Unfortunately, millions of Americans are familiar with the often excruciating, one-sided head pain, light sensitivity, nausea, and other symptoms that accompany migraines. Anyone can experience a migraine, but they’re more common in women than men and tend to occur most frequently between the ages of 18-44.
Fortunately, many treatments exist to successfully manage migraines, ranging from avoiding triggers to oral medications to Botox® injections. Some treatments help prevent them, while others tackle a migraine that’s already started.
Neurologist Dr. Andrew Lerman at Gables Neurology in Miami, Florida, has significant experience diagnosing and treating migraines. As a migraine sufferer, he’s also got a unique perspective on how to manage this often debilitating disorder successfully.
Understanding the phases of a migraine can help you prepare for an attack hours, sometimes days, before your headache begins. Read more from our Gables Neurology team regarding migraine phases and the symptoms you may experience during each stage.
The prodrome phase, or the premonitory phase, occurs hours or even days before the onset of a migraine headache.
During this time, individuals may experience subtle symptoms that serve as a warning sign of an impending migraine.
Symptoms can vary but may include:
Recognizing these early signs can help you take preventive measures, such as resting or taking prescribed medication to prevent a full-blown migraine attack.
Many migraine sufferers experience an aura phase, which typically lasts from 20-60 minutes. This stage involves neurological symptoms that usually precede your headache. Common aura symptoms include:
Because these symptoms can indicate other serious neurological conditions, such as a stroke, it’s crucial to seek medical care if you’ve never experienced an aura before or haven’t been previously diagnosed with migraine headaches.
The headache phase is the most intense and debilitating part of a migraine, lasting anywhere from 4-72 hours. This phase is typically characterized by:
Often this pain is on one side of your head, but it can affect both sides.
Even soft lighting and minimal loud noises can exacerbate migraine pain.
Digestive symptoms are common with migraines and can worsen with movement.
A migraine may affect your vision, resulting in difficulty focusing or seeing clearly, often accompanied by light sensitivity.
This sensation results in feeling lightheaded or unsteady, which may make it difficult to stand or walk.
During this phase, it’s important to retreat to a dark, quiet room and use pain relief measures such as oral medications and cold compresses.
The postdrome phase, often referred to as the “migraine hangover,” follows the headache phase and can last from a few hours to a couple of days.
Symptoms during this phase may include:
The postdrome phase can leave you feeling drained, and it’s essential to allow your body time to recover fully before resuming normal activities.
Take a positive step toward managing your migraines by scheduling an evaluation with Dr. Lerman at Gables Neurology today by calling our office or requesting an appointment online.
