What are migraines?
Although many people classify migraines as a type of headache, they’re actually stand-alone neurological conditions with headaches as one of many possible symptoms. Migraines can last for several hours or several days, stopping you from doing work, interacting with others, and enjoying yourself.
If you get migraines, you may be able to identify specific triggers that contribute to them. Migraine triggers are different from person to person, but common triggers include certain foods, stress and emotion, and intense physical activity.
If you have a migraine 15 or more days in a month for three consecutive months, you have a condition called chronic migraine. With chronic migraines, you might feel like you spend more time living with one than time without one. Whether or not you have chronic migraines, migraines can have a significant impact on your life. The team at Athens Spine Center can help you find a way to manage your migraines or reduce the number of times you get them.
How can I tell if I have a migraine?
Migraines come with a wide range of symptoms that differ between individuals. Before you get a migraine, you might get a warning sign called an aura. You might see flashes of light or feel tingling throughout your body, indicating that a migraine is on the horizon. However, not everyone who gets migraines gets auras.
Migraines always come with severe headaches, typically on just one side of your head at a time. You might notice other symptoms before your headache sets in. Typical migraine symptoms beyond a headache include:
- Sound sensitivity
- Light sensitivity
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Throbbing pain
Without treatment, migraines last between four and 72 hours. To diagnose you with migraines, the team at Athens Spine Center reviews your symptoms and the frequency with which you get them.
How are migraines treated?
Athens Spine Center offers several options to treat your migraines and prevent you from getting more in the future. You can’t always predict or prevent a migraine, but identifying and avoiding your triggers can help you take control and get fewer migraines per month. Migraines don’t always respond well to drugs, but there are a few minimally invasive procedures that can treat them.
Available treatments to help with migraines include:
Dorsal root ganglion therapy
During dorsal root ganglion therapy, the team uses ultrasound guidance to deliver radiofrequency energy through an electrode to sensory nerves to stop them from transmitting pain signals.
Occipital nerve blocks
The team injects a combination of local anesthesia and a steroid near your occipital nerve, which starts at the base of your skull and can contribute to migraines. Relief can last for several days or months.
Occipital nerve stimulation
Pulse generator devices, implanted at the base of your skull, can send low-level electrical impulses to your occipital nerve. For some patients, this can reduce instances of migraines.
To explore your migraine treatment options, call Athens Spine Center to speak with a team member today.