Migraines

What causes migraines?

Migraine headaches are complex neurological disorders that begin when internal or external factors trigger hyperactivity in the trigeminal nerves.

There are many possible migraine triggers. Some of the most common are:

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Caffeine
• Bright lights
• Strong odors
• Skipping a meal
• Extreme temperatures
• Certain foods and additives

Migraine treatment begins by identifying your triggers and developing a plan to avoid them. 

What symptoms develop due to migraines?

Migraines progress through four stages, each with distinct symptoms. However, you may not experience all of them.

Prodrome

A day or two before the pain begins, some patients notice subtle changes such as mood changes or food cravings. 

Aura

About one-third of migraine patients experience aura roughly 30 minutes before their migraine begins. Aura often causes vision changes, such as seeing wavy lines or flashes of light. You may also experience other changes, including difficulty speaking and tingling sensations.

Attack

This is when your migraine begins. During a migraine attack you’ll experience:

• Severe, throbbing pain around one or both temples
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vertigo 
• Sensitivity to lights, sounds, or smells

Migraines last at least four hours and may continue up to three days if left untreated. 

Postdrome

Some patients experience symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, and weakness up to a day after their migraine ends. 

How are migraines treated?

As experts in diagnosing and treating migraines, the team at South Valley Neurology offers comprehensive care that incorporates the newest and most advanced options. Your treatment may include medications that you take when your migraine begins to relieve the pain or medications that reduce the frequency and severity of future attacks.

In addition to oral medications, your migraine treatment may include: 

Botox® injections

Botox is a preventive treatment that reduces the frequency of migraine attacks. This option is available for patients with chronic migraines, which means you have 15 or more headache days a month and each headache lasts four days or longer. 

Nerve blocks

Nerve blocks such as the Sphenocath procedure significantly relieve your pain by injecting a local anesthetic near the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)

CGRP is an innovative medication that relieves your pain and reduces the frequency of your migraines by blocking the activity of proteins that contribute to migraines.

If you suffer from migraines, effective treatment is available at South Valley Neurology. Call our office today.