Chronic Migraine

Overview

A chronic migraine is a distinct and relatively recently defined subtype of headache. The International Headache Society interpret chronic migraine as more than fifteen days with headache per month for three months of which more than eight are migrainous, without medication overuse.

Signs and Symptoms

The pain usually on one side of your head, but often on both sides, Pain that throbs or pulses, Sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch, Nausea and vomiting, Mood changes, from depression to euphoria, Neck stiffness, Visual phenomena, such as seeing various shapes, bright spots or flashes of light, Vision loss, Pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg, Weakness or numbness in the face or one side of the body, Difficulty speaking, Hearing noises or music, Uncontrollable jerking or other movements

Common Causes

Depression, Anxiety, Other pain disorders, Obesity, Asthma, Snoring, Stressful life events, Head/Neck injury, Caffeine, Acute medication overuse, Persistent, Frequent nausea

Risk Factors

Depression, Anxiety, Other pain disorders, Obesity, Asthma, Snoring, Stressful life events, Head/Neck injury, Caffeine, Acute medication overuse, Persistent, Frequent nausea

Investigation Techniques

Medical history, Symptoms, Physical and neurological examination, MRI: MRI scans help doctors diagnose tumors, strokes, bleeding in the brain, infections, and other brain and nervous system (neurological) conditions, CT scan

Treatment and Prevention

Pain relievers (aspirin or ibuprofen), Migraine relief medications that combine caffeine, aspirin, and acetaminophen (Excedrin Migraine), Triptans: These are prescription drugs such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra) and rizatriptan (Maxalt), Dihydroergotamines (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), Opioid medications, Anti-nausea drugs (chlorpromazine, metoclopramide or prochlorperazine), Blood pressure-lowering medications, Antidepressants, Anti-seizure drugs, Botox injections (onabotulinumtoxinA), Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies such as Erenumab-aooe (Aimovig)/ fremanezumab-vfrm (Ajovy) and galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality)