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Disabling migraines demand attention

Excruciating migraines are common and sometimes treatable

Date published: 4/27/2008

BY MARCIA ARMSTRONG

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Tracey Cox knows when she's about to have a migraine.

First comes the aura. Then an odd feeling of disconnectedness. Very soon after that, a blinding, wish-you-were-dead headache takes up residence somewhere between Cox's ear and her eye.

"I keep thinking, if I could take a stick and jab it into my eye socket, I could knock out the place where the migraines live," said Cox, who lives in Stafford County.

Although extremely painful, migraines are not uncommon. According to the National Headache Foundation, 30 million Americans experience migraines. Women are hit with the severe headaches three times as often as men. Most migraine sufferers are between the ages of 15 and 55.

In some cases, the cranium-crushers disable their victims for hours or even days, spawning such side effects as nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

While the hit-with-a-baseball-bat kind of pain can make a migraine sufferer wonder if the condition is life-threatening, that is hardly ever the case, said Fredericksburg neurologist Paul Colopy of Neurology Associates.

"Statistics show that only a very small fraction of persons have a structural-lining abnormality, tumor or aneurysm," Colopy said.

What migraine victims do have is debilitating head pain that keeps them from working, taking care of their loved ones and enjoying life.

THE ORIGINS OF PAIN

Migraines result when the balance of adrenalin and seratonin--which regulates body temperature, mood, sleep and appetite--are out of balance, says Carol Foster, a Phoenix-based neurologist and author of "Gotta Headache? Lifestyle Changes to Help You Conquer Migraines."

Some things that can trigger an episode are:

hunger, exhaustion or dehydration

the weather

a change in routine

bright light

smells such as cigarette smoke or perfume.

Twenty-two-year-old Amanda Sale's headaches started when she was in middle school. Back then, she had no idea they were migraines.

"I thought it was a normal headache and that everyone had them," said the Spotsylvania County resident.

Exercise and Virginia's heat and humidity set off the pounding in Sale's head.

"In the summer, I get migraines every single day of the week," she said.

Your headache may be a migraine if you have any combination of these symptoms: moderate to severe pain (often described as pounding, throbbing pain) that can affect the whole head or shift from one side of the head to the other sensitivity to light, noise or odors blurred vision vomiting, upset stomach, abdominal pain sensations of being very warm or cold paleness, fatigue or dizziness fever (rare) bright flashing dots or lights, blind spots, wavy or jagged lines, known as an aura. Anyone who experiences the above symptoms should call her doctor or consult with a neurologist. Additional tests such as a spinal tap or brain scan (either CT or MRI) may be ordered for people suffering their first or worst headache ever; who undergo a significant change in their headache; or who have a headache accompanied by visual, hearing or sensory loss. --medicinenet.com

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Date published: 4/27/2008