Migraine Headaches

Understanding Migraines: Symptoms, Triggers, and Treatment Options

How common are migraines?

Migraines are a prevalent medical condition that affects a significant number of people, with approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 15 men suffering from migraines. These severe headaches are typically accompanied by nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light and sound.

How bad are migraines?

While some people may only experience migraines occasionally, others may suffer from them on a monthly or weekly basis, which can be incredibly debilitating. Migraine is a chronic condition that can result in frequent episodic headaches. They are often associated with sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting as well as the presence of an ‘aura’.

What causes a migraine?

Although the exact cause of migraines is unknown, several potential triggers have been identified, including certain foods like chocolate, cheese, and caffeine, stress, and the menstrual cycle. The belief is that the nerves, blood vessels, and chemical balances within the brain sometimes undergo brief changes, which lead to the symptoms of migraines.

What is a migraine aura?

Some migraine sufferers may experience a warning sign just before a migraine begins, known as an aura. This is an early warning sign of migraine that commonly features visual symptoms such as flashing lights. However, others may not experience an aura and their migraine may simply appear.

What is the best treatment for migraine?

While there is no known cure for migraines, there are several ways to treat the symptoms. Over-the-counter painkillers can be effective, and a prescription from a GP may be required for a type of medication called Triptans, which help to relieve migraines by reducing the widening of blood vessels in the head. Triptans are usually effective within 2 hours. If the migraine is accompanied by vomiting, anti-nausea medication may also be necessary. For those with sensitivity to light and sound, lying in a dark, quiet room can provide relief.

Botox for migraine

If you have already been diagnosed with migraine headaches or have been treated successfully previously with muscle relaxing Botox injections for migraine, or if a GP or other doctor (i.e. a neurologist) has recommended these injections to treat your migraines, please contact us to book in for a treatment appointment.  If you haven’t yet been formally diagnosed with migraines, or if you’re not sure if muscle relaxing injections are the right treatment for your headaches, we will need to carry out a comprehensive pain assessment prior to treatment.  Please contact us for more details.

How can I stop a migraine?

Migraines are a debilitating condition that affects many people. By understanding the potential triggers and warning signs, those who suffer from migraines can better manage their condition and lead a more comfortable life. Although there is no cure, several treatment options are available to alleviate the symptoms.

Book in with Dr Stephen Humble now

For those people where simple painkillers and preventative measures have not helped, muscle relaxant toxin injections are an incredibly attractive and effective treatment option.  Toxin injections for migraine headache are affordable and can help reduce both the frequency and severity of migraine headache, thereby significantly improving quality of life. In clinical studies, toxin injections provided a significant benefit after the first treatment and this improved with subsequent treatments.  Repeated treatment is safe and can be done every 12 weeks (or longer in many cases), depending on your progress. Book in to see Dr Stephen Humble, Consultant in Pain Medicine, Anaesthesia and Aesthetic Medicine, who will design a personalised treatment plan. The muscle-relaxing toxin is injected into specific areas in the head and can be done in just one clinic visit, so call in today and let us get you on your way towards headache-free days.