Migraine

About 12 percent of the population in the United States suffers from migraines, which can disrupt your sleep, concentration, and work life. If you’re looking for a long-term solution to these extreme headaches, visit Steven Gershon, M.D., at Gershon Pain Specialists. The practice helps patients in Virginia Beach, Virginia, end migraine pain quickly and effectively with nonsurgical approaches and unique treatment regimens.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a migraine?

A migraine headache is characterized by an intense, throbbing pain in one area of the head. These headaches, which usually start as a dull ache, can last for hours or even days. Symptoms include nausea, extreme sensitivity to light and sound, vertigo, dizziness, and vomiting. The pain may be in the front or back of the head, on one side, on both sides of the head, or in the temples.

What is an aura?

About 15% of those who have migraines experience an aura before a migraine manifests. Auras are often visual disturbances seen as dots, wavy or jagged lines, or flashing lights. They may be accompanied by tunnel vision, auditory or visual hallucinations, blind spots, and the disruption of various senses, including taste, smell, or touch. Additional symptoms include difficulty in repeating or saying the correct word, a feeling of numbness, or a pins-and-needles sensation in the body. Auras usually occur before the onset of a migraine and tend to last about an hour.

What triggers a migraine?

A trigger, which is what immediately causes a migraine, may be an environmental or physical situation that develops. Migraine triggers vary. Some common triggers include weather or atmospheric changes, foods, stress, and hormonal changes. Keeping a diary of what conditions exist when a migraine develops is an excellent way to track these headaches and determine your triggers.

How are migraines treated?

There are several treatments and therapies for migraines. At Gershon Pain Specialists, your treatment plan may include occipital nerve blocks, which are injections that block the nerves that are associated with headaches and migraines. Your physician might also recommend sphenopalatine ganglion blocks, which treat a group of nerve cells located behind the nose. Other treatments may include over-the-counter and prescription medications, acupuncture treatment, relaxation training, and biofeedback. The providers at Gershon Pain Specialists also offer Botox® and the newly released Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide Medications to relieve migraines. Herbal therapies, acupressure, and yoga are often successful in treating these types of headaches, too.