Migraine

What triggers migraines?

Migraines are triggered by a variety of factors. The triggers are different for each patient, but some of the more common ones include stress, fatigue, caffeine, and bright lights. In some patients, eating certain foods or not eating can initiate a migraine.

What are the stages of a migraine?

Migraines are unique among headaches because they can cause symptoms that begin before your headache and continue after your head pain is gone. The stages of a migraine include:

Prodrome

You may develop subtle symptoms a day or two before your headache. These symptoms can include mood changes, food cravings, and feeling thirsty.

Aura

An aura refers to symptoms that appear 20-60 minutes before a migraine. You may not have an aura, but if you do, you can experience changes in vision — flashes of light or wavy vision — and changes in speech, movement, or touch. For example, you may have a hard time talking, have uncontrollable movements or feel tingling in your arms or legs.

Attack

This is when your migraine begins. Migraine pain lasts at least four hours and may persist for days. Migraine symptoms include:

• Intense pain that is usually concentrated near your temple
• Pain that worsens when you move
• Sensitivity to light, sounds, smell, or touch
• Nausea and vomiting

You may also develop blurry vision or feel lightheaded.

Post-drome

In the 24 hours after your headache goes away, you may continue to experience confusion, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and sound.

How are migraines treated?

Several medications are available for treating migraines, but Dr. Fadly also offers interventional pain treatments that can successfully treat migraine pain. Interventional procedures may provide short-term relief of an immediate migraine and help prevent future attacks.

One interventional option, a nerve block, can target different nerves associated with migraines. Two examples include:

Peripheral nerve block

Dr. Fadly injects anesthesia into nerves near the back of your skull, your temple, or above your eyebrows. The anesthesia blocks nerve signals, offering pain relief that can last weeks or longer.

Sphenopalatine ganglion blocks

This is another type of nerve block that targets bundles of nerves associated with the trigeminal nerve, a key nerve often associated with migraines.

Dr. Fadly may also recommend a trigger point injection to relax tight, knotted muscles. When trigger points in your head, neck, and shoulders are injected with an anesthetic, you’ll get immediate and long-lasting pain relief.

To find relief for your migraine headaches, call California Spine & Pain Institute or book an appointment online.