Migraine Headaches

What are the stages of a migraine?

A migraine is an intense headache that is categorized as a neurological disorder. It affects one side of the head and leads to debilitating symptoms.

Migraines typically go through four stages, but not everyone experiences all of them:

Stage 1: Prodrome

This stage is the first sign of a migraine, lasting several hours to several days. 

Stage 2: Aura

The aura stage can last a few minutes up to an hour before the headache. In this stage, you can experience auditory or visual cues that signal a migraine is coming.

Stage 3: Attack 

The attack phase is when you feel headache pain. This can last from a few hours to several days. It’s often accompanied by pounding or throbbing pain and other symptoms.

Stage 4: Postdrome

Known as the “migraine hangover” phase, the postdrome stage lasts for a day or two after you’ve had the migraine attack.

What are common migraine triggers?

If you suffer from migraines, you know there’s often something that sets it off. These are called triggers. Some of the most common ones are:

• Weather
• Lights
• Stress
• Smells
• Food additives
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Hunger

Learning what triggers your migraines helps the Center for Pain & Rehabilitation Medicine determine the best treatment route for you. It also enables you to avoid future migraines.

What are the main symptoms of a migraine?

The symptoms of a migraine often have to do with what stage you’re experiencing. Each stage has specific symptoms related to it. Your migraine symptoms can vary and may change from migraine to migraine. Some of the most typical symptoms are:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light 
• Sweating 
• Irritability
• Neck pain 

The main symptom of a migraine is a pounding or throbbing headache. The pain can affect any part of your head and often becomes more severe as the migraine progresses. 

The symptoms often last several hours, but severe migraines may last a day or more.

How are migraines treated?

Migraines are often successfully treated with various medical treatments, including oral medications, home-based injections, nasal sprays, and BOTOX injections, as well as other natural supplement therapies, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies. The practice considers all aspects of your migraine when offering treatment methods.

Medications are used to either help with the pain when you’re suffering from an acute migraine or prevent the migraine from starting at all.

Learning your specific triggers also helps you avoid migraines. The Center for Pain & Rehabilitation Medicine often suggests keeping a journal to help you understand what causes your migraines.

To get help for your chronic migraine pain, call the office today or send the team a message on the website.