I currently have a migraine It affects more than 1 billion people worldwide and is the second most common cause of disability worldwide. Almost a quarter of American households have at least one person who suffers from migraines. An estimated 85.6 million work days are lost each year due to migraines.
However, many migraine sufferers dismiss the pain as a severe headache. Although pain is accompanied by other disabling symptoms, such as sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, the condition often goes undiagnosed without seeking medical attention.
Researchers have found that migraines involve genetic and environmental factors. These occur when changes in the brainstem activate the trigeminal nerve, the main nerve in the pain pathway. This signals the body to release inflammatory substances such as CGRP, short for calcitonin gene-related peptide. This and other molecules can dilate blood vessels, causing pain and inflammation.
medicine has limits
Migraines can be debilitating. People experiencing this condition often curl up in a dark room with nothing but pain. Attacks may last several days. Life is put on hold. Sensitivity to light and sound and the unpredictability of the disease cause many people to refrain from work, school, social gatherings, and time with family.
Many prescription medications are available for both migraine prevention and treatment. However, for many people, traditional treatments have limitations. Some people with migraine have a low tolerance to certain medications. Many people cannot afford the high cost of drugs or cannot tolerate the side effects. Some people are pregnant or breastfeeding and cannot take the medication.
As a board-certified neurologist who specializes in headache medications, I am always amazed at how open-minded and enthusiastic my patients are when discussing alternative options.
These approaches are collectively referred to as complementary and alternative medicine. It may seem surprising that a classically trained Western doctor like me would recommend yoga, acupuncture, meditation, etc. to people with migraines. However, I value these non-traditional treatments in my practice.
Research has shown that alternative therapies are associated with improved sleep, improved emotional mood, and an enhanced sense of control. Some patients are able to avoid prescription drugs altogether by using one or more complementary treatments. For others, non-traditional treatments can be used in conjunction with prescription medications.
You can use these options one at a time or in combination, depending on the severity of your headache and its cause. If neck tension is causing your pain, physical therapy and massage may be most helpful. If stress is your trigger, meditation is probably a good place to start. It’s worth talking to your provider to see which option is best for you.
4. Mindfulness and stress
Since stress is a major trigger for migraines, one of the most effective alternative treatments is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation is the act of focusing your attention on the present moment without judgment. Research shows that mindfulness meditation may reduce headache frequency and pain severity.
Another useful tool is biofeedback. It allows a person to see their vital signs in real time and learn how to stabilize their vital signs.
For example, if you’re feeling stressed, you may notice muscle tension, sweating, and increased heart rate. With biofeedback, these changes can be seen on a monitor and your therapist can teach you exercises to manage them. There is strong evidence that biofeedback reduces migraine frequency and severity and reduces headache-related disability.
Yoga is derived from traditional Indian philosophy and is a combination of physical postures, meditation, and breathing techniques aimed at integrating mind, body, and spirit. Practicing yoga consistently can help reduce stress and treat migraines.
3. Physical therapy
Physical therapy uses manual techniques such as myofascial and trigger point release, passive stretching, and cervical traction, which uses skilled hands or medical equipment to gently pull on the head. Studies have shown that physical therapy combined with medication is better than medication alone in reducing migraine frequency, pain intensity, and pain perception.
Massage reduces the frequency of migraines and improves sleep by lowering stress levels and promoting relaxation. It will also reduce stress in the days following your massage, further protecting you from migraine attacks.
Some patients find relief with acupuncture, a type of traditional Chinese medicine. This procedure involves inserting thin needles into the skin in specific areas to promote healing. A large 2016 meta-analysis paper found that acupuncture reduced the duration and frequency of migraines, regardless of how often they occurred. The effects of acupuncture persist even after 20 weeks of treatment.
What’s even more interesting is that acupuncture can change metabolic activity in the thalamus, an area of the brain important for pain perception. This change correlated with a decrease in headache intensity scores after acupuncture.
2. Vitamins and supplements
Herbal and nutritional supplements, which are food-based products that may have therapeutic properties, can also be used to prevent migraines. And there is evidence to suggest that vitamins work considerably better compared to traditional prescription drugs. There are also fewer side effects. Here are some examples.
1. Device
The Food and Drug Administration has approved several neurostimulation devices for migraine treatment. These devices work by neutralizing pain signals sent from the brain.
One is the Nerivio device, which is worn on the upper arm and sends signals to the brainstem pain center during a seizure. There are almost no side effects, with 3 people reporting less pain after 2 hours of taking her.
Another promising device is Cefaly. It sends a gentle electric current to the trigeminal nerve in the forehead, reducing the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. After one hour of treatment, the patient experienced a nearly 60% reduction in her pain intensity, and the relief lasted up to 24 hours. Side effects are rare and include drowsiness and dermatitis.
These alternative therapies help treat the person as a whole. I can think of many success stories from my practice alone. A college student used to suffer from chronic migraines, but now, after taking vitamins, the migraines occur infrequently. A pregnant woman avoided medication through acupuncture and physical therapy. Or if a patient is already taking a number of prescription medications and uses a neurostimulator for migraines instead of adding another prescription medication.
To be sure, alternative approaches are not necessarily miracle cures, but their potential to reduce pain and suffering is noteworthy. As a doctor, it’s really gratifying to see some of my patients respond to these treatments.
This article was first published conversation by Daniel Wilhour in University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Read the original article here.
This article was first published