Joanne Lee SmithChronic pain and symptoms recovery Nurse / Coach

Migraine Recovery: My Journey to No More Headaches

15 Jan 2026 · 1 min

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In this personal video excerpt, Joanne Smith declares that she has not experienced a migraine since May, marking the end of a period where she suffered weekly chronic migraines. She recounts the severe symptoms she endured—visual flashing, extreme light sensitivity, and the need to take medication even while running ultramarathons—describing how these attacks made daily activities and endurance sports extremely difficult. Joanne explains that she now feels fully recovered, attributing the change to her brain no longer interpreting visual stimuli as a danger, and emphasizes that such recovery is possible for others, not a miracle.

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not had a migraine in as long as I can remember now. I would consider that I am recovered from chronic migraine. I no longer have migraines. The last migraine I had, I think, was back in May, so it was a long time ago now, whereas bearing in mind I used to have migraines every single week. Visual flashing— those of you that have known me a long time have seen pictures of me doing ultramarathons with my big glasses on. I didn't go out in light. And I had— I would have to take the medication halfway up the mountain and keep going. It was difficult. It was horrible. But I would say that I am fully recovered from that now, which is miraculous. It's not miraculous. It's possible for everyone. It's not an actual miracle. It's the way that it works when the brain no longer perceives that as a danger.