs in my freezer and I use them all the time (except at work). I do use lavendar essential oil at work to distract myself from the pain/calm myself down.

Often I wonder if my co-workers smell the lavendar and think "another migraine". Although I do not discuss my migraines ever, b/c I had to be hospitalized, and have missed some work and have a ton of appointments, word is out that I have them.

I have ice packs in the freezer. They are getting old and don't freeze like they used to.
Cant seem to find them here any more.
They do help my pain, I usually use all 6 of them whilst hoping medication will kick in.
Never got rid of it, but good distraction.

Used to use lavender, but the smell now makes me nauseous.

I'm also one of the very few folks out there that has the reverse response to lavender...most find it helpful and soothing...not me!

I tried the icy sticky things...no response. I too find real ice or ice packs to be much more helpful.

I've tried icy hot patches, and I'm not very impressed with them--no real benefit. The smell can be quite strong of methol and eucalyptus, especially if you're havng a sensive to smells day.

What I find works best for me are damp, well wrung-out washclothes, folded in quarters and insterted into a sandwich-size zip-lock bag and then frozen flat. I keep about 8 of them in the freezer and alternate among them. Usually with one on top of my head and one on the back of my head and neck at a time. It helps to wrap them in a thin terry hand towel when they're first taken out of the freezer so they're not too cold. As they thaw a little, they stay cold for quite awhile.

I use these almost daily and often fall asleep with them. They're the best non-drug treatment I've found.

Becky