Migraine – Not Just a Headache
Anyone unlucky enough to be a victim of migraine will know that the condition is much more than "just a headache". They will also be well aware that, in severe cases, medications to deal with the pain are simply not enough. Fortunately, there are pain management specialists who deal with migraine and a simple search for, for example, "pain management Austin" online will direct patients to their best options for coping with the issue.
Not just a regular headache, migraine is a chronic neurovascular disorder which, even today, is not fully understood. The sufferer experiences recurrent headaches which are moderate to severe; frequency may be a couple of times a year or days every month. There are often accompanying autonomic nervous system symptoms which are as debilitating as the pain involved.
Migraine pain usually affects one side of the head and lasts between two hours in milder cases and three days in more severe circumstances. Associated symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and any kind of activity will exacerbate symptoms. Up to a third of migraineurs will experience aura: this is a neurological phenomenon, often preceding the onset of the headache, and involves a transient disturbance which may be visual, vocal, motor, or sensory in nature, or a combination of some or all. Some migraineurs experience aura but no headache. These symptoms can be the most unpleasant aspect of the migraine, and are very disconcerting. For example, victims may see flashing lights, blind spots, or feel numbness or tingling in a limb or the tongue. Speech may be slurred or words may be jumbled. Some symptoms mimic those of stroke, which is why migraines must be diagnosed correctly.
Believed to have both genetic and environmental triggers, migraine is more common in women than in men; up to 15% of the world's population experiences migraine.
While most people resort first to analgesic medications to deal with migraine pain, frequent sufferers of migraine or those who experience severe symptoms will require other measures. Prophylactic medications may be prescribed, but have side effects and are not suitable for all patients. Other methods of managing migraine pain include botox, nerve blocks to the cervical, occipital, and/or trigeminal nerves, plus avoidance of triggers, undertaking regular exercise, and not smoking. Newer techniques include peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves.
The best course of action for one experiencing migraine is to consult with a pain management doctor who specialises in migraine. There are dedicated clinics in most big cities which address the issue of pain for various conditions. A simple online search for pain management Austin, for example, will provide details of where to go in Austin, Texas, for superior treatments. With a targeted and holistic approach, management of the condition can be achieved.
Not just a regular headache, migraine is a chronic neurovascular disorder which, even today, is not fully understood. The sufferer experiences recurrent headaches which are moderate to severe; frequency may be a couple of times a year or days every month. There are often accompanying autonomic nervous system symptoms which are as debilitating as the pain involved.
Migraine pain usually affects one side of the head and lasts between two hours in milder cases and three days in more severe circumstances. Associated symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and any kind of activity will exacerbate symptoms. Up to a third of migraineurs will experience aura: this is a neurological phenomenon, often preceding the onset of the headache, and involves a transient disturbance which may be visual, vocal, motor, or sensory in nature, or a combination of some or all. Some migraineurs experience aura but no headache. These symptoms can be the most unpleasant aspect of the migraine, and are very disconcerting. For example, victims may see flashing lights, blind spots, or feel numbness or tingling in a limb or the tongue. Speech may be slurred or words may be jumbled. Some symptoms mimic those of stroke, which is why migraines must be diagnosed correctly.
Believed to have both genetic and environmental triggers, migraine is more common in women than in men; up to 15% of the world's population experiences migraine.
While most people resort first to analgesic medications to deal with migraine pain, frequent sufferers of migraine or those who experience severe symptoms will require other measures. Prophylactic medications may be prescribed, but have side effects and are not suitable for all patients. Other methods of managing migraine pain include botox, nerve blocks to the cervical, occipital, and/or trigeminal nerves, plus avoidance of triggers, undertaking regular exercise, and not smoking. Newer techniques include peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves.
The best course of action for one experiencing migraine is to consult with a pain management doctor who specialises in migraine. There are dedicated clinics in most big cities which address the issue of pain for various conditions. A simple online search for pain management Austin, for example, will provide details of where to go in Austin, Texas, for superior treatments. With a targeted and holistic approach, management of the condition can be achieved.
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