Default
Migraine Comorbidities: Back Pain
Along with migraine, do you experience back pain? Many people with migraine also have back, joint, shoulder, and neck pain. In fact, according to the U.S Pain Foundation’s 2022 survey report, A Chronic Pain Crisis, 95% of adults surveyed said they have at least one other comorbid (chronic) pain condition. Causes of Migraine and Back Pain…
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Autoimmune Diseases
How many chronic conditions do you have, including migraine? Many people with migraine also live with autoimmune diseases – some have multiple – this is because migraine and autoimmune diseases are considered to be comorbid! (Note: a comorbid condition is a disease or condition that is simultaneously present with another, generally occurring in a greater frequency than…
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Insomnia
Does a lack of sleep trigger your migraine attacks? Do you have trouble sleeping? You are not alone if you answered “yes” to either of these two questions. According to the American Migraine Foundation, people living with migraine are between two and eight times more likely to experience trouble sleeping (sleep disorders) than the general public.…
Read MoreMigraine Medications Explained
A mix of medications is an important part of the migraine treatment toolbox. And while a wide variety of medications are available to help you manage your specific type of migraine and associated symptoms, navigating the many options can be difficult. Finding a medication or combination that works for you can be challenging and may require…
Read MoreManaging Seasonal Depression: Taking Care of the Body
Daily, consistent self-care is key for managing seasonal depression and seasonal affective disorder. Taking care of your physical body is so important during the darker months. Focusing on the following can help manage SAD, and is also beneficial for migraine and other chronic conditions.
Read MoreMigraine, Seasonal Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder
Migraine, Seasonal Depression and SAD: Part I As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, it’s common to feel the “winter blues.” But for many—especially those of us battling migraine and other chronic conditions—seasonal depression can go far beyond just feeling down during the darker months. This is something I have a lot of personal…
Read MoreManaging Seasonal Depression: Taking Care of the Mind
Seasonal depression and SAD can be really difficult to deal with, especially if you also live with migraine, but doing something each day to take care of your mind can help to keep focused and in a more positive place.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Temporomandibular Disorders
Pain. Clicking. Popping. These are some common symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), which is comorbid with migraine.[1] TMJ disorders can trigger migraine attacks or make a migraine attack worse due to muscle tightening. On the reverse side, some migraine triggers can also trigger TMJ symptoms. As with migraine and many other comorbidities, TMJ disorders are more common in women as in men—by two to five times.[4] An estimated 11-12 million people in the US experience TMJ pain, so it is a fairly common disorder.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome
In this blog we are going to look at Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), another migraine comorbidity and a rare disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe nausea and vomiting. Though it is more common in children, it can occur in people of all ages, with the number of adults being diagnosed on the rise. It is a very difficult condition to identify and is often misdiagnosed because its symptoms so closely mirror those of other illnesses, such as gastroenteritis, and occur periodically rather than continuously.
Read MorePreventive Care Toolbox
With approximately 40 million people in the US alone living with migraine and a stunning lack of mandatory education on headache disorders in medical schools, many people with migraine remain at a loss how to navigate preventive treatment. Visits to doctors often end up with a “one and done” attitude, not taking into account the importance of a toolbox approach. Between following insurance denials and guidelines for step therapy, and a devastating shortage of certified headache specialists, patients living with this disabling disease often find themselves without adequate and current information. Having a preventive care roadmap can go a long way to help figuring out how to maintain a quality of life that most people take for granted.
Read MoreCreating a Migraine Preventive Action Plan
Bearing in mind that migraine is a disease that can chronify, it’s not only important to know the signs for when preventive treatment is appropriate, but also have a road map to follow once you’re in that place. A Preventive Action Plan (PAP) is a road map for treatment communication and care planning. Having a PAP gives you a sense of direction and independence as well as the greatest potential for relief. It raises awareness of different approaches to preventive migraine treatment, and it also makes you a partner with your doctor in your disease management and healthcare. Your involvement in a PAP is essential, because you know your body best, you know how migraine is impacting your life, and the PAP needs to be integrated by YOU into your care and daily life.
Read MoreSigns It’s Time for Prevention
As someone who lives with migraine, do YOU realize how IMPORTANT it is to be aware of your silent disease?? I’m not speaking of just your attacks but also your overall migraine days. Do you know the difference? Is there a difference? Do your days blur into one long week or month? And, did you know that there are signs to be aware of that show you need to consider preventive treatment, or reconsider the preventive treatment you are on. Yes, that can be scary, but the consequence of not being proactive with this disease can have a disabling and long-term impact on your life.
Read More