Excessive nerve activity and inflamed blood vessels in the brain cause migraines. The unusual brain activity typically begins due to a trigger, such as:
Processed meats, chocolate, blue cheese, caffeine, and foods containing artificial sweeteners or preservatives often trigger migraines.
Migraines progress through four possible stages, but you may not experience all of them.
The day or two before a migraine, 40-60% of people feel unusually tired and irritable. You may have mood swings or food cravings.
Two out of 10 people experience aura shortly before their headache begins. Aura refers to symptoms such as seeing flashing lights, bright shapes, and wavy lines or having sensations like tingling and numbness.
This is the only stage everyone experiences. Migraines begin with extreme, throbbing pain around one temple. Your pain may stay on one side of your head or involve both temples.
In addition to your head pain, migraines also cause:
If you don’t seek treatment, migraines may last at least four hours and up to several days.
Many people don’t regain their health and energy for a day after their migraine ends. During this recovery time, you may feel confused, tired, and depressed.
Identifying and avoiding your triggers helps prevent migraines. Your treatment may include medication to ease the pain when a migraine begins or to reduce the number of future migraines.
The experienced interventional pain specialists at the Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine specialize in advanced migraine treatments, including:
Botox is available for people with chronic migraines (15 or more headache days a month, each lasting at least four hours).
Don’t wait to get help for migraines. Schedule an appointment at the Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine by phone or request one online today.