Migraine Relief: Daith piercing, 4-month update

Image via Angelia Phillips

​It’s been four months since the daith cartilage in my left ear was pierced and thought it’d be a good time to share an update.

The piercing is well healed. The minor reaction to the titanium horse-shoe rod has stopped. The wound hasn’t been crusting, itching or weeping for a few weeks now. The soreness and minor sensitivity that lasted into the third month have dissipated.

As the wound healed, there were also significant changes in the migraine episodes.

​A few of them have still been intense and quite painful. On the plus side, their longevity has been cut short by a huge margin.

I’ve unfortunately got one this morning, that began in the evening two days ago. I’ve had to take meds for it on a semi-regular dosage schedule, but I’m taking 2/3rds doses of ibuprofen (400 to 600 mg rather than 800 mg) and 1/2 the dose of Benadryl (25 mg rather than 50). 

As well, I’ve been able to get relief with a decrease in how often I have to take the meds. Sometimes just one migraine cocktail (the med blend described for you above) is enough to stop the pain completely and I may not have another one for days. Other times, like the one I’m contending with this morning, don’t respond as quickly, and I’m needing the cocktail twice a day and sometimes three times in a day, but that’s been rare since the daith piercing. 

Prior to the piercing, the big migraines would ramp up over a few days and then linger for up to a week, even with full med doses every four hours, while it lasted.

​Significant Improvement!

Significant improvement!

​I gotta say, after suffering from cluster migraine storms (that means one that lasts for a few days to many, sometimes up to two weeks) since I was 14-years-old, the decrease in occurrence and pain since the daith piercing has been significant.

Plans for the right ear

​A friend I’ve been consulting with, whose experience was the one that tipped the scales for me to go through with the piercing, shared that she continued to experience migraines after one-side daith piercing, and so she went to have her other ear done within a short time later.

Since the second ear’s daith was pierced, the migraines have stopped completely. 

With my right ear being well healed, I do plan to have the left ear done as soon as I can and will keep you posted on the effectiveness.

Importance of ring/rod gauge

As I mentioned in a previous article (click here to read about the initial piercing), I went with a titanium horse-shoe rod to have the piercing. It minimized the risk of metal reaction and also, being a 16 gauge, the ring is very sturdy. This is important because daith piercing is a form of perma-auricular therapy, via reflexology. During a migraine, especially until the meds have time to take effect, a helpful technique to minimize the pain is to gently tug on the daith ring or rod. I found the 16 gauge ring to be easy to grasp and grip while gently tugging on it. This really does help decrease the pain.  

This technique also helps to ease anxiety and a few other physical troubles. So, my advice is, to get the heavier gauge rod/ring if you have this procedure done. It will hold up to the tugging without risk of the metal fracturing.

Thank you for visiting and hope you’ve found the information interesting and helpful!

If you have questions about the content, please leave a comment and I’ll respond soon as I can, or you’re welcome to get in touch via the contact page.

‘Til next time,

Shalom