Migraines tREATMENT

Ketamine Therapy For Migraines Treatment

What Is A Migarine Headache?

How Does Ketamine Help With Migraines?

Ketamine helps quiet the “hyperexcitability” that can come not only with chronic migraines, but also with other uncomfortable conditions such as Neuropathy and Radiculopathy.

A number of promising studies reveal ketamine treatments can offer relief from migraines by significantly reducing pain. A recent study published by The Journal of Headache and Pain showed the efficacy of Ketamine infusions for chronic migraines, indicating that ketamine therapy provided a short-term improvement in every patient with refractory chronic migraines who participated in the study.

Patients who experience migraines often and those that have grown to be immune to pain relievers as well as other medications may benefit most from ketamine treatment for migraine headaches since ketamine infusion therapy works by a totally different mechanism of action. Ketamine infusions boast an extremely high success rate for patients with stubborn migraines.

Are You Suffering From Migraines?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MIGRAINE AND A HEADACHE?

To get the best treatment possible, it is important to understand the difference between a migraine attack and a headache.

There are a multitude of kinds of headaches that vary in severity, length, and causes. Headaches, unlike migraines, may not occur in a recognizable pattern.

Migraines are moderate or severe headaches that typically occur on one side of the head and bring on other symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Migraines are usually caused by different factors than typical headaches.

To identify whether one is experiencing a migraine or another kind of headache, one should consider keeping a diary of symptoms noting when they appear, what triggered them, how long they lasted, and any other symptoms like if noticeable auras or signs were experienced.

A headache diary should be maintained for a period of at least eight weeks and should record the following:

• The frequency of headaches
• The duration of headaches
• The severity of symptoms
• Associated symptoms
• Prescribed or over-the-counter medications taken to relieve symptoms
• Possible triggers
• The relationship to menstrual cycle, if any

WHAT TRIGGERS MIGRAINES?

Exactly what causes migraines is still unknown, but they are thought to result from abnormal activity in the brain which affects the way nerves, chemicals, and blood vessels within the brain communicate. 

The following factors are known to trigger migraines:

• Hormonal changes, especially in women during menstruation
• Emotional triggers like stress, anxiety, depression, or even excitement
• Not getting enough sleep
• Tension in your shoulder or neck
• Poor posture
• Alcohol and caffeine
• Certain medications and sleeping pills
• Flickering screens
• Especially strong smells
• Secondhand smoke
• Loud noises
• Bright lights

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF MIGRAINES?

Migraines fall into two distinct categories, usually classified by experiencing disturbances of the sense (known as auras) before the migraine.

Migraines with auras

Auras may appear as a sort of warning that a person is about to experience a migraine. An aura is described as experiencing the following:

• Confusion
• Seeing sparkling or flashing lights
• Seeing zig-zagging lines
• Blind spots in vision
• Pins and needles sensations in arms or legs
• Trouble speaking
• Stiffness in the shoulders and neck
• Unpleasant odors

There are also more serious symptoms that should not be ignored, especially if they are infrequently experienced by the person:

• An abnormally severe headache
• Visual disturbances
• Loss of sensation

To further describe the strange ways aura affects vision, the person affected may see transparent strings of objects or other lights that are not actually there. They may also be missing parts of their field of vision or not seeing objects in front of them. These sensations are sometimes described as similar to being exposed to a bright camera flash up-close.

Migraines without auras

Up to 90 percent of migraines occur without experiencing any aura or sensory disturbance leading up to the migraine itself.

Other types of migraines

• Chronic Migraines: Any migraine that is experienced over 15 days each month.

• Menstrual Migraines: Migraines occurring in a pattern connected to the menstrual cycle

• Hemiplegic Migraines: This type of migraines causes weaknesses on one side of the body for a period of time

• Abdominal Migraines: A syndrome that connects migraines to irregular functions of the gut and abdomen. This is most common in children under 14 years.

• Migraines with Brainstem Auras: A rarer type of migraine that triggers severe neurological symptoms.

SYMPTOMS OF MIGRAINES

Symptoms may start some time before the headache, but can also come on immediately before, during, or even after the headache. Not everyone experiences migraines the same, but the most common symptoms include the following:

• Moderate or severe pain that typically occurs on one side of the head (but can occur on either side)
• Throbbing or pulsing pain
• Increased pain during physical activity
• Being unable to carry out regular activities due to pain
• Feelings of nausea or vomiting
• Increased sensitivity to both light and sound

Less common symptoms include:

• Sweating
• Stomachaches
• Diarrhea