Chronic Migraines

What Is a Chronic Migraine?

When migraines happen 15 or more days a month, they are considered chronic. This disorder can have a significant impact on your quality of life, interfering with your work, school, family and social activities. The good news is that you can get effective treatments for this neurological disorder to manage and reduce migraine pain drastically.

Dr. Mark Cohen of Neuro Injury Specialists is a board-certified neurologist with vast experience in treating chronic migraines and other neurological disorders. This medical practice in New York and New Jersey offers the relief you seek from chronic migraines with the best chronic migraine treatment plan that includes state-of-the-art diagnostic testing to ensure you receive the most accurate and effective treatment.

How Do I Know I Have Chronic Migraines?

A migraine is a type of headache distinguished by intense pain on one side of the head. Unlike a common headache, a migraine comes with varied symptoms including visual disturbances and auras. Auras are sensory or cognitive changes that occur before or during the migraine, such as seeing flashes of light, blind spots, tingling or difficulty speaking.

Migraines can be classified as episodic and chronic migraines. Episodic migraines occur not more than 15 days per month while chronic migraines occur 15 or more days per month for at least three months. Chronic migraines can also last longer than episodic migraines, sometimes for more than 24 hours.

Symptoms include:

• Pulsing pain or severe throbbing, usually on one side of the head
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch
• Nausea
• Visual disturbances and auras
• Difficulty with concentration, memory and speech
• Dizziness and vertigo with a sensation of spinning

What Drugs Can I Get for Chronic Migraine Treatment?

When it comes to managing chronic migraines, there are both preventive and acute drug treatment options available. Preventive drugs are taken regularly to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.

The neurologist may recommend preventives for chronic migraines that includes:

• Antidepressants
• Anti-seizure drugs
• Blood pressure medications
• Botox injections, which have been proven effective for those suffering from 15+ migraine days a month

For acute migraine relief when an attack occurs, options include pain relievers like NSAIDs or triptans, anti-nausea medication and ergotamine derivatives. These medications act as nerve blocks to provide acute pain relief. These drugs are also effective for tension headaches  and cluster headaches.

Other pharmacological avenues for chronic migraine treatment include:

• Botox injections every 12 weeks to prevent attacks
• CGRP monoclonal antibodies given monthly to reduce chronic headache  and migraine frequency
• Anti-seizure medications like topiramate or valproate for prevention
• Triptans like sumatriptan for acute migraine relief
• Pain management approaches such as relaxation techniques and biofeedback

Can I Get Alternative Chronic Migraine Treatments?

Your neurologist may recommend non-drug treatments to help you cope with stress and other emotional triggers, relax and improve your well-being. They also reduce the risk factors for chronic migraines. Non-drug treatments can be used alone or in combination with medications.

Alternatives help you reduce your reliance on medications. This option is ideal if you’re having problems with drug interactions. They can also be used in different migraine stages.

Some of the non-drug treatments include:

• Behavioral therapies. These are psychological interventions that can help you change your thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to migraines. They include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), biofeedback and relaxation techniques. They teach you skills to manage stress, cope with pain and prevent and minimize migraine causes.
• Complementary therapy. These are natural or alternative therapies that help you enhance your health and wellness. They include acupuncture, massage, yoga and meditation. They work by stimulating certain points in your body, easing muscle tension, improving blood circulation and calming your mind.
• Lifestyle modifications. These are changes that you can make in your daily habits to improve your overall health and reduce the risk factors for chronic migraines. They include avoiding known migraine triggers, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated and exercising regularly. They keep your body and brain in optimal condition to prevent and minimize the effects of external factors.

With the best chronic migraine treatment, you can start to lead a pain-free life. Find the relief you seek at Neuro Injury Specialists in New York City and New Jersey. They have impressive experience in diagnosing and treating chronic migraines using the latest techniques and technologies. Contact them today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cohen and take a big step toward a pain-free life.