What should your employer know about migraine?
Does your employer understand what migraine is? Here are a few informations that could be worth sharing. 1. Migraine is more than a headache Migraine is not only a headache. It is accompanied by other symptoms like Sensitivity to light, sounds, smells and movement. Nausea…
Refractory Chronic Migraine: support encouragement
People who seek the help of experienced headache specialists are usually not at the beginning of their migraine journey. People with refractory chronic migraine often have: Seen many specialists over many years Been told that «it’s impossible to have headaches every day» Modified their lifestyle,…
Chronic migraine: basic facts
How does the physician diagnose Chronic Migraine? If you have a history of occasional migraines and the attacks have become more frequent over months or years, so that you now have headache on more than 15 days a month, then a diagnosis of chronic migraine…
The Migraine Family: categories and groups
Let’s face it: there are many types of migraine. This is complicated even for physicians, especially family docs who do not receive a lot of training on migraine during their residency. It is important to understand those terms as specific characteristics might influence your investigations…
Will I take preventives all my life?
When should I consider a preventive treatment for migraine? First and foremost, YOU are the one who should make this decision, based on your personal situation. There is no official absolute rule. Your physician or nurse practitioner can discuss options with you. If any of…
Long term risks of migraine preventives
Are there risks associated with migraine preventives on the long term? It is very common for people to stop taking migraine preventives. 80% of people with Chronic Migraine have stopped the preventive medications they were trying within the first year. Lack of effectiveness and side…
I have been told there is «nothing else to do»…now what?
Are there people with migraine who don’t get better despite appropriate treatment? Every disease has severe forms. In every disease, there are people who do not respond to treatments. People with cancer still die if the treatments do not work. Sometimes people with a refractory…
Opioids and migraine: AVOID!
What are opioids? Opioids are painkillers. They act on natural morphine receptors in the brain. Opium, extracted from the poppy plant, is a natural opioid. There are many different synthetic opioids. Name Brand Equivalent of morphine dose Morphine Statex 1 Codeine Empracet (with acetaminophen) 0.15 Oxycodone…
Medication Overuse Headache: tips to organize a successful withdrawal
Addressing medication overuse is one of the most important decisions on your headache journey. Managing medication-overuse headache is not easy, but if there is a suspicion that overuse plays a role in the chronic headache problem, it must be done. Here are a few facts…
I have severe attacks, and sometimes I throw up…what can I do?
Many migraine patients will have nausea with at least some attacks, and some will vomit. Vomiting, especially if it occurs early in the migraine attack, can be a problem because if the patient throws up their medication before it is absorbed into the body, it obviously will…
Migraine: Facts, Fiction, and Frequently Asked Questions
Migraine is a very common health problem. It’s not surprising that myths on migraine are also common! Let debunk some of those false ideas that are still heard frequently. FICTION: A migraine is just a bad headache. FACT: Migraine is a neurological disorder and one…
The cause of migraine: it’s all in your brain! The electrical and chemical sides of migraine
Migraine is not an imaginary problem. Migraine is a neurological disease. The next time someone tells you that migraine is «all in your head», do not hesitate to explain that migraine is a neurological disease with genetic components and with electrical and neurochemical mechanisms. Tell…
