The pain and associated symptoms of migraines are often debilitating and can impede daily life. Migraines do not discriminate and affect people of all races, economic backgrounds, ages, and genders. As such, the definition of migraine in San Diego will look like the definition from anywhere in the world. Simply put, a migraine is defined as an extremely severe headache, but those who have experienced them know a migraine is so much more than that. 

Those who suffer from them may endure hours or days of symptoms. These symptoms often hinder the quality of life and, in severe cases, can make it impossible to participate in routine activities like working. Although the frequency and severity of migraine symptoms will differ between individuals, the most common symptom is a headache that causes severe pain. 

Symptoms

Migraines may start with a warning stage called prodrome, then progress through aura, headache, and lastly, post-drome. Not every migraine sufferer in San Diego will experience these four defined stages.  

Prodrome

A couple of days before a migraine, the patient might notice warning signs indicating an impending episode. Symptoms associated with the prodrome stage of migraine include, but are not limited to, constipation, increased yawning, mood changes, increase urination, food cravings, or neck stiffness. These signs are subtle and easily missed. A migraine journal may allow for patients to pick up on these early symptoms and preemptively treat them. 

Aura

Neurological symptoms, usually visual, such as vision loss or seeing bright flashes, are common during the aura stage. Some patients have described seeing shapes. Sufferers might also observe numbness or tingling anywhere on the body or auditory disturbances like hearing noises. The aura stage can last five minutes to one hour and occurs just prior to the headache. 

Headache

The headache stage is the hallmark of migraines and causes severe pain lasting up to several days. San Diego residents frequently define this Migraine pain as throbbing or stabbing. Pain is often unilateral. However, the patient may experience bilateral pain as well. Along with an unbearable headache, individuals may experience nausea, vomiting, photophobia, sensitivity to smells, dizziness, and anxiety. This list of symptoms is not exhaustive.  

Post-drome

During the post-drome phase of a migraine, patients describe feeling exhausted, depressed, euphoric, or unable to concentrate. The intense pain of a migraine may return momentarily during abrupt head movements. This final stage can affect patients for 24 to 48 hours. 

Migraine Causes and Treatments

The first step to overcoming this ailment is obtaining a diagnosis by a San Diego doctor who understands the definition, treatments, and fundamentals of migraines. Although the cause of migraines varies and is not fully understood, facial nerves appear to play a role. It is believed that these nerves create migraine trigger points due to compression from surrounding structures such as muscle, bone, fascia, or vessels. Release of these nerves through minimally invasive surgery has shown a reduction in frequency and severity among migraine sufferers. Migraine decompression surgery is generally performed on those who have not had adequate resolution with conventional treatments. 

There is Hope

Migraines are common and occur across the world. If you are suffering from them, no matter where you live, you are not alone. If you have not experienced a migraine, you likely know someone who has.  As with anywhere else, the definition of a Migraine in San Diego exhibits just how difficult it is for residents to live with such a debilitating disorder. But there is hope. With a better understanding of migraines and their causes, more treatments have become available, and therefore more doctors trained on the techniques shown to bring relief.