Pulsing. Excruciating. Intense.
Migraine sufferers frequently use these words to describe the pain and discomfort caused by migraine headaches.
Life-altering. Disrupting. Debilitating.
Words migraine sufferers use to describe how this neurological condition has negatively affected their lives.
Desperate. Hopeless. Frustrated.
Words that those living with migraine headaches use to describe their feelings about failed treatments, prescription medications and pain that keeps coming back.
Hope. True relief. A new life.
Words our patients have used to describe treatment for migraines from Bend Headache Center.
We understand migraine headaches and can help. We treat the cause of your migraine — not just your symptoms — to give you relief and restore your quality of life.
Migraine Facts
· Migraine is common; it is the third most prevalent illness in the world.
· Twenty-five percent of households in the United States include someone who experiences migraines.
· Migraines affect women (18 percent) and children (10 percent) more than men (6 percent). Men are more susceptible to cluster headaches, however.
· Most migraine sufferers are between 18 and 44 years old.
· Around 90 percent of migraine suffers have a family history of migraines.
Migraines | More Than a Headache
While some people believe migraines are “just a headache,” the fact of the matter is that migraines are severe and incapacitating for many individuals.
· Migraine is the sixth most disabling illness in the world, according to the World Health Organization.
· Approximately 1.2 million emergency room visits each year are due to acute migraine attacks.
· While most migraine sufferers experience attacks once a month, more than 4 million people report having chronic migraines, with at least 15 migraine days per month.
· More than 90 percent of those living with migraines are unable to work or function normally in their day-to-day lives during their migraine attacks.
Migraine attacks are not just headaches. They are excruciating head and facial pain episodes, frequently accompanied by disabling symptoms such as visual and auditory disturbances; nausea and vomiting; dizziness; extreme sensitivity to sound; difficulty speaking; and sensitivity to light, touch and smell. Some individuals also experience tingling or numbness in the extremities or the face.
The Most Common Symptoms of Migraines
Migraine symptoms can begin one to two days before the headache starts. This phase is known as the prodrome stage and includes symptoms such as:
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Yawning
- Food cravings
- Irritability and mood swings
- Hyperactivity
- Neck stiffness
- “Aura,” a situation in which problems with vision, hearing, movement and speech develop
The next migraine phase is known as the attack phase and is the most severe migraine evolution stage. In this phase, pain and other symptoms are the most severe. For most people, the attack phase can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. In this phase, most people experience:
- Increased sensitivity to light and sound
- Nausea
- Dizziness or faintness
- Pain on one side of the head, either on the left side, right side, front, back or in the temples
- Pulsing and throbbing head pain
- Vomiting
What Causes Migraines?
Researchers haven’t identified a single cause for migraines, but there are some factors they’ve identified as contributors to this painful condition.
These factors include:
- Changes in brain chemicals, particularly serotonin
- Bright lights
- Extreme heat or cold
- Dehydration
- Changes in barometric pressure
- Hormone changes in women that occur during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause
- Stress
- Loud sounds
- Some medications, such as oral contraceptives
- Extreme exercise
- Extreme fatigue
- Fragrances or strong smells
- Some foods
- Smoking and alcohol use
- Airplane travel
Another common but frequently overlooked cause of migraine can be an unbalanced bite and jaw problems. Jaw issues can contribute to migraines because when the bite is unbalanced, the muscles, ligaments and tendons surrounding the jaw joints can be pushed and pulled out of their intended position, causing severe face and head pain.
Indicators of an imbalance in your jaw as well as your head and neck system include headaches, migraines, dizziness, neck pain, tinnitus, ear congestion, popping and clicking of your jaw joint, clenching or grinding of your teeth, head forward posture, tingling fingertips, insomnia, and facial pain.
We understand the pain of migraines. We understand the cause of migraines, too.
As a result, our comprehensive migraine treatment targets the source of your pain and not just your symptoms. Our team is specifically trained to find alternative, certified treatments for your chronic headaches. This includes non-surgical and drug-free solutions. Our treatments are focused on finding balance in the entire system, not just one part of it. We find that if you set the body up for success, it will heal itself.
