Chronic Migraine Headaches
At Mind + Body Medicine in Dallas, TX, Dr. Howard Cohen specializes in helping patients with chronic pain and hard-to-treat conditions. He has helped many patients across Texas and the Southwest find effective treatment for chronic migraine headaches.
Find relief from Chronic Migraine Headaches.
Understanding Migraine Headaches
More than 12% of Americans deal with migraine headaches and up to 5% suffer with chronic migraine.1 Patients with frequent migraines can have difficulty finding effective treatments to relieve their symptoms—and the pain and discomfort can be debilitating. In fact, chronic migraine is among the top worldwide causes of long-term disability.2
What is Chronic Migraine?
Chronic migraines are a neurological disorder characterized by recurring moderate to severe headaches, often accompanied by a range of other symptoms. Unlike episodic migraines, which occur occasionally, chronic migraines involve headaches occurring on 15 or more days per month for at least three months.3
Chronic Migraine Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of chronic migraines include:
Intense Headaches: Chronic migraines typically bring about throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head. The pain can be severe and is often aggravated by physical activity.
Sensory Sensitivity: Sensitivity to light (photophobia), sound (phonophobia), and smells may accompany chronic migraines, making the overall experience more challenging.
Nausea and Vomiting: Many individuals with chronic migraines experience nausea and, in some cases, vomiting during an episode.
Aura: Some chronic migraine sufferers may experience visual disturbances or other sensory changes known as auras before the onset of the headache.
Fatigue and Irritability: Chronic migraines can leave individuals feeling exhausted and emotionally drained, affecting daily functioning and quality of life.
Chronic Migraine Risk Factors
Migraines can affect anyone and experts do not always know what causes them. However, there are some risk factors that may contribute to chronic migraines:
Genetics: A family history of migraines can increase the likelihood of chronic migraines.
Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in estrogen levels, often associated with menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause, can trigger migraines.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to certain triggers such as bright lights, strong smells, or weather changes may play a role in chronic migraines.
Medication Overuse: Excessive use of certain medications for acute migraines can paradoxically lead to an increase in headache frequency and intensity.
Treatment for Chronic Migraines
Medications: Pain relievers and preventive medications are often a first defense against chronic migraine. If you have not had success with medications in the past, Dr. Cohen may offer new or cutting-edge medicines. His expertise in neuropsychopharmacology informs his recommendations.
Infusion Pain Treatment: For migraine sufferers, intravenous (IV) medications can be more effective than traditional pharmaceutical treatments. Infusion pain therapy can be tailored to treat your specific migraine symptoms.
Brain Stimulation: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive medical procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain. TMS has been clinically proven effective as a migraine treatment.
Lifestyle Changes: We work with patients on identifying and avoiding triggers, improving sleep, and adopting stress management techniques.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one suffer from chronic migraine, we can help—even if past medical help has failed to address the symptoms. Dr. Cohen is dedicated to providing personalized treatment plans to empower patients to take their lives back from chronic conditions. Contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cohen.
2 Weatherall MW. The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015 May;6(3):115-23. doi: 10.1177/2040622315579627. PMID: 25954496; PMCID: PMC4416971.
3 The Migraine Trust. Available: https://migrainetrust.org/understand-migraine/types-of-migraine/chronic-migraine/ Accessed January 4, 2024