Acupuncture: is it a good option for migraine?
Acupuncture involves the use of small needles inserted through the skin. According to the Asian theory of meridians, this may influence energetic networks in the body and have positive effects on health. For the treatment of pain, more recent theories propose that acupuncture needles may…
What is biofeedback and should I try it?
What is biofeedback exactly? The principle of bio feedback is to monitor your body parameters and use different techniques to bring your body and brain back in a relaxed state. Electrodes are used to monitor the heart rate, blood pressure, brain waves, breathing, skin sweat…
Guide to the Migraine Tree: how to find the information you’re looking for
What is the Migraine Tree? If you’re living with migraine, the amount of information you will navigate during your quest for improvement is huge. The list of topics seems endless, from essential oils to antibodies, from Botox to diets, and of course trying to figure…
Does it work? Is it safe? Finding your way in the jungle of migraine “cures”
If you live with migraines, you probably want to get rid of them. The first step in such a situation is often to look online and use Google. You will then enter a complex world of promises, advertisement, scientific websites, and claims of miracles. You…
Fed up of pills? Here is a short summary on Single Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to treat migraine.
These days, there is a pill for everything, and as many patients soon discover, there is often more than onepill for everything. While pharmacology remains a cornerstone of modern medicine, no therapeutic option is perfect. Many patients are often left feeling as if they’re making a…
Talking with Your Health Care Team to Get the Most Out of Your Appointments
Building a strong, positive team with your doctor’s office will help you get the care that you need to manage your migraines. Remember this is team work! Here are some tips to have a productive collaboration with your health care provider.NB We also wrote a…
The Migraine Painful Truth: What are we going to do about it in Canada?
The Migraine Painful Truth: What are we going to do about it in Canada?On World Brain Day, the Migraine Canada™ team reflects on what should be done. If you live and Canada and you suffer from migraine, you are probably aware that access to care…
Headache and neck pain: is it possible that nerve compression is to blame?
Headache and neck pain: is it possible that nerve compression is to blame?A team of researchers investigates the possibility of a surgical approach Patient story: my neck is killing me«For the last few years, my neck has been killing me. I had migraines since the…
Will Aimovig work for me?
Summary of the results from published randomized controlled trials See below the table for comments and how to read it. 50% RR 75% RR Episodic migraine STRIVE (70, 140 mg) 5/10 2/10 Episodic migraine ARISE (70 mg) 4/10 NA Refractory EPISODIC (fail 2-4 preventive)…
CoQ10 and L-carnitine for migraine: a new study suggests a benefit
In a new study realized by researchers in Iran, a combination of coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitine was found to be effective for episodic migraine prevention, with 10% of constipation and stomach ache side effects. Let’s look at some details! What are the natural supplements recommended…
Vitamins and supplements: can we trust that the content is what is advertised?
Complementary and integrative medicine for migraine prevention is an important area of interest for migraine doctors and migraine sufferers alike. There is evidence (Grade B, C) that certain minerals and supplements such as Magnesium, Riboflavin, and Coenzyme Q10 may be helpful in the prevention of…
NEW RESEARCH: Forget the ketogenic diet… use ketone supplements instead!
(This article is not focusing on ketogenic diet but on research on ketone supplements) The interest for diets to treat migraine is a constant. Low histamine, rich in magnesium, gluten and lactose free…of course the variability of migraine forbids any «one size fits all» approach,…
The traffic light system
A simple way to think about your headaches, using the Canadian Headache Society Guidelines, which stratifies medication choices based on headache severity. The traffic light system is based on the associated disability of the migraine attack: Green: “I can still go” headache Yellow: “I have…
Global Patient Advocacy Committee
GPAC = Global Patient Advocacy Committee People working together to improve migraine care and understanding. GPAC is a group of physicians, patient advocates and representants from institutions, associations and industries related to the migraine field. Countries represented included Brazil, Japan, Spain, Italy, France, US, UK,…
What are the Top Ten things needed in the migraine field?
International experts have provided the following ideas. • Respect for the condition as a genuine neurological disorder and recognition of the significant burden on patients • Better training and education for primary care providers so more patients can be adequately diagnosed and treated • A…
A tribute to Neil Raskin and ice-cream headache
Dr Neil Raskin is a pioneer of headache medicine who is still practicing at 83 years old in San Francisco. He described the famous «DHE Raskin Protocol» that helped so many patients. But do you know those four special headaches that were described by Dr…
Prodrome or symptoms: what happens during the early phase of a migraine attack?
Before the pain starts, you may actually know that a migraine is ongoing. Do you feel irritable, tired, slightly nauseated? Do you feel neck pain, does light or smells bother you? It seems like a migraine attack starts even before the pain appears. Patients have…
Migraine around the world: a major threat for human well-being
Many people don’t believe that migraines are a real problem. The Lift The Burden team is working tirelessly to document the prevalence and impact of migraine and headaches around the world. The goal is of course to influence politicians and get more resources to study…
Identifying and treating Chronic Migraine
Is it possible to have a migraine more than 50% of the time? Unfortunately, it is. And it’s called «chronic migraine». An even MORE unfortunately, many doctors do not know how to diagnose chronic migraine. See what an expert, Dr Gordon Robinson, has to say…
What will happen to my migraines during pregnancy?
Author: Dr Vanessa Doyle and Dr Suzanne Christie Hormonal changes during pregnancy can have an impact on your migraines with fluctuations in the levels of hormones, causing your migraines to improve, worsen or even stabilize. The levels of estrogen and progesterone, the two main types…
