Anyone who experiences migraine headaches can tell you that the symptoms and effects on their lives go far beyond just head pain. Migraines are a neurological condition that can cause debilitating pain and a long list of other symptoms that interrupt daily activities and often require care from a migraine specialist in NYC.
Migraine research shows that most of these headaches stem from brain chemistry changes affecting the rest of the body. What many people don’t realize is that the condition also has links to other neurological conditions. Many people who suffer from the severe, throbbing pain of a migraine also have additional diseases or conditions that can affect symptoms, treatments, and quality of life.
How Migraine Comorbidities Influence Diagnosis and Treatment
Comorbidities are at least two chronic conditions that occur together at a higher-than-average rate. In other words, people with one condition (like migraines) are more likely to have certain other diseases also. While chronic diseases like asthma, COPD, Crohn’s, and high blood pressure are common comorbidities for migraine, it’s also likely for patients to have a neurological condition as well.
Those neurological disorders include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Chronic fatigue
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Sleep disorders
- Stroke
It’s unclear how exactly these diseases relate to each other. It’s possible that one condition could trigger another or that something else causes both to appear simultaneously. The fact that generics are a factor in about 50% of migraine disorders supports the latter theory, with migraine specialists speculating that something in patients’ genetic makeup increases the likelihood of them developing migraine and other conditions.
There’s also evidence that some people with migraines are more likely to have a stroke. Migraine research indicates that people who have migraines with aura (visual disturbances or tingling in the face and hands) are at a higher risk for stroke and other cardiovascular events.
Challenges in Diagnosis
Despite additional neurological conditions being so common among people with migraines, doctors can face challenges in making an accurate diagnosis and developing treatment plans. The National Headache Foundation estimates that only 48% of people with migraine receive a diagnosis due in some part to the prevalence of neurological comorbidities.
There’s often a significant overlap in the symptoms of migraine and other neurological disorders. For example, migraine and fibromyalgia can cause head pain, stomach issues, and sensitivity to light and sound. People with multiple sclerosis are more than twice as likely to get migraines as others, but doctors are unsure whether migraines are a symptom or if changes in the brain that occur with migraines increase the risk for MS.
Because of this overlap, seeing a migraine specialist is usually the best way to get an accurate diagnosis. A specialist can determine whether your symptoms relate to other brain diseases and develop a more effective treatment plan.
Challenges in Treatment
For anyone with migraine and comorbidities, finding a treatment plan that addresses all their symptoms isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes, treating each condition separately can worsen symptoms or cause new ones. For example, it’s possible for certain medications to cause migraines.
Working with a migraine specialist when you have several neurological disorders can help you get a treatment plan that addresses all of your conditions and symptoms without making them worse.
Getting Help for Migraines
Everyone gets an occasional headache. However, if your headaches interfere with your daily life, a headache specialist can help. According to the American Migraine Foundation, a headache specialist is a physician, often a neurologist or neurosurgeon, with in-depth training and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of head pain disorders.
Make an appointment with a neurologist in New York when:
- Your headaches interfere with daily activities.
- You have more than 15 headaches per month.
- Your current treatment plan is no longer working or causing unbearable side effects.
- You have a headache that causes you to seek emergency treatment.
- You recently had a headache that was the worst of your life or markedly different than any headache you’ve had before.
- You worry about how much medication you’re taking to manage head pain.
- You have multiple symptoms, including headache, nausea, and sensitivity to light, smell, and sound.
A specialist can help pinpoint the cause of your pain using advanced imaging tests like EEG, MRI, or CT scans. These tests won’t reveal a migraine per se, but the results can show whether there are other issues in the brain, including injuries, infections, bleeding, or tumors causing or contributing to symptoms. These results will help guide the doctor toward an effective treatment plan that addresses all the concerns.
Get Help From the Best Neurologist in NYC at Medical Clinics of New York
If chronic migraines stop you in your tracks, make an appointment to visit one of the compassionate providers at Medical Clinics of New York. The providers at this headache center are experts in the nervous system and associated conditions and can help you find pain relief.
Call or text Medical Clinics of New York directly at (877) 465-7360 to schedule an appointment.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. Contact us today if you want to see a neurologist after an accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Neurological Disorders Are More Likely to Occur With Migraines?
The most common neurological disorders associated with migraines are epilepsy, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Multiple sclerosis and pain disorders like fibromyalgia are also common.
Can a Migraine Indicate a More Serious Problem?
If a migraine lasts for three days or longer without responding to treatment and you have additional symptoms like fever, stiff neck, confusion, difficulty speaking, vision changes, and weakness, seek emergency treatment. The headache could be a sign of a severe illness, brain hemorrhage, tumor, or stroke.
What Does a Migraine Specialist Do for Headaches?
A headache specialist will develop a treatment plan to reduce or stop your symptoms and keep them from returning. They may prescribe medication for relief and prevention or alternative therapies like acupuncture, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, surgical procedures.
