While there is no cure for chronic migraine, there are several treatment options for chronic migraine management:
This is not an exhaustive list. Please consult your doctor if any of these products are right for you. Talk to your family doctor or a specialist who has expertise in treating and diagnosing headaches to find out how preventative, acute, and non-medicinal treatments may benefit you.
Non-medicinal treatment options can include making lifestyle changes as well as recognising and then avoiding your triggers. Changes to lifestyle can include;
- Having regular sleep habits
- Eating a healthy, well balanced meals with protein, fruit, vegetables and carbohydrates
- Eating regularly throughout the day and not skipping meals
- Exercising regularly (aim for 3 times a week)
- Trying relaxation techniques – Biofeedback and other forms of relaxation training teach you ways to deal with stressful situations, which might help reduce the number of migraines you have.
Avoiding common triggers such as;
- Weather (e.g., temperature change, high humidity)
- Diet (e.g., chocolate, aged cheese, caffeine, alcohol)
- Surroundings (e.g., bright lights, strong odours, loud sounds)
- Hormones (e.g., menstruation, birth control pills)
- Physical factors (e.g., strenuous exercise like aerobics, poor quality of sleep)
- Stress (e.g., anxiety, worry)
Medicinal (acute or preventative therapies):
- Analgesics which are used for pain relief
- Triptans which are used as abortive treatments for migraine
- Preventative medications
- Injectable treatments which are used to temporarily block the release of chemicals in the brain associated with the cause of chronic migraine