Dr. Grinstead Shares About June Being National Migraine Awareness Month
Since June is National Migraine Awareness Month and I woke up with a migraine today I decided to blog about it and even shoot a short video. Please read the following information and watch my short video.
When many people think migraine they think only of the pain of migraine. In reality, a migraine episode consists of far more. A typical migraine episode often consists of four parts, referred to as phases or components. It’s important to note that not every migraineur experiences all four phases. Also, episodes can vary with different phases experienced during different episodes.
The four phases of a migraine episode:
Prodrome: Aura: Aura follows the prodrome and usually lasts less than an hour. The symptoms and effects of the aura vary widely. Some can be quite terrifying, especially when experienced for the first time. Some of the visual distortions can be exotic and bizarre and the most common are visual symptoms: flashing lights, wavy lines, spots, partial loss of sight, blurry vision.
Headache: This is the actual period of pain experienced during the migraine episode. The pain is usually unilateral (affecting one side of the head) although it can change sides or sometimes be bilateral. The pain is usually throbbing or pulsating, and can be aggravated by physical activity.
Postdrome: This is the period following a bad migraine headache during which a person feels tired. Sometimes called Migraine hangover.
Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad categories:
Pain-relieving medications. Also known as acute or abortive treatment, these types of drugs are taken during migraine attacks and are designed to stop symptoms that have already begun.
Preventive medications. These types of drugs are taken regularly, often on a daily basis, to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines.
Psychological/emotional component:
When you are in pain you experience both physical and psychological/emotional symptoms. The psychological symptoms include both thinking changes and emotional (or uncomfortable feelings) responses that often lead to suffering. Most people can’t differentiate between the physical and psychological types of pain. All they know is: I hurt! For effective pain management to occur you need to learn all you can about your pain—including the psychological/emotional component.
Nonpharmacological migraine management component:
Nonpharmacological treatments have proven effective for many pain conditions. For example, recent studies have shown that endorphins mediate the analgesic effects of acupuncture and placebos as well. Still to be discovered is the mechanism by which hypnosis accomplishes its analgesic effects.Some of the nonpharmacological processes are listed below.
Meditation and Relaxation
Emotional Management
Massage Therapy and Physical Therapy
Chiropractic Treatment
Acupuncture
Biofeedback
Hypnosis or Self-Hypnosis
People who are willing to develop a treatment plan that includes medication management, psychological/emotional healing, and proactive nonpharmacological interventions have a much better chance of obtaining effective chronic pain management and freedom from suffering. Remember though this freedom is a right; but it is also your responsibility.
Please check out my video below
You can learn about the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System at our website www.addiction-free.com. If you or someone you love is living with chronic pain and seems to be suffering; please consider my book Freedom from Suffering: A Journey of Hope. This book was written for people living with chronic pain who are ready to learn and then put into practice seven strategic steps that will help them better manage their chronic pain condition, improve their quality of life, end suffering, and achieve their cherished goals. To purchase my Freedom from Suffering book please Click Here.
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Tags: chronic pain, Chronic Pain Management, Dr. Stephen Grinstead, freedom from suffering, migraine, pain management
