Migraine

A migraine is a primary headache disorder that can cause debilitating symptoms affecting your quality of life. The multispecialty team at Advanced Medical Care in Brighton Beach (Brooklyn) and Forest Hills (Queens), New York, includes board-certified neurologists specializing in migraine treatment. The team uses a combination of therapies to help their patients get lasting relief from head pain. Call today or schedule a consultation online for help with your migraines.

What is a migraine?

A migraine isn’t just a headache but a primary headache disorder that causes recurring head pain and other symptoms like weakness, nausea, and/or sensitivity to light and sound. Primary headache disorders are headaches that develop on their own, not from an underlying medical condition.

Though some people with migraines feel no pain, most people feel a moderate to severe throbbing sensation on one or both sides of the head during a headache episode. The pain can last for hours or days.

What are migraine symptoms?

Migraine symptoms vary. But the primary headache disorder causes symptoms that differentiate it from tension and other headaches.

Migraine symptoms include:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in speech
• Fatigue
• Throbbing head pain (usually)
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Some people also have an aura before or during their migraine. An aura is a sensory symptom such as seeing flashes of light, ringing in the ear, or tingling on the face. For a small minority of migraine sufferers, these are the primary symptoms of their migraines.

What causes a migraine?

Researchers are still investigating what causes migraines but theorize that genetic and environmental factors play a role.

Though the exact cause is unknown, known migraine triggers include:

• Hormones
• Stress
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Overstimulation (strong smells, loud sounds, flashing lights)
• Too little or too much sleep
• Weather changes
• Certain foods (chocolate, aged cheese, processed foods)

The Advanced Medical Care team recommends keeping a headache journal to help identify your migraine triggers.

What treatments can help a migraine?

The Advanced Medical Care team personalizes your migraine treatment based on how often you have headaches and how severe they are. Your plan can include:

Medication therapy

Medication therapy for migraines includes pain relievers and preventive medication. Pain relievers aim to reduce the pain once your migraine starts, while preventive medicines work to stop the headache from ever happening.

Botox® injections

If you have chronic migraines, 15 or more headaches a month, and medication therapy fails to provide relief, the Advanced Medical Care team might recommend Botox injections. Botox for migraines consists of several injections around the head and neck every 12 weeks. Botox reduces the frequency and severity of chronic migraines.

Other therapeutic approaches

Advanced Medical Care’s neurologists could recommend other therapeutic approaches to manage your migraine, including nerve blocks, physical therapy, and acupuncture.

Migraines aren’t ordinary headaches. They can, however, benefit from expert care. Call Advanced Medical Care today or schedule your migraine consultation online.