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Migraine pain is so severe that it leaves you unable to do anything but stay still in a dark, quiet room until the pain subsides. You can ease your pain and change the course of your migraines with treatments from Michael Rizkalla, MD, Mahmud Ibrahim, MD, and the team at Revive Spine and Pain Center. They offer treatments that reduce the severity of your migraine pain and also decrease the frequency of future headaches. Call the office in Marlton, Hamilton Township, East Brunswick and Northfield, New Jersey, or book online today so you can start getting migraine pain relief.
Migraine Pain Q & A
What causes migraine pain?
Migraines arise from a series of events that begin when something activates the nerves in your head. Though everyone has their own migraine triggers, these are a few examples:
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Drinking alcohol
- Dehydration
- Strong odors
- Hormone changes
- Bright or flashing lights
- Changes in the weather
- Certain foods (like chocolate, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and processed meats)
The trigger causes a surge of electrical activity, which leads to increased blood flow and a rise in inflammatory substances. As a result, you have a migraine.
What symptoms accompany my migraine pain?
Migraines may cause four distinct stages, but most people don’t experience all four:
Phase 1: Prodrome
This phase causes slight changes like food cravings or mood swings in the day or two before your migraine pain begins.
Phase 2: Aura
Aura refers to having unusual experiences like seeing flashing lights or feeling tingling sensations shortly before a migraine. Only one-third of people with migraines have an aura.
Phase 3: Migraine
Migraines cause a severe, throbbing pain that begins around one temple and may move to include both sides of your head. Along with your pain, you have symptoms, such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning)
- Sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or touch
- Facial pressure or sinus pain
Without treatment, migraines last at least four hours and may go on for three days.
Phase 4: Post-drome
You may have fatigue, body aches, brain fog, and other symptoms for a day or two after your migraine pain ends.
How is migraine pain treated?
The first line of treatment includes medications you can take at the start of your headache to reduce the severity of your pain. Your provider may also prescribe daily medications that decrease the number of future migraines.
The team also specializes in advanced treatments for migraine pain, including:
- CGRP monoclonal antibody injections (target substances causing migraine pain)
- Sphenopalatine ganglion block (blocks nerve signals)
- Neuromodulation (uses electrical impulses to regulate nerves)
- Botox® or Myobloc® injections (for chronic migraines)
Chronic migraines are defined as having 15 or more migraine days a month. If you have chronic migraines, you may qualify for Botox or Myobloc injections that improve your pain and reduce the number of migraines you have in the future.
Call Revive Spine and Pain Center or use online booking today to get customized treatments that relieve your migraine pain.