Migraines

Migraines affect more than 10% of all people worldwide. If you’re living with debilitating chronic migraines, Pain Management Centers of New England offers effective leading-edge treatments to help you enjoy more days free of migraine pain. With proven migraine treatments like Botox® injections available conveniently in the office with no facility fees, you can start your recovery now. The practice serves patients in Gloucester, Danvers, and Newburyport, Massachusetts, so call the office nearest you or book your appointment online today.

What are migraines?

Migraines are recurrent severe headaches that cause pulsing or throbbing pain. While other types of headaches, like tension headaches, can cause serious pain, migraines are widely considered one of the most severe types of headaches.

Migraines can be debilitating, causing you to block out the world until you feel better. People with chronic migraines experience at least 15 headache days a month, with eight or more of those days featuring migraine symptoms, for longer than three months. 

What symptoms do migraines cause?

Migraines can have four stages, each with its own symptoms. These include:

Prodrome

Prodrome is the before-migraine stage in which you might experience some subtle signs that a migraine is coming. Common prodrome symptoms include irritability, light or sound sensitivity, food cravings, constipation, and increased frequency of urination. Prodrome usually lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Aura

The aura stage sometimes (but not always) occurs before or during a migraine. The most common auras involve vision disturbances like seeing bright spots or flashes. Auras can also cause other sensory disturbances like body tingling or numbness, or difficulty speaking. The aura stage usually lasts 20-60 minutes.

Migraine attack

The migraine attack is the actual headache itself. It usually causes severe pain in one or both sides of the head. You may also experience light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, smell sensitivity, nausea, and other disruptive symptoms. The attack part of a migraine can last four hours to three days.

Postdrome

Postdrome, sometimes called migraine hangover, is the aftermath of the migraine. It’s very common to feel exhausted, disoriented, and generally unwell. Postdrome can linger for days.

Altogether, a migraine can last anywhere from a day to a little over a week. 

How are chronic migraines treated?

Pain Management Centers of New England offers pharmacological, interventional, and rehabilitative methods in one place, ensuring they can effectively provide migraine relief for every patient. Treatment can tame your pain while reducing migraine intensity and frequency in the future.

Available treatments include:

• Identifying and avoiding your migraine triggers
• Relaxation techniques
• Physical therapy
• Behavioral counseling
• Oral medications
• Botox® injections 
• Peripheral nerve blocks
• Sphenopalatine ganglion blocks
• Trigger point injections
• Alternative pain management like massage and Reiki 

At Pain Management Centers of New England, the team of compassionate migraine experts uses the most up-to-date minimally invasive treatments and strategies for migraine treatment, so call the office or book your appointment online now.