Migraine Treatment in Dallas

What is Migraine

A migraine is a neurological condition characterized by recurring headaches that can range from moderate to severe in intensity. Unlike usual headaches, migraines often include throbbing or pulsing pain, often on one side of the head. THey are often accompanied by symptoms like sensitivity to light, sound, or smells.

Migraines can also sometimes include an “aura,” a visual or sensory disturbance that acts as a warning before the headache begins. This condition affects millions of people worldwide. Migraines are also more common in women than men, with hormonal factors possibly playing a role.

Migraine Types

Migraines come in many types, each with its unique symptoms and characteristics. Understanding types can help you identify and manage the condition better. Here are some main types of migraines:

Migraine with Aura

This type includes sensory disturbances, like visual changes, tingling, or numbness, occurring before or during the headache.

Migraine without Aura

The most common type, characterized by a throbbing headache on one side of the head without any preceding sensory disturbances.

Chronic Migraine

Defined as having a migraine 15 or more days per month.

Hemiplegic Migraine

A rare type that causes temporary paralysis or weakness on one side of the body, looks and feels like a stroke, but it’s not it.

Vestibular Migraine

This type is associated with dizziness, vertigo, or balance issues, sometimes without a headache.

Menstrual Migraine

Triggered by hormonal changes, this type occurs around the menstrual cycle in women.

Abdominal Migraine

Seen more often in children, this type causes abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting instead of a headache.

Migraine Symptoms

Migraines are more than just headaches; they come with a wide range of symptoms that can greatly affect daily life. These symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, depending on the individual and the type of migraine. Below are the most common symptoms associated with migraines:

Throbbing or Pulsing Pain. A “central” symptom, often occurring on one side of the head, but it can also affect both sides.
Sensitivity to Light and Sound. Many individuals find bright lights or loud noises unbearable during a migraine, with a sharp pain appearing if exposed to it.
Nausea and Vomiting. These symptoms are rarer, and usually appear during severe migraine attacks.
Aura. Some experience visual disturbances like flashing lights, zigzag patterns, or blind spots before the headache begins.
Tingling or Numbness. These sensations can occur in the face, arms, or legs, usually as part of the aura phase.
Fatigue and Weakness. Migraines often leave individuals feeling drained and physically exhausted.
Difficulty Concentrating. Brain fog or trouble focusing is common during and after a migraine.

Causes of Migraines

Migraines can be triggered by a wide variety of factors, which differ from person to person. Understanding causes can help manage and even reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. While the exact mechanisms behind migraines are complex, there are some common and well known triggers:

Hormonal Changes

Changes in hormones, especially estrogen, can trigger migraines, often around the menstrual cycle or during menopause.

Stress

Physical or emotional stress is a well-known trigger, as it affects the body’s hormonal and nervous systems.

Sleep Issues

Too much or too little sleep, as well as irregular sleep schedules, can trigger migraines.

Dietary Triggers

Certain foods and drinks, like caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, or processed meats, can provoke migraines in sensitive individuals.

Environmental Factors

Bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, or changes in weather can trigger a migraine attack.

Genetics

A family history of migraines increases the likelihood of experiencing them, as genetics play quite a big role.

Medications

Overuse of pain relievers or side effects of certain drugs can contribute to migraines.

Migraine Diagnosis

Let’s imagine you visit a pain management clinic looking for migraine relief. Your way toward a diagnosis typically starts with a detailed consultation. The migraine specialist in Dallas will ask about your symptoms, frequency, and duration of headaches, as well as any patterns you’ve noticed, like triggers or times of onset. They may also inquire about your medical history and any family history of migraines.

Next, the doctor might perform a physical and neurological examination to rule out some common and possible causes of your headaches. This could include checking your reflexes, muscle strength, and coordination. If needed, imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan might be ordered to ensure there are no dangerous underlying issues, such as structural abnormalities or other threatening conditions.

Once the initial evaluation is complete, the doctor will work to identify the specific type of migraine you’re experiencing. They may also help find potential triggers, like hormonal changes, stress, or dietary factors. When your migraine type and cause are identified, your migraine treatment can begin.

What Migraine Treatment Options are Available?

Migraine therapies focus on reducing the frequency and severity of attacks while improving overall quality of life. Besides that, treatment for migraines may include addressing underlying causes (if any). While there is no migraine cure as is, there are still some common, effective, and widely used options that can help:

Medications. These include pain relievers like ibuprofen or prescription triptans, which are specifically designed to stop a migraine once it starts. Preventive medications such as beta-blockers, anticonvulsants, or CGRP inhibitors can help reduce the frequency of migraines.
Lifestyle Changes. Managing stress, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, and avoiding known triggers like certain foods or environmental factors can help treating migraines.
Botox Injections. FDA-approved for chronic migraine treatment, Botox can relax overactive muscles and reduce the number of migraine attacks.
Nerve Block Injections. These target specific nerves associated with migraines, providing relief for those with frequent attacks.
Dietary Changes. Identifying and avoiding trigger foods like caffeine, alcohol, or processed meats can help prevent migraines.
Behavioral Therapy. Techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or biofeedback can help manage stress and reduce migraine frequency.
Advanced Procedures. For certain severe cases, migraine treatment options like occipital nerve stimulation or other minimally invasive interventions may be considered.

What Are the Benefits vs. Risks?

Benefits of Migraine Treatments

Effective migraine treatments do more than just relieve pain – they improve daily life and even provide long-term health benefits. By addressing both symptoms and triggers, these treatments help patients feel their best. Here are some benefits of migraine treatments:

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Reduced Frequency. Effective treatments can significantly decrease the number of migraine attacks, making your daily life better.

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Less Severe Symptoms. Many therapies help reduce the intensity of migraines, making migraine management easier.

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Better Quality of Life. With fewer and less intense migraines, patients can enjoy activities and responsibilities they used to without constant disruption.

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Personalized Help. Migraine therapy can be personalized to address specific triggers and symptoms, making care optimized just for you and your unique pain.

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Long-Term Prevention. There are also certain prevent migraines options, like lifestyle changes or medications. They provide lasting relief and help avoid future attacks.

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Better Overall Health. Addressing migraines can lead to improved sleep, reduced stress, and better mental health, which greatly improves your overall health and puts less strain on your body.

Potential Risks of Migraine Treatment

While migraine treatments are designed to provide migraine pain relief and make your life better they are not without potential risks. Each option comes with specific side effects or challenges that should be carefully considered. Here are some popular and effective treatments with their possible risks and side effects:

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Medication Treatment. Over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription drugs like triptans can cause side effects such as nausea, dizziness, or fatigue. Overuse may lead to medication-overuse headaches (rebound headaches).

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Botox for Migraines. While effective for chronic migraines, Botox can cause temporary side effects like muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, or injection site pain.

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Nerve Block Injections. Potential risks include local numbness, infection at the injection site, or an allergic reaction to the anesthetic.

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Preventive Medications. Drugs like beta-blockers or anticonvulsants can cause side effects such as weight changes, drowsiness, or gastrointestinal issues.

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Behavioral Therapy. While non-invasive, therapies like biofeedback or CBT may take time to show results and require consistent and genuine commitment, which some may find challenging.

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Dietary Changes. Restricting certain foods may lead to nutritional imbalances if not managed carefully under professional supervision.

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Advanced Procedures. Migraine surgery or minimally invasive treatments, like occipital nerve stimulation, carry risks such as infection, device malfunction, or failure to achieve desired results.

Choose Foundation Pain & Spine for Migraine Treatment in Dallas, TX

At Foundation Pain & Spine in Dallas, TX we pride ourselves in providing expert care for effective migraine relief. Led by Dr. Thompson, the MD and Founder, we specialize in creating fully personalized treatment plans to address your unique needs. We combine modern techniques with expert medication management to help you find migraine relief.

Our approach ensures that every patient receives personalized help and attention. We avoid one-size-fits-all solutions. To help you find relief, we use a wide variety of modern treatments, like nerve block injections, Botox, and more! Dr. Thompson, our migraine doctor, and our experienced team of medical professionals are committed to helping you on every step of the way to a pain-free life.

Are you tired of migraines and desperately need relief? Contact our migraine clinic today to see how we can help you feel the difference!

Our Insurance Partners

At Foundation Pain & Spine, Dr. Thompson and his team are here to help patients find relief from pain. Effective pain relief starts with a pain specialist and Dr. Thompson is here for you.

What Clients Say About Us

      
   Foundation Pain & Spine PLLC
   52 Google reviews 
  Write a review 
  
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Tom 
 2024-07-09
 
 
  Started seeing Justin with level 8 pain for decades. Was told major back surgery was my only option to relieve it. I am not a surgicsl candidate due to fatal allergy to anesthesia. Dr. Thompson put in an intrathecal pain pump using alternate anesthesia. My pain levels now are 5-6! Major relief. I now can walk shoet distances and make my way through the grocery store. I am so grateful.  He is attentive and listens to the patient and includes them in treatments.  Clinic staff is excellent also. I am blessed to have been referred to him.  Incredible clinic.
  
 
       
   Trish Cross 
 2024-05-03
 
 
  Very caring, understanding and professional.
  
 
       
   Paul Terrell 
 2024-04-12
 
 
  Excellent physician who truly care for the well being of his patients. He has gone out of his way to accommodate my everchanging needs on more than one occasion. Navigating life after an injury that left me disabled has been more than challenging but I am confident I will get through it with Dr Thompson in my corner.
  
 
       
   Renee Cooper 
 2023-10-20
 
 
  Dr. Thompson is the first doctor to manage my pain, he's a great doctor that actually listens and evaluate your opinions. My case is complicated but he's been a great help.
  
 
       
   Skyler Karins 
 2022-05-19
 
 
  Two weeks ago I was helping a family lay sod grass and the next day I started to experience hip, leg, and foot pain. I was just taking over the counter pain relief for 2 weeks, but the pain just continued to get worse. I scheduled an appointment and Dr. Thompson was able to see me the same day. He did a great job of assessing my pain and doing a thorough exam on where my pain might be generating from. He prescribed me two pain medications that have me feeling back to my normal self. Words can’t describe the happiness I feel to be back to normal. Thank you Dr. Thompson for helping me get back to a better quality of life.
  
 
       
   KidFink 13 
 2022-05-01
 
 
  Most of the reviews you see may not be authentic. The first appointment he seemed to care and listen to my problems being a paraplegic and my surgery I had coming up needing a pain doctor to take over my post surgery pain medication. He mentioned a procedure to look into that he could do also gave me a lower dosage of what I had been taking for the past 2 years so I was in agony for 15 days I went through 2 or 3 appointments each with a gap of 15 days and did not raise my dosage and sent me to get an MRI. There were a lot of people there to get procedures done I didn’t think much of it at first until I went back to talk about why he gave me an MRI.  Told me that I’m a good candidate and we should move forward with the procedure that I did not agree on. I said I am not comfortable with it and told me, that I am not a good match for his care and I should find someone else. Reminded him that I need a pain management doctor for surgery. Post surgery the doctors at the hospital tried to contact his office multiple times multiple days with no answer. So they had to send in a prescription and released me. I had to get in contact with him to finally get a script. So if you are having surgery and or not comfortable with going through a procedure I would not recommend because that’s all he does is procedures and does not like to prescribe pain medication when it says in his description that he does. I have my own opinion on why he only wants to do procedures but that’s not here nor there. I am only writing this as a warning for other people in my position. Wish you well and my have a better experience than I do.
  
 
       
   Ashley Grissom 
 2022-04-06
 
 
  It is a great office it's just very hard to get in contact with anybody by making an appointment or calling!

Frequently Questions About Migraine Treatment

How to Diagnose Migraine?

Migraines are diagnosed through a combination of medical history, symptoms, and physical and neurological examinations. Specialists may ask detailed questions about headache frequency, duration, triggers, and associated symptoms like nausea or light sensitivity.

How to get Rid of a Migraine?

Treating a migraine involves a combination of strategies, including medications to relieve pain, lifestyle changes to reduce triggers, and stress management techniques. At Foundation Pain & Spine, we create personalized migraine management plans to help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.

Difference Between Migraine and Headache?

While both migraines and headaches cause discomfort, migraines often involve additional symptoms like nausea, visual disturbances, and sensitivity to light or sound. Migraines are typically more severe and can last longer.

Which Doctors Specialize in Migraine Treatment?

Neurologists and pain management specialists often focus on treating migraines. These professionals are trained to diagnose and manage complex headache disorders. At Foundation Pain & Spine, our experienced team specializes in providing advanced care for migraine sufferers.

How to Prevent Migraines?

Preventing migraines often involves identifying and avoiding personal triggers, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, managing stress, and following a balanced diet. In some cases, preventative medications may be recommended. Foundation Pain & Spine offers customized strategies to help reduce migraine frequency and severity.

What is the Most Effective Migraine Treatment?

The most effective migraine treatment depends on the individual and their symptoms. Options include medications for acute relief, preventative therapies, and lifestyle adjustments.

Author

Dr. Justin Thompson

Dr. Justin H. Thompson, MD, is the founder and CEO of Foundation Pain & Spine. A native Texan and graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dr. Thompson specializes in pain management. With advanced training from Baylor University and Virginia Commonwealth University, he offers innovative, personalized treatments to help patients overcome chronic pain and restore their quality of life.
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