Many people are not sure whether the symptoms they experience, mean that they are suffering from a migraine. A migraine can be described as: a type of headache which is pronounced by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe pulsating  and throbbing pain on one side of your head. Such pain is due to the activation of nerve fibres in the walls of brain blood vessels travelling inside the three layers of membranes protecting the brain and spinal cord). If you are not treated by a Pain Doctor or other medic, then such attacks can be prevalent for a span of time lasting between 4 and 72 hours.

Migraines: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

There are two key types of migraine:

• Migraine With Aura: this comprises neurological symptoms (such as visual disturbances), that appear about 10 to 60 minutes prior the actual headache. Generally speaking, these do not last more than 60 minutes. During this time, it is possible to temporarily lose all, or part, of one’s vision. The aura could come about without a headache; however, the latter could occur at any time. Other common ‘migraine with aura’ symptoms that could precede a headache, include: numbness, confusion, difficulty speaking, muscle weakness on either side of the body; feeling an abnormal sensation; experiencing a tingling feeling in the face or hands; nausea, loss of appetite, and heightened sensitivity to noise, sound or light
• Migraine Without Aura: Also known as common migraine, this condition is the most frequent type of migraine. Symptoms comprise: a headache which comes on without warning (and is normally felt on one side of the head), mood changes, fatigue, confusion, nausea, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity to noise, sound or light.

A migraine can be divided into four different phases, all of which may be prevalent during an attack:

Number 1 Premonitory Symptoms: These come about up to 24 hours before you develop a migraine. The symptoms incorporate:

• Food cravings,
• Unexplained mood changes (euphoria or depression)
• Urinating more than normal
• Fluid retention
• Yawning uncontrollably

Number 2  Aura: You may see bright or flashing lights, or what resemble heat waves either during, or immediately before the migraine. Conversely, you could feel a degree of muscle weakness, or the sensation of being grabbed or touched by someone

Number 3 Headache: Generally speaking, a migraine begins gradually, and then builds up its intensity. (Note: it is possible that you may experience a migraine, but not have a headache).

Number 4 Postdrome: After having a migraine, it is very likely that you could feel confused or exhausted. This postdrome phase could go on for up to a day before you feel your normal self again

Treatments For Migraines

Here are details of two long-lasting, leading-edge, Injectable Treatments For Ameliorating Migraines

Number 1: Botulinum Toxin (Botox)

Approved in the UK for the treatment of chronic migraines: research suggests that botox (Botulinum toxin), which is rapidly injected via a fine needle, into small muscles around the head, face and neck: disrupts the pain transmission pathway between the brain (the central nervous system), and the nerves which extend from the spinal cord. If we experience a migraine, then our body detects the pain, and as a result, automatically releases various substances (i.e., neurotransmitters and molecules). And this is where Botox plays an important role. Pain Consultant, Dr Mona Mubarak, a renowned, world-class migraine specialist, along with our other Pain Doctors, frequently uses Botox as part of a multi-faceted personalised treatment approach which includes both conventional and cutting-edge treatments to help patients ameliorate and prevent migraines.

Number 2  Nerve Blocks

Occipital Nerve Blocks

As the National Migraine Center, notes, research shows that: occipital nerve blocks serve as “an effective treatment for many people with cluster headache and migraine.” A nerve block can be described as an injection of steroids and local anaesthetic around the greater occipital nerve (on  the top of the neck, and at the back of the head), for the purpose of relieving headache, and lowering inflammation. Migraine expert, Dr Mona Mubarak, and other leading Pain Specialists at the London Pain clinic, inject occipital nerve blocks as part of a Personalised Treatment Plan, in order to provide substantial pain relief. A large percentage of patients who are suffering from migraine, should benefit from this rapid procedure, which can be done during their lunchtime break, or after they have finished work. Those who have occipital nerve blocks should find that their headaches may ease in severity or frequency, or cease altogether.

Supraorbital Nerve Blocks

A supraorbital nerve block has some similarities with an occipital nerve block. Your Pain Doctor will simply pierce the skin by placing a fine syringe needle just under your eyebrow in order to inject the steroids and pain-relieving medication into the area around the supraorbital nerve.