Migraine attacks often last between 4 and 72 hours. While temporary, they can significantly affect your daily routine, stopping you from working or making you anxious. Most people carry on with over-the-counter medications or a little bit or test, but what can you do when your migraine doesn’t go away?
Dr. Alvarez is a founding partner of Space City Pain Specialists. He completed internship and residency programs at the University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A few short years later he decided to pursue an additional residency in Anesthesiology while subspecializing in Pain Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. For more than 20 years, he has been serving the Webster community with the most comprehensive pain management plans.
When a Migraine Becomes Chronic
Having a migraine attack doesn’t necessarily mean you suffer from chronic migraines. We usually consider someone has chronic migraine when they experience headaches for 15 days per month or more, with 8 or more of those with migraine symptoms.
When this happens, it’s much more than frequent migraines, as we are talking about a medical condition that could be caused by medication overuse, untreated triggers, underlying neurological issues, and other reasons.
If your migraines are getting more severe and more frequent, I recommend you to visit a specialist that can assess your case and help you manage it before it gets worse.
Why Your Migraine Isn’t Going Away
Since every patient is different, it would be impossible to identify a single, universal cause of persisting migraines. However, if you feel you have been taking proactive and reactive steps to manage your attacks but they are still there, some of the causes could be:
- Misdiagnosis: Not all headaches are migraines, and their treatments differ. Perhaps you could be suffering from tension or cluster headaches, or another type of problem
- Inadequate treatment: Depending on the state of your migraine, OTC medication may not be enough. Your doctor could prescribe special preventive or abortive medications.
- Rebound headaches: Frequent use of certain meds can worsen migraine frequency. Even if you are taking over-the-counter medications, make sure to track your doses and check with your specialist.
- Undiagnosed triggers: Diet, hormones, sleep apnea, stress, and even psychological conditions like depression and anxiety could be triggering your migraines. Finding these triggers is essential for long-term management.
Treatment Options When Migraine Won’t Stop
Depending on your case, your doctor might recommend several options to deal with chronic migraines. These can include preventive therapies such as daily medications, CGRP inhibitors or beta-blockers; Botox injections, lifestyle interventions like trigger tracking, acupuncture or even physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and more.
Visiting a specialized provider is key, as they will make sure your diagnosis is correct and from there create a personalized plan and combination treatment you can find the relief you need.
When to See a Migraine Specialist
Still curious about whether you should schedule a consultation with a migraine specialist? If you identify with the following statements, getting professional help is a good idea:
- Your headaches are increasing in frequency or severity
- OTC medications aren’t helpful anymore
- Your symptoms make you skip school or work
- You are experiencing additional symptoms (nausea, slurred speech, difficulty remembering things, etc)
Addressing Chronic Migraines in Webster, Texas, with Dr. Alvarez
Migraines that don’t go away easily aren’t something to ignore, as they deeply affect your quality of life and could indicate underlying, more complex issues. Early intervention can give you prompt relief and prevent worsening symptoms.
Our Approach at Space City Pain
We know how frustrating and confusing it can be dealing with persistent migraines. If you seek professional care, you will learn about all the available possibilities to enjoy a happier life. We will make sure to take the best care of you so you can kiss your worries goodbye and re-find comfort in your own body!
Our board certified healthcare providers have made Space City Pain a pioneer in pain management in the community since 2004. Our friendly, bilingual, and highly specialized staff excels at providing pain relief to patients. If you are looking to get back to your old self and a pain-free life, book an appointment by calling 281-338-4443 or send us a message online today.
We don’t manage pain, we treat it.
