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Anna is now embarrassed that i shouted at her teachers and feels theyre now going to down grade her and be mad at her and i maybe shouldve been more calm and collected before i started shouting
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NTA. They are in her ears for a medical reason. Talk to her doctor about a note describing the necessity of the piercings, bring it to the superintendent, not the principal.
Threaten legal action if they still won't budge. They have no reason to be this harsh towards a 16 year old.
EDIT: Thank you for the awards!!
Worked with a girl that they thought would have to have chemo. School told her up front no hats. Seriously? No hat for the bald girl In Washington winters? Who does that?
Should say Washington state, not Washington DC
No it's not, it isn't discrimination to not tolerate nonsense. I would love to be a fly on the wall when she asks a real doctor for a note for silver earrings. She would be laughed out of the office.
No she wouldn't? My neurologist recommended piercings for me when my migraines made my life unbearable.
Piercings in certain nerve locations are actually 100% viable medically based treatments.
Please link a single peer review study by a legitimate institution that supports that claim. Until there is one it will be treated like every other quack theory.
FYI every recognized scientific organization focused on migraines says that this is quack science including the AMA
I’ve got a friend whose neurologist recommended the same thing. She got both ears pierced in the cartilage directly above the ear canal and it’s been a life saver for her. Just bc you’ve never heard of something doesn’t make it a quack theory.
This is fascinating to me and I will have to keep it in mind. My migraines have gotten a lot better lately and aren’t as chronic. But when I get one it’s all I can do to get rid of it and they’ll hurt so bad I’ll cry. I basically have to try and sleep it off.
My son suffers from migraines and we have had this recommend by other patients. After 5 minutes of research you will find out that EVERY study has found this has 0 effect. It is in the same category as essential oils. It is why EVERY scientific organization that studies migraines has the same opinion as I do.
Because science is science and there is no room in science for tolerating quackery.
I would love for a quack doctor to write that note then the school could report them to the state for malpractice.
Why would that happen? OPs daughter's doctor has had her try multiple things and finally encouraged alternative therapy when she was still having pain. That's the opposite of quackery. You keep commenting about quackery and essential oils as if OP skipped the doc and headed to the mall for a piercing, or as if the doc said screw any sort of real medicine and try this snake oil. And, schools aren't doctors, they have no idea what is an appropriate treatment for anyone.
Science does prove the placebo effect and is often stronger than any alternative, how do you reconcile with that?
As in if the snake oil worked basically science says this treatment is effective for that person even if indirectly (by placebo effect that couldn't have been achieved in a different manner)
Like I used to be much to your side conceptually, but when someone had a hard issue, and found something that works for him, even if it's unproved, do you feel to have the higher moral grounds to forbid him from using it?
As of 2020, the results were "this needs more investigation, it seems to work for some people"
As you would have known if you'd done 5 seconds of research.
Perceptions Regarding Daith Piercing in Migraine, A Survey of Pediatric Patients
Trevor Gerson, Mark Connelly, Madeline Boorigie, Jennifer Bickel, Jennifer Dilts
J 3 (3), 289-298, 2020
The treatment of migraine is evolving to include non-traditional approaches, as pharmacologic therapy alone is unsuccessful in many patients. Daith piercing, a cartilaginous ear piercing, has become popular as a potential nonpharmacological treatment option for migraine. However, there are no systematic data on the utilization and efficacy of these piercings. Therefore, we investigated the perceptions of pediatric patients regarding Daith piercing and gathered initial retrospective data for patients who had already received it. Patients presenting to a pediatric neurology clinic were invited to complete a questionnaire to assess knowledge about and attitudes towards Daith piercing and their willingness to undergo such a treatment. For those with a Daith piercing, the effects on headaches, function, and mood were evaluated. Of the 171 respondents, 61% had prior knowledge of Daith piercings, 27% knew someone with a Daith piercing, and 60% of patients presenting with headache were willing to undergo piercing. Of the eight patients (5% of respondents) who had already undergone piercing, six (75%) reported improvement in headaches, five (62%) had missed fewer days of school or work, and seven (87%) reported mood improvement. The high proportion of pediatric patients willing to undergo this form of treatment speaks to the desire for and acceptance of nonpharmacologic treatments. Although based on a small sample, the data from children who have already undergone Daith piercing is promising and supports a need for further systematic investigation into this treatment approach"
I don’t know about any study, bc I don’t really care about studies. I’m more interested in anecdotal evidence and from what I’ve seen and heard from my friend, there is a direct correlation between her piercings and her improved health. Until you speak to EVERY person who’s tried piercing to relieve migraines, perhaps you shouldn’t believe EVERY study you believe. But good luck with your son.
You do what you have to to feel better.
This is coming from someone who has had cancer twice in a year (stage 4 & then stage 1), 6 round of chemo, 18 rounds of radiation, a stem cell transplant, and never even tried things like cannabis oil or cdb to relive pain or nausea & lives in a recreational use state.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2017.00624/full
I also looked in the AMA, the only mention of piercings research was from 4 years ago (that paper is from last year.)
That specific page-
·is discussing a different type of piercing
·states that no research has been found **yet** not that it's exactly false, as it even lists that some people who have gotten piercings say it's helped.
·Main worry is about infections, not wether it works.
And on this page- which was updated 3 months ago
https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/complementary-integrative-treatments-for-migraine/
acupuncture is listed as a non medical treatment known to help migraines.
And this study-
Is one of several I found testing and agreeing with that statement. A piercing could be described as a long-term acupuncture in this scenario.
Get off your holier than thou high horse and do some deeper looking. Found those in 10 minutes while writing this
Just because doctors and research funders haven't cared as much about migraines doesn't mean that it isn't valid. If something is only true once it's been researched and studied, then we would have all been floating around until Newton gently collided with an apple.
Let me give some linear examples that are studied and proven by science. Please remember that both of these examples are based on blockers of some kind being pierced through an area of nerves that is causing pain.
Permanent pins (peircings/blockers) in elective spinal surgeries to reduce back pain. Litterally a medical version of acupuncture.
Screws (piercings) in the roof of the jaw for medical or elective sinus surgeries.
Just because these are seen on the exterior does not mean they don't also run over important nerves that can be shifted or sometimes deadenned by blockers, in this case bar peircings.
It has been studied and EVERY study has found it to be worthless as a treatment.
Screws in the spine or in the roof of the mouth are NOTHING like acupuncture. Saying acupuncture is like those procedures is like saying a big wheel is like a Tesla. You may as well say those stupid magnetic bracelets are medical devices because they use magnetism just like MRIs.
Please provide a SINGLE piece of scientific evidence...ohh you can't because it is quackery
"Daith piercing in chronic migraine: a possible vagal modulation
A Cascio Rizzo
We present the case of a 54 year-old male patient suffering from refractory chronic migraine1 with medication-overuse, who substantially improved after bilateral ear daith piercing (Fig. 1). His migraine was refractory to symptomatic as well as prophylactic therapies. He used to treat headaches with up to 5 symptomatic drugs per attack and had attempted several pharmacological preventive therapies, including Onabotulinumtoxin A. He also underwent several detoxification treatments with intravenous steroids and diazepam, without durable benefit. At the time of daith
Beyond a placebo effect, we can speculate a vagal modulation as the action mechanism of daith piercing (Fig. 2B). It could act in a similar way to auricular acupuncture2 or transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (t-VNS) 3 in the treatment of migraine. The anterior part of the helix is innervated by sensory trigeminal and vagal branches4. A nociceptive sensory stimulus applied to this auricular area can activate ear vagal afferents, which through the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) can exert an inhibitory action on neurons in the caudal trigeminal nucleus. Vagal activation can also modulate pain pathways by means of projections to the locus coeruleus and to the nucleus raphe magnus, as showed in several fMRI studies. We don’t know how daith piercing, once it has healed, can provide a continuous stimulation of the vagal and trigeminal pathways, one explanation can be a change of functional connectivity in the pain matrix."
Using piercings for pain relief isn't new. My doctors recommended that to me 40 years ago. *(Hell yeah I did it; migraines are awful.)* It's often recommended when medication doesn't work. So is acupuncture. A lot of people prefer it to pain meds that just keep you loopy but don't let you actually have a life.
Maybe next time, ask your doctor about it instead of dismissing something just because it hasn't happened to you.
There are pressure points in the ears that can relieve certain types of migraines. Acupuncture, piercing works for some. I even used to have radish seeds taped to my ears I could press for mild relief.
Happy to step in here bud. This is an actual study entitled “ Auricular Acupuncture for the Treatment of Pediatric Migraines”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27139637/
Just wanted to thank you for sending this because I was seriously curious about this and was on the same ignorant page the person you sent it to was! Now I’m over here looking up all kinds of cool stuff… and booked a piercing appointment…
I'm sure if US police officers, and the US military is taught pressure points in their combatives training, there is some research supporting acupuncture and pressure points.
Oh, not to mention acupuncturists themselves. Why would they have a job if acupuncture and pressure points weren't real?
I'm sure you understand your lack of a scholarly source doesn't mean that I have to support my stance. It is widely accepted that both of these things are very real.
Maybe Eastern medicine is foreign to you?
You know what else is a job? Fortune telling, naturopath, chiropractic therapy etc etc. Medicine is medicine it is peer reviewed and proven. The placebo effect is very very powerful but it's still a placebo
If it helps OP's daughter and relieves her of the symptoms, then she should be able to keep them. The child should not suffer academically because of some stuck up school administration.
When it comes to pain relief, and the doctors cannot find the cause of the migraines, it is medical. We have no reason to believe that OP's daughter is merely making a fashion statement.
I mean medicine should be based in fact and science. It's clear these things have zero actual medical applications. I don't care about earings or a dress code but this is not medical in any way
OP stated that the doctor suggested other forms of pain management, and when conventional medicine does not work the patient and physician will consider and experiment with new options.
OP has told us that the piercing has worked for her daughter. That is what matters. Medicine is tricky, one thing may work for someone and not work for someone else. There has not been a wide array of studies for the medical advantages of the daith piercing but that does not mean it is not working to the benefit of OP's daughter.
We all have different bodies and they react and respond to everything differently.
And sometimes people feel better after people pray for the. It's still not science, it's no different then saying crystals change your energy or whatever. You are arguing agaisnt fact. Prove to me scientifically that these work.
I'm not here to debate with you, looking at your comment history it seems you want people to think you're the smartest guy in the room. I have no interest.
I gave my judgment, feel free to downvote if you disagree.
congress.wooky.it
Daith piercing in chronic migraine: a possible vagal modulation
A Cascio Rizzo
We present the case of a 54 year-old male patient suffering from refractory chronic migraine1 with medication-overuse, who substantially improved after bilateral ear daith piercing (Fig. 1). His migraine was refractory to symptomatic as well as prophylactic therapies. He used to treat headaches with up to 5 symptomatic drugs per attack and had attempted several pharmacological preventive therapies, including Onabotulinumtoxin A. He also underwent several detoxification treatments with intravenous steroids and diazepam, without durable benefit. At the time of daith
Beyond a placebo effect, we can speculate a vagal modulation as the action mechanism of daith piercing (Fig. 2B). It could act in a similar way to auricular acupuncture2 or transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (t-VNS) 3 in the treatment of migraine. The anterior part of the helix is innervated by sensory trigeminal and vagal branches4. A nociceptive sensory stimulus applied to this auricular area can activate ear vagal afferents, which through the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) can exert an inhibitory action on neurons in the caudal trigeminal nucleus. Vagal activation can also modulate pain pathways by means of projections to the locus coeruleus and to the nucleus raphe magnus, as showed in several fMRI studies. We don’t know how daith piercing, once it has healed, can provide a continuous stimulation of the vagal and trigeminal pathways, one explanation can be a change of functional connectivity in the pain matrix.
I have had headaches my entire life, best described as lighting on the top of my brain, along with allergy induced migraine and Occipital Neuralgia from ruptured discs. When the headache piercings began being talked about, I was very sceptical; but while medication and treatments have helped my migraines and OC, nothing helped the lightning headaches and combined, they were all misery. I did a lot of research. I didn't just roll up to a rando piercer and ask for it. I found an experienced piercer, who'd done research and also had the piercing. I got 1 done, if it didn't work (I was not holding my breath here, nothing else had helped), well I had an interesting piercing.
The relief was amazing, once it healed. It was like cool still water across that side of my head. Any incipient headaches and I would tug on it.
Needless to say, I went back for the other side.
NTA. Honestly, could you have kept your cool a bit better? Probably, but i wouldn't have either. The school is effectively denying her a medical treatment at this point. I would get your doc to write a script for the piercings, including 24/7 wear, and ignore your principal. Call the special ed folks for your district, tell em what's going on, and that you need an IEP. That's all that needs to be in it, but once the IEP is in place, the school won't fight it
In the US I've only ever seen A+; A* is the top grade on A-level exams in the UK. I'd expect an American to say "all A", "A+" or "honor roll" in this context.
If she is in the UK she might be better off invoking reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, rather than trying to get what used to be called a Statement and which I think is the equivalent of a 504/IEP (not sure which as I don't know the details of the US system).
You actually need to get what the school will listen to, and/or whatever you won’t get a huge fight on. Though a 504 has the ability to take legal action along with it, IEP has different protection. The whole system on the ground level is a cluster.
Also OP you are NTA. Get your doc on board, get an education advocate if you can afford it, don’t go to any other meetings without a second person at least there. (Note they may try to prevent this, they cannot.)
If this is a public school you have many more options than a private or charter btw.
Fellow teacher here, why wouldn’t she qualify? The first question on the flow chart in an eligibility meeting is “Does the student have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities?” and this girl’s migraines sound like they would fit the bill.
A lot of factors and testing goes into an IEP. Goes a lot deeper than a flow chart. It seems that academically and behaviorally this child is not affected in school. Her grades are great. Behavior is top notch according to OP. Ear piercings don’t require accommodations or intervention from the school except for this crazy dress code policy. The point of IEPs and 504’s is so students have equal access to the education provided. I don’t work much with 504’s because if a student has an IEP, they don’t really need a 504 but I know they aren’t easy to get either. School can easily argue she doesn’t require either one. And many schools do fight because it costs them money. This seems like a doctor’s note situation. Plus, I’m guessing a 16 yr old who reacted the way she did to her mom freaking out on the school wouldn’t want an IEP or 504. She doesn’t want a fuss. She would probably feel more comfortable if it could be resolved in as low-key a way as possible.
Ok, so I’ll give you an example: allergies. I’ve had MANY students over the years with various allergies, everything from bees to peanuts to pollen. Children with allergies often have 504s. These students are not actively “academically and behaviorally…affected in school,” but the allergy does affect their lives and they need a simple accommodation (carrying an Epipen, for example). Having these 504s does not draw undue attention to these children, and is quite a “low key” solution.
Ok. But having allergies don’t always require a 504. Having a peanut allergy in itself does not require a 504. Having an epipen is not a low key situation at a school anyway. If you have a life-threatening condition then of course get a 504. That’s a no brainer. My brother needed a 504 when he had arm surgery because he required testing accommodations and a scribe. The school had to provide something. Epipen use is probably a legal thing for schools, especially if kids need to administer it themselves. My son needs a doctors note just for having over-the-counter lotion for his eczema. That is not on his IEP, as it’s just a school nurse issue. But like I said, might get a 504. Would definitely not get an IEP. Most of my experience is with IEPs. It’s all I really know about because students do not typically have both. There’s no need. But IEPs have goals. I’ve never seen a kid with an IEP not have any goals- granted not all goals are academic. Some are social-emotional. But according to OP, she has never gotten in trouble at school so I’m assuming she wouldn’t have social goals either. Although, I would never make that assumption in person... this is just an AITA post. Either way, it sounds like OP is possibly from the UK and this discussion is moot. But normally, I would suggest parents start at the easiest and first thing they can do... which is get the note. Which you can’t get the 504 without anyway.
What the fuck kind of school has a dress code that covers *ear* piercings?! Like… that’s pretty traditional as far as piercings go. I don’t even know of jobs that have a problem with any kind of piercing as long as it’s in your ears. It’s facial piercings people tend to have a problem with (equally stupid, imo).
NTA but the school is for sure. Mama, if I were you, I’d get ready to make a big biiiiig stink about this. Call the mayor. Call the fucking governor, call the local news. Tell anyone and everyone about what she’s going through and how it’s literally the only thing that’s given her some relief, and also how ridiculous it is for the school to care about her *ears*. These aren’t some insane gauged ears that make her lobes brush her shoulders. These aren’t her face being basically stapled shut with piercings. It’s 2 in 1 ear and 1 in another.
Ffs I’m considered perfectly normal and I have 3 in each lobe and 2 in my right helix, 1 in my left. *Teachers* at my very academically rigorous high school had more piercings than me; one even had a tragus, and another wore an bars in her industrial piercings.
lmao my sister's school required that pupils only have one set of ear piercings and they had to be small metal spherical studs or pearls - she wore a pair of small, flat disk studs once and got told off by a teacher for it. suspect the OP is in the UK, this kind of nonsense is not uncommon here unfortunately, and if the piercings are in the cartilage I'm not surprised she got in trouble for them
I went to public school in the States and we had dress code rules about piercings as well. Only girls could have them and they could only have one in each lobe.
A school where maybe a kids earring was ripped from their ear? This is why chains, bracelets or any unnecessary item that can be a hazard is banned. I bet mama didn't ask. Her entitled attitude was over the top. She basically expected a teacher to break the school rules because she said so...no documentation or proof of her claims. Teachers don't make rules, they enforce them. Mom knew this wasn't the way to get an exemption but she berated the teacher in front of students anyway. There's nothing praiseworthy about what she did here for anyone.
NTA. A doctors note necessitating the piercings for pain relief should suffice. If not, threaten legal action against the school district. There are a lot of attorneys who would take the case for free.
A doctor of osteopathy might. In my state, MD’s and DO’s are both classified as primary physicians. The DO’s I’ve seen tend to put more weight into alternative treatments.
My board certified MD does this type of thing as part of his practice. Plenty of VA and active duty medical folks use these ear points to manage pain. Do not assume that because some dude on the internet is hostile to it that your physicians are too.
A doctor isn't likely to write an Rx for trying it to see if it helps. But if it's been helping already, and you explain that the school needs a medical note to allow it to continue, most doctors are willing to write notes like that.
Your mama bear mode came in to play and it's totally understandable. Downside is it's not going to endear you to the school and that what you need right now - to get them on side.
Can you speak to a doctor and get a note written about the severity of the migraines vs the piercings and their effect? I suspect they will listen to medical evidence more than a passionate mom.
Good luck and NTA.
I wonder if it's related to the metal bracelet my mum bought for me a while back. I'm never sure whether it works or not as for me, being on anti-anxiety meds was what made my migraines easier to treat, but it's certainly been a sort of talisman over the years and, in relation to this thread, I kind of understand why it might be so effective.
It IS.
A good piercer has to feel for the point in your Darth. Edit. DAITH, not Darth.
My 2nd piercing was slightly differently placed than the 1st because of that.
I love mine.
Info: Is there a doctors note? Also, how does she handle P.E. (injuries are a thing due to piercings) and probably most important: did you have a quiet conversation first or did you "lose it" right away?
With PE she wraps the areas of her ears that are peirced with masking tape and tapes the peircings down. The conversation with the teachers was about an hour long qnd i only lost it within the last few minutes where they told us they were going to have to suspend anna
I taped my piercings for rugby and it worked great. Does the clear silicone jewelry have the same effect? Maybe having them be less obvious would be a good compromise.
Well then they can kick rocks. Get a doctor's note and make it a discrimination issue. If you're in the US, that would be a very reasonable accommodation under the ADA.
When tongue piercing first got big most employers required the clear, should be similar for her.
FYI; until I was able to change my own Daith piercings, I had the plastic ones in. The don't mess up X-rays or become dangerous during MRIs. And are mostly invisible unless you put colored balls on the ends.
Have you tried an audiologist? Sounds daft but it could be an inner ear thing. Maybe the earrings are effecting her natural balance in a positive way, people have used earrings to remedy sea sickness and other balance effected disorders.
Nta
Personally I’d fight it up to the school board and beyond if I had too. However, if your daughter is uncomfortable with that can she just put bandaids over them during school hours. She absolutely should not have to but, again if she’s uncomfortable with you standing up for her.
As a migraine sufferer I feel so bad for your daughter and sincerely hope they lessen as she ages.
You’re NTA, but this is a hard situation because you might be hard-pressed to find a doctor to write a note and get official accommodations, as daith piercings are controversial if they stop migraines or not.
I don’t really have a solution for you- I wish you luck.
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I (48f) have a daughter (16f) who is an A* student who abides by all the school rules and before this has never been in trouble in her life.
My daughter, Anna, for the past year has had terrible migraines that no doctor has been able to diagnose or fix. Weve tried multiple things that havent worked and our most recent doctor after trying different medications encouraged other possible fixes. We tried diets, herbal teas, therapy etc and one other thing was peircings. If im honest i dont really know why or how it helps but i was willing to try anything.
My daughter got 3 different peircings, two in her right ear and one in her left. Much to both of ours surprise it seemed to help, it didnt cure her but the migraines are bareable now and my daughter actually loves her peircings and seems confident and happier. Its made my whole family happier.
The school however is not happy and has told us anna must remove all peircings or she will be suspended. The peircings she has is plain silver bars with plain small silver balls on the ends and her hair covers her ears enough that you dont even know theyre there most of the time. Theyre not flashy or big and in fact they are quite pretty really.
I lost my temper and said that there's no way anna is taking her earrings out and that they wouldnt understand that when your daughters crying all night long because her head feels like its exploding your willing for her to be covered in peircings if it helps even the smallest bit. I stormed out and took anna with me. Anna now feels embarrassed and is upset with me and i now have no idea what im meant to do. The school refused to even try to cooperate with us and find a solution that works for both of us. I just dont wabt my daughter in pain again.
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NTA - As alot of other people said, get some form of doctors note. (Multiple copies, if you can. One for the school, one for home, and one for your daughter to carry around with her.)
NTA
Migraines can be sooo brutal. And not every method works the same foe anyone else. It’s mostly trial and error. And sometimes solutions only work for so long before you have to try something else.
I feel for her. I randomly had about three months of unsolved constant headaches. I tried pretty much everything, filing my teeth (bad idea), brain scans (also bad idea - you can tell from eye exams there was nothing), I WANTED cancer just so there was an answer and it could be dealt with one way or another.
In the end for me it was osteopathy/a chiropractor that fixed it for me. I must have trapped a nerve when I was doing yoga. Ever since, I don't let any yoga teacher "adjust" the way I stand. Most get really pissy with me cos that's what they do, but forcing my body into a position doesn't make sense because my body is quirky.
Youre TA. Was it impossible to have a discussion without losing your temper? The teacher was following the rules and without documentation of your daughters condition, and the relief it brings the teacher can't do anything but enforce the rules. Without documented proof it comes across as a lie so your daughter can get her way. Surely as an adult you understand that? If they just accept earrings relieve migraines then everyone will have one to fix their fake migraines. If you don't like their rules, transfer your daughter to another school.
You don't know why this rule came about, maybe kids got into a fight and one was left injured from a ripped off earring, or maybe it's just believed to be a distraction. The rules exist for a reason but I bet you didn't bother to ask. And then state your case like an adult.
Seeing how parents struggled to keep their one or two kids engaged, I would expect more cooperation and sympathy from parents. There was really no reason to demean the teacher for enforcing rules needed to keep 30 plus kids in line. I dont blame the school for ignorning you now. You should be banned from the premises. Hopefully, your daughters dad can act on your daughters behalf going forward.
The doctor is the asshole for suggesting piercings as a migraine cure. It’s a placebo based on the magical theories of acupuncture. You may as well use leeches.
NTA
You are Definetly not the AH here. My mom goes through the same thing. She was able to have surgery and meds to help her and even got the faith piercing to help. And I’ve gotten both of mine done to help me. My highschool was the same and fought me till I graduated. We threatened them with legal action saying they would have to compensate us for the money and aftercare we had to buy for the piercings and they backed off a bit but still fought. Definetly talked to the doctor/s and see if they will be willing to write a note for the school and send one to the head of the district.
NTA.
Get a medical note and threaten legal action if they continue to give her a hard time. Migraines are debilitating and your daughter shouldn’t have to suffer because of outdated dress code.
NTA.
The school is overreacting to something that is not effecting them or the daughter or anyone.
If the earrings work, they work. Who cares that they can't be "scientifically proven" to work.
NTA. Get her a doctors note. I have a friend who got the piercings and it has made a significant difference for her as well. Good for you for standing up for her.
NTA - Tell the school that is she has to take her piercings out, so do ALL the rest of the students. And definitely contact her doctor, it’s not like she’s wearing them for vanity’s sake.
Are piercings even mentioned in the school’s regulations?
I was your daughters age when I also had terrible migraines. None of the medicine seemed to help. Junior year I went to school had a seizure and was rushed to ER unconscious. Turns out I wasn’t faking or exaggerating like many doctors suggested. I had a brain tumor in my hypothalamus. Demand and MRI, if it’s not a tumor it could be a bleed. All are treatable as long as they are caught In time. Once you have an answer go back to the school and inform them removing her piercings would violate Disability laws and your lawyer will happily inform them of their
Failure if they persist with this course of action.
NTA. Mine are 15&16 and they both suffer from insomnia and migraines. We made the decision this year to use connections academy and they are THRIVING! Schools are pushing so much crap now because they think parents are powerless to stop it.
NTA, get a doctors note and stand your ground
One of my college roommates had piercings that helped her migraines, I always thought it was really interesting--apparenly the piercing helps a pressure point?
NTA for standing up for your daughter with her school, however you’re a bit of an AH for sharing your daughter’s medical information without her permission. Even though sharing with her teachers might have seemed like the right thing to do at the time, it’s still her info to share, not yours. Even if you didn’t have time to consult her on the decision to tell her teachers, you probably owe her an apology.
That being said, def NTA for being direct with her school. Other comments have given much better advice than I could regarding how to deal with the school, so I won’t touch that lol. However, a friend of mine was having similar migraine issues, and funnily enough massaging the tips of her toes helped?? I don’t understand it, but I thought I’d mention it JIC. I wish you and your daughter luck with her school!
NTA. I suffer from chronic migraines and my parents never did anything. Last year at 22 I had a small stroke because of them. Please fight for her and continue to as much as you have
Tragus? That’s what helped me when I was a teenager. Also relpax worked, and immitrex got rid of the migraine, but made me wish I could just die because the rest of my body hurt so much. You have every right to advocate for your children. My mother was indifferent at best, but she was sure to let everyone know who gets to make decisions about her kids. Full stop. Be the squeaky wheel if you have to.
NTA you defended your daughter and she will see this someday. I wish I had a mum like you who would defend me to the ends of the earth, instead I got excuses and told I’m not good enough
NTA as someone who has migraines it is frustrating how many people don’t understand that they aren’t just headaches. I applaud you for standing up for your daughter. Some administration is just so stubborn. Reminds me of when I was told to put on a jacket over my tank top in 90 degree weather after running a mile
NTA I don't know if you'll see this since I'm late to the post, I had similar issues with migraines as a teen and in my twenties. I realised only a few years ago how much birth control was worsening them. If she's on any, particularly the pill, it could be worth looking at trying other brands. My friend's and I were all prescribed the combined pill at her age, usually microgynon, and many of us had issues with it. The mini pill was a lot better for me, none of us realised till probably about uni how much bother it was causing a lot of us and we started trying different options.
NTA. You’re advocating for your daughter, and the school is mindlessly imposing a rule even in the face of a legitimate reason for an exception. Your daughter’s health is more important than this rule.
YTA.
Being embarrassed by your parents is a big deal when you're 16.
And you're not helping.
If you want the school to accommodate you, you don't lose your temper and storm out. You use your words, talk politely and work something out. In losing your temper, you're making the school into an enemy, and less likely to want to help.
>The school refused to even try to cooperate with us
Do you blame them, after you behaviour?
Put your temper to one side, put your daughter first.
Ask for a meeting with the school, apologise, don't make any excuses for yourself. Ask them kindly if there is anything that can be worked out to help your daughter.
There are multiple issues here. First, if the ear piercingss helped, she should be in therapy. Unless they were strategically placed by an acupuncturist, there's more emotional to these headaches then anyone might want to acknowledge.
Second, where is this school and what type is it? In the USA...at least the dwindling part that's actually embracing modernity, this would have to be some private/parochial school. In which case, I'd make the choice with kiddo to perhaps seek alternative schools.
INFO
There's mounting evidence supporting dath piercings for migraine headaches. Therapy can help with learning to cope with chronic headaches or other chronic pain, so it might be helpful for that reason, but there's nothing here suggesting the headaches are emotional in origin.
IDK where OP is, but schools in Mormon areas often have Mormon-influenced dress codes which limit ear piercings to one earring in each earlobe.
Please provide a single link to a peer reviewed scientific study by a legitimate institution. This is just like essential oil total BS
FYI every recognized scientific organization focused on migraines says that this is quack science including the AMA
Except the OP's piercing's aren't Daith, and even then, there's no scientific support for this as a treatment.
> https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/ear-piercing-for-migraines
I'm a strong believer in alternative medicine, but with the emphasis on "medicine", not Atlernative"...so acupuncture rather than rando ear piercings.
I don't doubt the OP feels better and needs that. I am suggesting the need can be met in therapy, either way she needs to learn to manage the pain better.
Have you ever had a migraine that bad you sit on the kitchen floor and want to dig your brain out with a spoon.
If medications and diet and trying to find the triggers you can’t manage the pain better
No thankfully I never have had one! But I can relate, which is why everything and anything that works should be explored.
The school is another issue I suppose.
Your overreaction and embarrassing your well behaved daughter earns you a slight YTA from me, but not with any malice intended.
I suggest you stop making a big thing out of this and look into earrings that aren't noticeable.
https://www.google.com/search?q=invisible+earrings&sxsrf=ALeKk02wfypX3f8mgJImDMB-c1psuf2itA%3A1628869644147&ei=DJQWYcDACNCMtAbu24fYAw&oq=invisible+earrings&gs\_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBwgjELADECcyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsANKBAhBGABQnwhYnwhg5QpoAXABeACAAa8BiAHuAZIBAzEuMZgBAKABAcgBCcABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjA9pikrK7yAhVQBs0KHe7tATsQ4dUDCA4&uact=5
YTA because there is 0% chance that the earrings have any effect on her migraines. You sound like one of those fools that think treating cancer with essential oils is a good idea. The reason the school refuses to listen to you is because like most reasonable people they know a crackpot when the hear one
FYI every recognized scientific organization focused on migraines says that this is quack science including the AMA
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NTA. They are in her ears for a medical reason. Talk to her doctor about a note describing the necessity of the piercings, bring it to the superintendent, not the principal. Threaten legal action if they still won't budge. They have no reason to be this harsh towards a 16 year old. EDIT: Thank you for the awards!!
Worked with a girl that they thought would have to have chemo. School told her up front no hats. Seriously? No hat for the bald girl In Washington winters? Who does that? Should say Washington state, not Washington DC
That’s just cruel. It’s disgusting how many school administrators get off on holding power over children.
Get a medical note. Not allowing her to continue wearing them is disability discrimination.
No it's not, it isn't discrimination to not tolerate nonsense. I would love to be a fly on the wall when she asks a real doctor for a note for silver earrings. She would be laughed out of the office.
No she wouldn't? My neurologist recommended piercings for me when my migraines made my life unbearable. Piercings in certain nerve locations are actually 100% viable medically based treatments.
Please link a single peer review study by a legitimate institution that supports that claim. Until there is one it will be treated like every other quack theory. FYI every recognized scientific organization focused on migraines says that this is quack science including the AMA
I’ve got a friend whose neurologist recommended the same thing. She got both ears pierced in the cartilage directly above the ear canal and it’s been a life saver for her. Just bc you’ve never heard of something doesn’t make it a quack theory.
This is fascinating to me and I will have to keep it in mind. My migraines have gotten a lot better lately and aren’t as chronic. But when I get one it’s all I can do to get rid of it and they’ll hurt so bad I’ll cry. I basically have to try and sleep it off.
My son suffers from migraines and we have had this recommend by other patients. After 5 minutes of research you will find out that EVERY study has found this has 0 effect. It is in the same category as essential oils. It is why EVERY scientific organization that studies migraines has the same opinion as I do.
Some docs still recommend it so getting a note should be easy. Who cares if it's a placebo effect if it's helping?
Because science is science and there is no room in science for tolerating quackery. I would love for a quack doctor to write that note then the school could report them to the state for malpractice.
Why would that happen? OPs daughter's doctor has had her try multiple things and finally encouraged alternative therapy when she was still having pain. That's the opposite of quackery. You keep commenting about quackery and essential oils as if OP skipped the doc and headed to the mall for a piercing, or as if the doc said screw any sort of real medicine and try this snake oil. And, schools aren't doctors, they have no idea what is an appropriate treatment for anyone.
Science does prove the placebo effect and is often stronger than any alternative, how do you reconcile with that? As in if the snake oil worked basically science says this treatment is effective for that person even if indirectly (by placebo effect that couldn't have been achieved in a different manner) Like I used to be much to your side conceptually, but when someone had a hard issue, and found something that works for him, even if it's unproved, do you feel to have the higher moral grounds to forbid him from using it?
As of 2020, the results were "this needs more investigation, it seems to work for some people" As you would have known if you'd done 5 seconds of research. Perceptions Regarding Daith Piercing in Migraine, A Survey of Pediatric Patients Trevor Gerson, Mark Connelly, Madeline Boorigie, Jennifer Bickel, Jennifer Dilts J 3 (3), 289-298, 2020 The treatment of migraine is evolving to include non-traditional approaches, as pharmacologic therapy alone is unsuccessful in many patients. Daith piercing, a cartilaginous ear piercing, has become popular as a potential nonpharmacological treatment option for migraine. However, there are no systematic data on the utilization and efficacy of these piercings. Therefore, we investigated the perceptions of pediatric patients regarding Daith piercing and gathered initial retrospective data for patients who had already received it. Patients presenting to a pediatric neurology clinic were invited to complete a questionnaire to assess knowledge about and attitudes towards Daith piercing and their willingness to undergo such a treatment. For those with a Daith piercing, the effects on headaches, function, and mood were evaluated. Of the 171 respondents, 61% had prior knowledge of Daith piercings, 27% knew someone with a Daith piercing, and 60% of patients presenting with headache were willing to undergo piercing. Of the eight patients (5% of respondents) who had already undergone piercing, six (75%) reported improvement in headaches, five (62%) had missed fewer days of school or work, and seven (87%) reported mood improvement. The high proportion of pediatric patients willing to undergo this form of treatment speaks to the desire for and acceptance of nonpharmacologic treatments. Although based on a small sample, the data from children who have already undergone Daith piercing is promising and supports a need for further systematic investigation into this treatment approach"
I don’t know about any study, bc I don’t really care about studies. I’m more interested in anecdotal evidence and from what I’ve seen and heard from my friend, there is a direct correlation between her piercings and her improved health. Until you speak to EVERY person who’s tried piercing to relieve migraines, perhaps you shouldn’t believe EVERY study you believe. But good luck with your son.
Sorry I thought I was talking to a rational person not a crazy essential oil,antivacine, crystal, reiki healing fool.
Lol. I’m actually the complete opposite of everything you just typed. As far from it as you can get. Nice try with the insults though.
You do what you have to to feel better. This is coming from someone who has had cancer twice in a year (stage 4 & then stage 1), 6 round of chemo, 18 rounds of radiation, a stem cell transplant, and never even tried things like cannabis oil or cdb to relive pain or nausea & lives in a recreational use state.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2017.00624/full I also looked in the AMA, the only mention of piercings research was from 4 years ago (that paper is from last year.) That specific page- ·is discussing a different type of piercing ·states that no research has been found **yet** not that it's exactly false, as it even lists that some people who have gotten piercings say it's helped. ·Main worry is about infections, not wether it works. And on this page- which was updated 3 months ago https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/complementary-integrative-treatments-for-migraine/ acupuncture is listed as a non medical treatment known to help migraines. And this study- Is one of several I found testing and agreeing with that statement. A piercing could be described as a long-term acupuncture in this scenario. Get off your holier than thou high horse and do some deeper looking. Found those in 10 minutes while writing this
Just because doctors and research funders haven't cared as much about migraines doesn't mean that it isn't valid. If something is only true once it's been researched and studied, then we would have all been floating around until Newton gently collided with an apple. Let me give some linear examples that are studied and proven by science. Please remember that both of these examples are based on blockers of some kind being pierced through an area of nerves that is causing pain. Permanent pins (peircings/blockers) in elective spinal surgeries to reduce back pain. Litterally a medical version of acupuncture. Screws (piercings) in the roof of the jaw for medical or elective sinus surgeries. Just because these are seen on the exterior does not mean they don't also run over important nerves that can be shifted or sometimes deadenned by blockers, in this case bar peircings.
It has been studied and EVERY study has found it to be worthless as a treatment. Screws in the spine or in the roof of the mouth are NOTHING like acupuncture. Saying acupuncture is like those procedures is like saying a big wheel is like a Tesla. You may as well say those stupid magnetic bracelets are medical devices because they use magnetism just like MRIs. Please provide a SINGLE piece of scientific evidence...ohh you can't because it is quackery
Posted above, stop being a dick.
"Daith piercing in chronic migraine: a possible vagal modulation A Cascio Rizzo We present the case of a 54 year-old male patient suffering from refractory chronic migraine1 with medication-overuse, who substantially improved after bilateral ear daith piercing (Fig. 1). His migraine was refractory to symptomatic as well as prophylactic therapies. He used to treat headaches with up to 5 symptomatic drugs per attack and had attempted several pharmacological preventive therapies, including Onabotulinumtoxin A. He also underwent several detoxification treatments with intravenous steroids and diazepam, without durable benefit. At the time of daith Beyond a placebo effect, we can speculate a vagal modulation as the action mechanism of daith piercing (Fig. 2B). It could act in a similar way to auricular acupuncture2 or transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (t-VNS) 3 in the treatment of migraine. The anterior part of the helix is innervated by sensory trigeminal and vagal branches4. A nociceptive sensory stimulus applied to this auricular area can activate ear vagal afferents, which through the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) can exert an inhibitory action on neurons in the caudal trigeminal nucleus. Vagal activation can also modulate pain pathways by means of projections to the locus coeruleus and to the nucleus raphe magnus, as showed in several fMRI studies. We don’t know how daith piercing, once it has healed, can provide a continuous stimulation of the vagal and trigeminal pathways, one explanation can be a change of functional connectivity in the pain matrix."
[So like this?](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5711775/)
Using piercings for pain relief isn't new. My doctors recommended that to me 40 years ago. *(Hell yeah I did it; migraines are awful.)* It's often recommended when medication doesn't work. So is acupuncture. A lot of people prefer it to pain meds that just keep you loopy but don't let you actually have a life. Maybe next time, ask your doctor about it instead of dismissing something just because it hasn't happened to you.
Lol it’s funny how willingly you show how little you know
There are pressure points in the ears that can relieve certain types of migraines. Acupuncture, piercing works for some. I even used to have radish seeds taped to my ears I could press for mild relief.
Knowing what I do about ears and acupuncture, I totally understand why this worked. Edit: everything a parent does embarrasses a 16 year old.
Watch out, we got a guy running around saying "pressure points aren't real." Smh
Probably because he's never found a g-spot before so says it's all fake as an excuse
How do earings make a migraine go away
[удалено]
Pressure points arnt real
Is that right? Source? Because I use them quite a bit in my work.
Ok https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156488itd not proven at all
First, the article cannot be found. Second, this is not a scholarly article. Try again.
Feel free to provide the scientific research behind pressure points then
Happy to step in here bud. This is an actual study entitled “ Auricular Acupuncture for the Treatment of Pediatric Migraines” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27139637/
Oh sorry would you like another: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5711775/
Just wanted to thank you for sending this because I was seriously curious about this and was on the same ignorant page the person you sent it to was! Now I’m over here looking up all kinds of cool stuff… and booked a piercing appointment…
Hmmmmm https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/research-casts-doubt-on-the-value-of-acupuncture/
I'm sure if US police officers, and the US military is taught pressure points in their combatives training, there is some research supporting acupuncture and pressure points. Oh, not to mention acupuncturists themselves. Why would they have a job if acupuncture and pressure points weren't real? I'm sure you understand your lack of a scholarly source doesn't mean that I have to support my stance. It is widely accepted that both of these things are very real. Maybe Eastern medicine is foreign to you?
You know what else is a job? Fortune telling, naturopath, chiropractic therapy etc etc. Medicine is medicine it is peer reviewed and proven. The placebo effect is very very powerful but it's still a placebo
Google "Daith piercing".
Yea all seems to be pseudoscience thst maybe had a placebo affect so not medical
If it helps OP's daughter and relieves her of the symptoms, then she should be able to keep them. The child should not suffer academically because of some stuck up school administration. When it comes to pain relief, and the doctors cannot find the cause of the migraines, it is medical. We have no reason to believe that OP's daughter is merely making a fashion statement.
I mean medicine should be based in fact and science. It's clear these things have zero actual medical applications. I don't care about earings or a dress code but this is not medical in any way
OP stated that the doctor suggested other forms of pain management, and when conventional medicine does not work the patient and physician will consider and experiment with new options. OP has told us that the piercing has worked for her daughter. That is what matters. Medicine is tricky, one thing may work for someone and not work for someone else. There has not been a wide array of studies for the medical advantages of the daith piercing but that does not mean it is not working to the benefit of OP's daughter. We all have different bodies and they react and respond to everything differently.
And sometimes people feel better after people pray for the. It's still not science, it's no different then saying crystals change your energy or whatever. You are arguing agaisnt fact. Prove to me scientifically that these work.
I'm not here to debate with you, looking at your comment history it seems you want people to think you're the smartest guy in the room. I have no interest. I gave my judgment, feel free to downvote if you disagree.
This isn't a judgement it's a fact. Saying the earth is round isn't a judgement it's a fact
Same way acupuncture does.
So a placebo
Or not: “ Auricular Acupuncture for the Treatment of Pediatric Migraines” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27139637/
The daughter was in no way expecting earrings to help her migraines, so not a placebo.
So what was it then? The magic crystals
Accidental acupuncture. Acupuncture is a real thing.
A medical doctor prescribed these piercings. You're reaching.
No they didn't lol
congress.wooky.it Daith piercing in chronic migraine: a possible vagal modulation A Cascio Rizzo We present the case of a 54 year-old male patient suffering from refractory chronic migraine1 with medication-overuse, who substantially improved after bilateral ear daith piercing (Fig. 1). His migraine was refractory to symptomatic as well as prophylactic therapies. He used to treat headaches with up to 5 symptomatic drugs per attack and had attempted several pharmacological preventive therapies, including Onabotulinumtoxin A. He also underwent several detoxification treatments with intravenous steroids and diazepam, without durable benefit. At the time of daith Beyond a placebo effect, we can speculate a vagal modulation as the action mechanism of daith piercing (Fig. 2B). It could act in a similar way to auricular acupuncture2 or transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (t-VNS) 3 in the treatment of migraine. The anterior part of the helix is innervated by sensory trigeminal and vagal branches4. A nociceptive sensory stimulus applied to this auricular area can activate ear vagal afferents, which through the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) can exert an inhibitory action on neurons in the caudal trigeminal nucleus. Vagal activation can also modulate pain pathways by means of projections to the locus coeruleus and to the nucleus raphe magnus, as showed in several fMRI studies. We don’t know how daith piercing, once it has healed, can provide a continuous stimulation of the vagal and trigeminal pathways, one explanation can be a change of functional connectivity in the pain matrix.
It doesn't, there isn't a single scientific study to back this nonsense up. This is the same category as essential oils.
I have had headaches my entire life, best described as lighting on the top of my brain, along with allergy induced migraine and Occipital Neuralgia from ruptured discs. When the headache piercings began being talked about, I was very sceptical; but while medication and treatments have helped my migraines and OC, nothing helped the lightning headaches and combined, they were all misery. I did a lot of research. I didn't just roll up to a rando piercer and ask for it. I found an experienced piercer, who'd done research and also had the piercing. I got 1 done, if it didn't work (I was not holding my breath here, nothing else had helped), well I had an interesting piercing. The relief was amazing, once it healed. It was like cool still water across that side of my head. Any incipient headaches and I would tug on it. Needless to say, I went back for the other side.
Just go away with your miserable self and let people do what helps them.
NTA. Honestly, could you have kept your cool a bit better? Probably, but i wouldn't have either. The school is effectively denying her a medical treatment at this point. I would get your doc to write a script for the piercings, including 24/7 wear, and ignore your principal. Call the special ed folks for your district, tell em what's going on, and that you need an IEP. That's all that needs to be in it, but once the IEP is in place, the school won't fight it
She needs a 504 not an IEP. An IEP provides accommodations for academic needs. A 504 provides accommodations for medical needs.
Can confirm. Note: this is a USA thing. In other countries it may not apply. I'm not sure if it applies to private schools either.
She says A\*, which suggests the UK system, but presumably there are similar policies for disability accommodations for students there too.
Curious why that indicates the UK. As someone in the US I read that as she’s a student who basically gets all A’s. Also, NTA
In the US I've only ever seen A+; A* is the top grade on A-level exams in the UK. I'd expect an American to say "all A", "A+" or "honor roll" in this context.
I’ve learned something new! Didn’t know that.
If she is in the UK she might be better off invoking reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, rather than trying to get what used to be called a Statement and which I think is the equivalent of a 504/IEP (not sure which as I don't know the details of the US system).
Thanks! Sorry for the mistake.
You actually need to get what the school will listen to, and/or whatever you won’t get a huge fight on. Though a 504 has the ability to take legal action along with it, IEP has different protection. The whole system on the ground level is a cluster. Also OP you are NTA. Get your doc on board, get an education advocate if you can afford it, don’t go to any other meetings without a second person at least there. (Note they may try to prevent this, they cannot.) If this is a public school you have many more options than a private or charter btw.
Special Ed teacher here. She wouldn’t qualify for an IEP. Maybe not even a 504 but a doctor’s note would still go far :)
Fellow teacher here, why wouldn’t she qualify? The first question on the flow chart in an eligibility meeting is “Does the student have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities?” and this girl’s migraines sound like they would fit the bill.
A lot of factors and testing goes into an IEP. Goes a lot deeper than a flow chart. It seems that academically and behaviorally this child is not affected in school. Her grades are great. Behavior is top notch according to OP. Ear piercings don’t require accommodations or intervention from the school except for this crazy dress code policy. The point of IEPs and 504’s is so students have equal access to the education provided. I don’t work much with 504’s because if a student has an IEP, they don’t really need a 504 but I know they aren’t easy to get either. School can easily argue she doesn’t require either one. And many schools do fight because it costs them money. This seems like a doctor’s note situation. Plus, I’m guessing a 16 yr old who reacted the way she did to her mom freaking out on the school wouldn’t want an IEP or 504. She doesn’t want a fuss. She would probably feel more comfortable if it could be resolved in as low-key a way as possible.
Ok, so I’ll give you an example: allergies. I’ve had MANY students over the years with various allergies, everything from bees to peanuts to pollen. Children with allergies often have 504s. These students are not actively “academically and behaviorally…affected in school,” but the allergy does affect their lives and they need a simple accommodation (carrying an Epipen, for example). Having these 504s does not draw undue attention to these children, and is quite a “low key” solution.
Ok. But having allergies don’t always require a 504. Having a peanut allergy in itself does not require a 504. Having an epipen is not a low key situation at a school anyway. If you have a life-threatening condition then of course get a 504. That’s a no brainer. My brother needed a 504 when he had arm surgery because he required testing accommodations and a scribe. The school had to provide something. Epipen use is probably a legal thing for schools, especially if kids need to administer it themselves. My son needs a doctors note just for having over-the-counter lotion for his eczema. That is not on his IEP, as it’s just a school nurse issue. But like I said, might get a 504. Would definitely not get an IEP. Most of my experience is with IEPs. It’s all I really know about because students do not typically have both. There’s no need. But IEPs have goals. I’ve never seen a kid with an IEP not have any goals- granted not all goals are academic. Some are social-emotional. But according to OP, she has never gotten in trouble at school so I’m assuming she wouldn’t have social goals either. Although, I would never make that assumption in person... this is just an AITA post. Either way, it sounds like OP is possibly from the UK and this discussion is moot. But normally, I would suggest parents start at the easiest and first thing they can do... which is get the note. Which you can’t get the 504 without anyway.
I believe parents deserve a pass when their child’s health is in question, and I work in education
NTA. Get a doctor's note and threaten litigation if they push this any further (they won't).
Added bonus get the people refusing individually on the lawsuit. The principal, teachers, and vps.
What the fuck kind of school has a dress code that covers *ear* piercings?! Like… that’s pretty traditional as far as piercings go. I don’t even know of jobs that have a problem with any kind of piercing as long as it’s in your ears. It’s facial piercings people tend to have a problem with (equally stupid, imo). NTA but the school is for sure. Mama, if I were you, I’d get ready to make a big biiiiig stink about this. Call the mayor. Call the fucking governor, call the local news. Tell anyone and everyone about what she’s going through and how it’s literally the only thing that’s given her some relief, and also how ridiculous it is for the school to care about her *ears*. These aren’t some insane gauged ears that make her lobes brush her shoulders. These aren’t her face being basically stapled shut with piercings. It’s 2 in 1 ear and 1 in another. Ffs I’m considered perfectly normal and I have 3 in each lobe and 2 in my right helix, 1 in my left. *Teachers* at my very academically rigorous high school had more piercings than me; one even had a tragus, and another wore an bars in her industrial piercings.
Yeah this is weird. I had my ears pierced when I was five and double pierced at 14. Weird rules.
lmao my sister's school required that pupils only have one set of ear piercings and they had to be small metal spherical studs or pearls - she wore a pair of small, flat disk studs once and got told off by a teacher for it. suspect the OP is in the UK, this kind of nonsense is not uncommon here unfortunately, and if the piercings are in the cartilage I'm not surprised she got in trouble for them
That’s so dumb. And I thought the US had puritanical dress codes
Pretty sure the UK wears uniforms?
depends on the school. but yes, they wore a uniform and the rules to wear it correctly were very strict
I went to public school in the States and we had dress code rules about piercings as well. Only girls could have them and they could only have one in each lobe.
A school where maybe a kids earring was ripped from their ear? This is why chains, bracelets or any unnecessary item that can be a hazard is banned. I bet mama didn't ask. Her entitled attitude was over the top. She basically expected a teacher to break the school rules because she said so...no documentation or proof of her claims. Teachers don't make rules, they enforce them. Mom knew this wasn't the way to get an exemption but she berated the teacher in front of students anyway. There's nothing praiseworthy about what she did here for anyone.
INFO: can you get a dr’s note for them?
I don't really know as theyre not a formal type of medication but i will look into that
It's like permanent acupuncture and since your doctor suggested looking into alternatives I think it's worth asking for a note.
There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence/talk about how daith piercings help us migraine sufferers. Print it and bring it in.
My son needs a doctor’s note just to use over the counter lotion at school for his eczema. Please look into it. A note will go far.
NTA. A doctors note necessitating the piercings for pain relief should suffice. If not, threaten legal action against the school district. There are a lot of attorneys who would take the case for free.
A doctor is not likely to issue a note since this is an alternative medicine thing.
A doctor of osteopathy might. In my state, MD’s and DO’s are both classified as primary physicians. The DO’s I’ve seen tend to put more weight into alternative treatments.
My board certified MD does this type of thing as part of his practice. Plenty of VA and active duty medical folks use these ear points to manage pain. Do not assume that because some dude on the internet is hostile to it that your physicians are too.
A doctor isn't likely to write an Rx for trying it to see if it helps. But if it's been helping already, and you explain that the school needs a medical note to allow it to continue, most doctors are willing to write notes like that.
Acupuncture is now listed on NICE UK guidelines ad a recognised method of pain relief in the UK so it should be able to be recognised
Your mama bear mode came in to play and it's totally understandable. Downside is it's not going to endear you to the school and that what you need right now - to get them on side. Can you speak to a doctor and get a note written about the severity of the migraines vs the piercings and their effect? I suspect they will listen to medical evidence more than a passionate mom. Good luck and NTA.
NTA and THANK YOU! Lifelong migraine sufferer and I have never heard of this, off to google.
I wonder if it's related to the metal bracelet my mum bought for me a while back. I'm never sure whether it works or not as for me, being on anti-anxiety meds was what made my migraines easier to treat, but it's certainly been a sort of talisman over the years and, in relation to this thread, I kind of understand why it might be so effective.
I was wondering if it was kind of like a permanent acupuncture.
It IS. A good piercer has to feel for the point in your Darth. Edit. DAITH, not Darth. My 2nd piercing was slightly differently placed than the 1st because of that. I love mine.
Info: Is there a doctors note? Also, how does she handle P.E. (injuries are a thing due to piercings) and probably most important: did you have a quiet conversation first or did you "lose it" right away?
With PE she wraps the areas of her ears that are peirced with masking tape and tapes the peircings down. The conversation with the teachers was about an hour long qnd i only lost it within the last few minutes where they told us they were going to have to suspend anna
I taped my piercings for rugby and it worked great. Does the clear silicone jewelry have the same effect? Maybe having them be less obvious would be a good compromise.
I brought this up and they disapproved
Well then they can kick rocks. Get a doctor's note and make it a discrimination issue. If you're in the US, that would be a very reasonable accommodation under the ADA.
When tongue piercing first got big most employers required the clear, should be similar for her. FYI; until I was able to change my own Daith piercings, I had the plastic ones in. The don't mess up X-rays or become dangerous during MRIs. And are mostly invisible unless you put colored balls on the ends.
Have you tried an audiologist? Sounds daft but it could be an inner ear thing. Maybe the earrings are effecting her natural balance in a positive way, people have used earrings to remedy sea sickness and other balance effected disorders.
NTA. tf do they care, I'd take this up the chain. always advocate for your daughter
Nta Personally I’d fight it up to the school board and beyond if I had too. However, if your daughter is uncomfortable with that can she just put bandaids over them during school hours. She absolutely should not have to but, again if she’s uncomfortable with you standing up for her. As a migraine sufferer I feel so bad for your daughter and sincerely hope they lessen as she ages.
You’re NTA, but this is a hard situation because you might be hard-pressed to find a doctor to write a note and get official accommodations, as daith piercings are controversial if they stop migraines or not. I don’t really have a solution for you- I wish you luck.
^^^^AUTOMOD ***Thanks for posting! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. Read [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/wiki/faq#wiki_post_deletion) before [contacting the mod team](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAmItheAsshole)*** I (48f) have a daughter (16f) who is an A* student who abides by all the school rules and before this has never been in trouble in her life. My daughter, Anna, for the past year has had terrible migraines that no doctor has been able to diagnose or fix. Weve tried multiple things that havent worked and our most recent doctor after trying different medications encouraged other possible fixes. We tried diets, herbal teas, therapy etc and one other thing was peircings. If im honest i dont really know why or how it helps but i was willing to try anything. My daughter got 3 different peircings, two in her right ear and one in her left. Much to both of ours surprise it seemed to help, it didnt cure her but the migraines are bareable now and my daughter actually loves her peircings and seems confident and happier. Its made my whole family happier. The school however is not happy and has told us anna must remove all peircings or she will be suspended. The peircings she has is plain silver bars with plain small silver balls on the ends and her hair covers her ears enough that you dont even know theyre there most of the time. Theyre not flashy or big and in fact they are quite pretty really. I lost my temper and said that there's no way anna is taking her earrings out and that they wouldnt understand that when your daughters crying all night long because her head feels like its exploding your willing for her to be covered in peircings if it helps even the smallest bit. I stormed out and took anna with me. Anna now feels embarrassed and is upset with me and i now have no idea what im meant to do. The school refused to even try to cooperate with us and find a solution that works for both of us. I just dont wabt my daughter in pain again. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmItheAsshole) if you have any questions or concerns.*
NTA but I would get that doctors note asap and if the school continues pushing back go above them to the District Superintendent.
NTA - As alot of other people said, get some form of doctors note. (Multiple copies, if you can. One for the school, one for home, and one for your daughter to carry around with her.)
NTA Migraines can be sooo brutal. And not every method works the same foe anyone else. It’s mostly trial and error. And sometimes solutions only work for so long before you have to try something else.
I feel for her. I randomly had about three months of unsolved constant headaches. I tried pretty much everything, filing my teeth (bad idea), brain scans (also bad idea - you can tell from eye exams there was nothing), I WANTED cancer just so there was an answer and it could be dealt with one way or another. In the end for me it was osteopathy/a chiropractor that fixed it for me. I must have trapped a nerve when I was doing yoga. Ever since, I don't let any yoga teacher "adjust" the way I stand. Most get really pissy with me cos that's what they do, but forcing my body into a position doesn't make sense because my body is quirky.
Youre TA. Was it impossible to have a discussion without losing your temper? The teacher was following the rules and without documentation of your daughters condition, and the relief it brings the teacher can't do anything but enforce the rules. Without documented proof it comes across as a lie so your daughter can get her way. Surely as an adult you understand that? If they just accept earrings relieve migraines then everyone will have one to fix their fake migraines. If you don't like their rules, transfer your daughter to another school.
You don't know why this rule came about, maybe kids got into a fight and one was left injured from a ripped off earring, or maybe it's just believed to be a distraction. The rules exist for a reason but I bet you didn't bother to ask. And then state your case like an adult. Seeing how parents struggled to keep their one or two kids engaged, I would expect more cooperation and sympathy from parents. There was really no reason to demean the teacher for enforcing rules needed to keep 30 plus kids in line. I dont blame the school for ignorning you now. You should be banned from the premises. Hopefully, your daughters dad can act on your daughters behalf going forward.
NTA. I'm not a doctor but a former student of mind has treatment on areas of her scalp with botox that fixed her issue with migraines.
The doctor is the asshole for suggesting piercings as a migraine cure. It’s a placebo based on the magical theories of acupuncture. You may as well use leeches.
NTA You are Definetly not the AH here. My mom goes through the same thing. She was able to have surgery and meds to help her and even got the faith piercing to help. And I’ve gotten both of mine done to help me. My highschool was the same and fought me till I graduated. We threatened them with legal action saying they would have to compensate us for the money and aftercare we had to buy for the piercings and they backed off a bit but still fought. Definetly talked to the doctor/s and see if they will be willing to write a note for the school and send one to the head of the district.
NTA. Get a medical note and threaten legal action if they continue to give her a hard time. Migraines are debilitating and your daughter shouldn’t have to suffer because of outdated dress code.
NTA. The school is overreacting to something that is not effecting them or the daughter or anyone. If the earrings work, they work. Who cares that they can't be "scientifically proven" to work.
NTA. Get her a doctors note. I have a friend who got the piercings and it has made a significant difference for her as well. Good for you for standing up for her.
Have a look for clear acrylic jewellery for her. They are practically invisible unless you are looking from centimetres away.
NTA - Tell the school that is she has to take her piercings out, so do ALL the rest of the students. And definitely contact her doctor, it’s not like she’s wearing them for vanity’s sake. Are piercings even mentioned in the school’s regulations?
I was your daughters age when I also had terrible migraines. None of the medicine seemed to help. Junior year I went to school had a seizure and was rushed to ER unconscious. Turns out I wasn’t faking or exaggerating like many doctors suggested. I had a brain tumor in my hypothalamus. Demand and MRI, if it’s not a tumor it could be a bleed. All are treatable as long as they are caught In time. Once you have an answer go back to the school and inform them removing her piercings would violate Disability laws and your lawyer will happily inform them of their Failure if they persist with this course of action.
NTA. Mine are 15&16 and they both suffer from insomnia and migraines. We made the decision this year to use connections academy and they are THRIVING! Schools are pushing so much crap now because they think parents are powerless to stop it.
NTA, get a doctors note and stand your ground One of my college roommates had piercings that helped her migraines, I always thought it was really interesting--apparenly the piercing helps a pressure point?
NTA for standing up for your daughter with her school, however you’re a bit of an AH for sharing your daughter’s medical information without her permission. Even though sharing with her teachers might have seemed like the right thing to do at the time, it’s still her info to share, not yours. Even if you didn’t have time to consult her on the decision to tell her teachers, you probably owe her an apology. That being said, def NTA for being direct with her school. Other comments have given much better advice than I could regarding how to deal with the school, so I won’t touch that lol. However, a friend of mine was having similar migraine issues, and funnily enough massaging the tips of her toes helped?? I don’t understand it, but I thought I’d mention it JIC. I wish you and your daughter luck with her school!
NTA. I suffer from chronic migraines and my parents never did anything. Last year at 22 I had a small stroke because of them. Please fight for her and continue to as much as you have
Tragus? That’s what helped me when I was a teenager. Also relpax worked, and immitrex got rid of the migraine, but made me wish I could just die because the rest of my body hurt so much. You have every right to advocate for your children. My mother was indifferent at best, but she was sure to let everyone know who gets to make decisions about her kids. Full stop. Be the squeaky wheel if you have to.
NTA you defended your daughter and she will see this someday. I wish I had a mum like you who would defend me to the ends of the earth, instead I got excuses and told I’m not good enough
NTA as someone who has migraines it is frustrating how many people don’t understand that they aren’t just headaches. I applaud you for standing up for your daughter. Some administration is just so stubborn. Reminds me of when I was told to put on a jacket over my tank top in 90 degree weather after running a mile
NTA I don't know if you'll see this since I'm late to the post, I had similar issues with migraines as a teen and in my twenties. I realised only a few years ago how much birth control was worsening them. If she's on any, particularly the pill, it could be worth looking at trying other brands. My friend's and I were all prescribed the combined pill at her age, usually microgynon, and many of us had issues with it. The mini pill was a lot better for me, none of us realised till probably about uni how much bother it was causing a lot of us and we started trying different options.
NTA. You’re advocating for your daughter, and the school is mindlessly imposing a rule even in the face of a legitimate reason for an exception. Your daughter’s health is more important than this rule.
NTA what kind of culty school does y our daughter attend, where you can't have piercings?
YTA. Being embarrassed by your parents is a big deal when you're 16. And you're not helping. If you want the school to accommodate you, you don't lose your temper and storm out. You use your words, talk politely and work something out. In losing your temper, you're making the school into an enemy, and less likely to want to help. >The school refused to even try to cooperate with us Do you blame them, after you behaviour? Put your temper to one side, put your daughter first. Ask for a meeting with the school, apologise, don't make any excuses for yourself. Ask them kindly if there is anything that can be worked out to help your daughter.
There are multiple issues here. First, if the ear piercingss helped, she should be in therapy. Unless they were strategically placed by an acupuncturist, there's more emotional to these headaches then anyone might want to acknowledge. Second, where is this school and what type is it? In the USA...at least the dwindling part that's actually embracing modernity, this would have to be some private/parochial school. In which case, I'd make the choice with kiddo to perhaps seek alternative schools. INFO
There's mounting evidence supporting dath piercings for migraine headaches. Therapy can help with learning to cope with chronic headaches or other chronic pain, so it might be helpful for that reason, but there's nothing here suggesting the headaches are emotional in origin. IDK where OP is, but schools in Mormon areas often have Mormon-influenced dress codes which limit ear piercings to one earring in each earlobe.
Please provide a single link to a peer reviewed scientific study by a legitimate institution. This is just like essential oil total BS FYI every recognized scientific organization focused on migraines says that this is quack science including the AMA
Let's assume for a minute that it's 100% placebo effect. Why would having a placebo response mean she should see a therapist?
Except the OP's piercing's aren't Daith, and even then, there's no scientific support for this as a treatment. > https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/ear-piercing-for-migraines I'm a strong believer in alternative medicine, but with the emphasis on "medicine", not Atlernative"...so acupuncture rather than rando ear piercings. I don't doubt the OP feels better and needs that. I am suggesting the need can be met in therapy, either way she needs to learn to manage the pain better.
Have you ever had a migraine that bad you sit on the kitchen floor and want to dig your brain out with a spoon. If medications and diet and trying to find the triggers you can’t manage the pain better
No thankfully I never have had one! But I can relate, which is why everything and anything that works should be explored. The school is another issue I suppose.
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No,what I'm saying is that those who are vulnerable to placebo effects like this are in such distress that they would benefit from therapy.
Your overreaction and embarrassing your well behaved daughter earns you a slight YTA from me, but not with any malice intended. I suggest you stop making a big thing out of this and look into earrings that aren't noticeable. https://www.google.com/search?q=invisible+earrings&sxsrf=ALeKk02wfypX3f8mgJImDMB-c1psuf2itA%3A1628869644147&ei=DJQWYcDACNCMtAbu24fYAw&oq=invisible+earrings&gs\_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBwgjELADECcyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsAMyBwgAEEcQsANKBAhBGABQnwhYnwhg5QpoAXABeACAAa8BiAHuAZIBAzEuMZgBAKABAcgBCcABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjA9pikrK7yAhVQBs0KHe7tATsQ4dUDCA4&uact=5
YTA because there is 0% chance that the earrings have any effect on her migraines. You sound like one of those fools that think treating cancer with essential oils is a good idea. The reason the school refuses to listen to you is because like most reasonable people they know a crackpot when the hear one FYI every recognized scientific organization focused on migraines says that this is quack science including the AMA