Migraine Pain Management
What are migraines?
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smell
- Blurred vision
- Lightheadedness
Sometimes, people who have migraines experience auras, which could appear as lights or spots in front of your eyes or affect your other senses. Auras originate from the nervous system and disrupt your normal senses.
Migraines are a condition that affects certain people and not others, so unlike headaches, which everyone gets now and then, only some people experience migraines. Most people who get migraines find it impossible to work through, and resting somewhere quiet and dark is the only answer.
What causes migraines?
Changes in the weather
Intense physical activities
Poor quality of sleep
Powerful smells
Bright lights or glare from the sun
Stress
Alcohol and caffeinated drinks
Food additives
Eating irregularly and fasting
Eating processed foods
Chemical imbalances in the brain
Taking estrogen medications
Diagnosis and Medical Evaluation
Diagnosing and evaluating migraines is a crucial step in effective migraine pain management. It allows pain management specialist to understand the nature of your migraines, their triggers, and the most suitable treatment plan.
Recognizing when to seek medical attention for your migraines is essential. If you experience frequent migraines (more than a few times a month) or are particularly severe, it’s crucial to consult Dr. Gazelle Aram, pain management specialist at Expert Care Center. Chronic migraines, characterized by 15 or more headache days per month, often require specialized treatment.
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Understanding the warning signs, frequency, and severity of your migraines is crucial for your pain management specialist to make an accurate diagnosis and tailor treatment to your specific needs. Some individuals experience warning signs or “auras” before a migraine attack, which can manifest as visual disturbances, tingling sensations, or difficulty speaking.
Reporting these auras is especially crucial if you have a specific type, like hemiplegic migraine, which involves temporary paralysis. Dr. Aram can differentiate between migraines and other primary headache disorders or secondary headaches by describing the intensity and characteristics of your migraine pain, which is often severe, throbbing, and one-sided—ensuring you a more accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Medical History and Physical Examination
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Dr. Aram will ask specific questions about your headache symptoms, such as frequency, duration, characteristics, and potential triggers like certain foods or stressors. Given the genetic component of migraines, she’ll also discuss your family’s medical history. Dr. Aram may inquire about any past head injuries or related diagnoses to fully understand your medical background.
The physical exam will focus on your head, neck, and neurological function, including reflexes, muscle strength, and coordination assessments, to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Chronic Migraine Management Treatment at Expert Care Center
Nerve Blocks
Trigger Point Injections
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
Bracing or Orthotic Devices
Corticosteroid Injections
Medication Management
Athletes
Aging Adults
Accident Victims
Lifestyle-Induced Back Issues
Post-Surgical Patients
Individuals with Chronic Pain
Epidural steroid injections
Facet block injections
Regenerative injections
Medication Management
Nerve Blocks for migraine headaches
Neurotoxin injections for migraine headaches
Preventive Treatment of Migraine
Beta-blockers (B-Blockers)
Calcium Channel Blockers
Atypical Antidepressants
Antiseizure Medications
Other alternative for acute migraine treatments:
Abortive Medications
Anti-Nausea Medicine
It is also important to make sure that the headaches are indeed migraines and not other types of headaches such as cervicogenic headaches, cluster headaches, tension-type headache, etc.
Book an appointment online or call Expert Care Center today to learn more about headache treatments.
Migraine Headache Relief
Migraine headache relief generally refers to strategies for alleviating the headache pain and discomfort associated with acute or chronic migraines.
Simple changes to your daily habits can significantly influence your experience with migraines. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, staying well-hydrated, and employing stress-reduction techniques like meditation or deep breathing can go a long way in preventing migraine triggers and reducing their severity.
In addition to lifestyle adjustments, several non-medical approaches can offer immediate relief during a migraine attack. Applying cold packs to the forehead or neck can numb the area and reduce pain. Deep breathing exercises can help relax the nervous system while finding a dark, quiet room to rest in can significantly alleviate the sensory overload often associated with migraines.
The Importance of a Pain Management Specialist for Migraine Pain Management
When dealing with chronic migraines, the specialized expertise of a Pain Management Specialist like Gazelle Aram, MD, at Expert Care Center can make a significant difference.
One of the critical advantages of consulting with Dr. Aram is the personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Dr. Aram aims to optimize your migraine pain management using treatment options such as neurotoxin, nerve blocks, and medication management.
By seeking the expertise of Dr. Aram, you’re taking a proactive step in improving your quality of life. Her comprehensive approach aims to reduce the impact of migraines on your daily activities and provide a deeper understanding of your condition.