Treatment For Migraine Headache -Effective Physiotherapy Clinic Abuja

Treatment For Migraine Headaches: Migraine is headache with extremely high intensity. It is a feeling of severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation usually on one side of the head. It is also frequently accompanied by vomiting, nausea and high sensitivity to light and sound.

Causes of Migraine Headache

The main causes of Migraine Headache include the following:

1. Drinks. These include alcohol, especially wine, and too much caffeine, such as coffee.
2. Stress. Stress at work or home can cause migraines.
3. Sensory stimuli. Bright or flashing lights can induce migraines, as can loud sounds. Strong smells — such as perfume, paint thinner, secondhand smoke and others — trigger migraines in some people.
4. Sleep changes. Missing sleep or getting too much sleep can trigger migraines in some people.
5. Physical factors. Intense physical exertion, including sexual activity, might provoke migraines.
6. Weather changes. A change of weather or barometric pressure can prompt a migraine.
7. Medications. Oral contraceptives and vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin, can aggravate migraines.
8. Foods. Aged cheeses and salty and processed foods might trigger migraines. So might skipping meals.
9. Food additives. These include the sweetener aspartame and the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG), found in many foods.

Stages and Symptoms of Migraine Headache

Migraines, which affects children, teenagers and adults, can progress through four stages, namely Prodrome, Aura, Attack and Post–drome. However, not everyone who has migraines goes through all these stages. Different symptoms are associated with each stage

1. Prodrome

At this stage, feelings of Constipation, Mood changes from depression to euphoria, Neck stiffness, Food cravings among others may come up as warning signals of an upcoming migraine. This usually occurs one or two days before it starts.

• Aura

For some people, an aura might occur before or during migraines. Auras are reversible symptoms of the nervous system. They’re usually visual but can also include other inconviniences. Each symptom usually begins gradually, builds up over several minutes, and can last up to 60 minutes. They include vision loss; pins and needles sensation in the arm or leg; Weakness or numbness in the face or one side of the body; Difficulty in speaking.

• Attack

In this stage, migraine usually lasts from 4 to 72 hours if untreated. How often migraines occur varies from person to person. Migraines might occur rarely or strike several times a month. Associated symptoms include: Pain usually on one side of your head, but often on both sides; Pain that throbs or pulses; Sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch.

• Post-drome

After a migraine attack, you might feel drained, confused and washed out for up to a day. Some people report feeling elated. Sudden head movement might bring on the pain again briefly

Risk factors

Some of the factors that make you more prone to having migraines include:

• Family history: If you have a family member with migraines, then you have a good chance of developing them too.
• Age: Migraines can begin at any age, though the first often occurs during adolescence. Migraines tend to peak during your 30s, and gradually become less severe and less frequent in the following decades.
• Gender: Women are three times more likely than men to have migraines.
• Hormonal changes: For women who have migraines, headaches might begin just before or shortly after onset of menstruation. They might also change during pregnancy or menopause. Migraines generally improve after menopause.

Treatments for Migraine Headache

1. Physiotherapy Treatment

You may ask the question: ‘Can physical therapy provide relief for migraines?’ The answer is “yes”. In fact, physiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for headaches and migraines. This is often true especially when it results from incorrect sitting or sleeping posture. It can also come up as a result of stress, neck and upper back stiffness. In some cases muscle imbalances, muscle tightness or weakness,  a sedentary lifestyle, excessive slouching or traumatic injury results in migraine headache.

Read Also: Physiotherapy of Feet and Ankle

Once the reason for the pain is pinpointed, your physiotherapist will instigate migraine physiotherapy treatment to relieve the symptoms and treat the origin of the pain. This tension headache treatment usually includes but not limited to the gentle manual mobilization of the facet joints of your upper neck and back.

If you have been suffering from chronic headaches with some of the symptoms we have listed, it might just be migraine. Physiotherapy may be the right treatment for you. Take your life back today and reach out to us for an assessment by calling us on +234 811 885 6060 || +234 909 860 4470 or by booking an appointment online.

2. Medication Treatment

Many medications have been designed to treat migraines. Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad categories: Pain-relieving medications and Preventive medication

(i) Pain-relieving Medications: Also known as acute or abortive treatment, these types of drugs are taken during migraine attacks and are designed to stop symptoms. Medications that can be used to treat this condition include: Pain relievers (e.g. Aspirin or Ibuprofen; Triptans – they block pain path way in the brain (not good for people at risk of stroke or heart attack); Lasmiditan – easepain, but can have sedative effect and cause dizziness; Ubrogepant – was discovered to be more effective than placebo in relieving pains and other symptoms. It may cause dry mouth, nausea and excessive sleepiness; Anti-nausea drugs (e.g. chlorpromazine) can be used ifyour migraine with aura is accompanied by nausea and vomiting

(II) Preventive Medications: Preventive medication is geared towards reducing how often you get a migraine, how severe the attacks are and how long they last. Options include: Blood pressure-lowering medications; Antidepressants; Anti-seizure drugs and Botox injections.

Please do not take these medications without your doctors guidance especially If you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Do you want to get a treatment for Migraine Headache and you are in Abuja? We recommend that you

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