Migraines can cause disabling head pain and problems like vomiting, light sensitivity, and visual disturbances. If you suffer from migraines, talk to board-certified neurologist Jontel Pierce, MD, of Mind Neurology Clinic. At offices in Katy and Sugar Land, Texas, Dr. Pierce and her colleagues offer specialized treatments such as nerve blocks and medical Botox® injections. Call Mind Neurology Clinic today or book a consultation by completing the online scheduling form.
A migraine is a severe kind of headache, causing additional symptoms such as:
Visual disturbances include seeing wavy lines, spots, or flashing lights, known as an aura. Your vision might dim or grow blurry.
These symptoms set migraines apart from other recurring headaches. Some people suffer from migraines multiple times a month, while others go for years between attacks. Many people know when a migraine is coming on as they experience visual disturbances or problems like constipation and food cravings in the days before the migraine strikes.
The reason people get migraines is unclear. Research indicates a link with trigeminovascular system dysfunction (faults in the connections between your brain’s nerve cells and blood vessels). A genetic influence is likely, as this condition tends to affect people with a family history of migraines.
Other contributing factors could include brain chemical imbalances like increased calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels and hormonal variations such as the menstrual cycle. Your environment could also play a part.
If you experience memory loss, seizures, chronic headaches, or confusion, Mind Neurology Clinic performs an electroencephalograph (EEG) to check for any underlying problems.
It’s important to know that despite the severe pain and other symptoms migraines cause, your brain isn’t suffering any harm.
Migraines are incurable, but many treatments are available to help reduce attack frequency and severity.
The first step in managing migraines is prevention. It’s common to have triggers for migraines, such as excessive stress, red wine, chocolate, or aged cheeses. Avoiding your triggers can help considerably. Other potential treatments Mind Neurology Clinic might recommend include:
Drugs that can help prevent migraines and/or make them less severe include triptans, beta-blockers, antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, and antiepileptic medicines.
Your neurologist injects medical Botox to prevent migraines. It’s approved for adults over 18 who experience headaches lasting four hours or longer for 15 or more days each month.
Nerve blocks (neural blockades) help prevent or manage many kinds of pain in addition to causing loss of feeling if needed for surgery. These injections block pain from specific nerves.
Call Mind Neurology Clinic today or book a consultation online to learn how their innovative migraine treatments can help.