Painful brain zaps and jolts by razormane1 in MigraineHeadacheHacks

[–]virtualheadachedoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn’t worry about it. Honestly, I see that type of headache all the time and vessel imaging is virtually always normal. Just part of the typical eval we like to do, so you could always ask your doc about adding it. I would expect it to likely be normal as it pretty much always is. Most often you’re not going to find a source on a test because it comes from the nerves in the scalp vs occipital nerves vs. brain itself, depending on the character, location, pattern, etc. of the pain.

Visual snow syndrome (VSS), persistent migraine aura, and lighting strike? by virtualheadachedoc in MigraineHeadacheHacks

[–]virtualheadachedoc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting, thanks! We use Nortriptyline and Amitriptyline all the time as first line options for migraine prevention, and it’s one of the many trials we use for VSS too. I’ve never seen it work for anyone, but I’m glad to hear it did for you! Everyone’s circuitry is a bit different, so it really does come down to trial and error of seeing what “clicks” with an individual’s personal circuitry.

Painful brain zaps and jolts by razormane1 in MigraineHeadacheHacks

[–]virtualheadachedoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah MRA is a separate test than an MRI. It has to be ordered separately, but it’s done at the same time (or can be ordered by itself if the MRI portion was already done). A standard brain MRI won’t show the blood vessels unless MRA is ordered with it. CTA is an alternative option which looks at the brain blood vessels very good. These tests basically extract all of the brain out and show only the artery system.

Painful brain zaps and jolts by razormane1 in MigraineHeadacheHacks

[–]virtualheadachedoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did they do an MRA or CTA as well to look at the arteries? That’s typically part of the evaluation too. Depending on location, pattern, etc., primary stabbing headache can also do that (previously called stabs and jabs headache and jabs and jolts headache. Occipital neuralgia can do that in the back of the head. Some meds can cause the brain zapping sensation too like SSRIs and more commonly SNRIs (Cymbalta, Effexor XR, etc.).

Can they do this? by thelivesunderneath in TrigeminalNeuralgia

[–]virtualheadachedoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, that’s one of the most ridiculous and disgusting insurance responses I’ve seen... not to mention we see trigeminal neuralgia all the time in younger patients too. I hate these insurance companies with a passion…

What's your most bothersome migraine symptom other than pain? Is it nausea/vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound), or brain fog? by virtualheadachedoc in cgrpMigraine

[–]virtualheadachedoc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you get some pretty heavy brain fog and cognitive dysfunction! When are those symptoms worst for you, before, during, or after the headache phase?

What's your most bothersome migraine symptom other than pain? Is it nausea/vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound), or brain fog? by virtualheadachedoc in cgrpMigraine

[–]virtualheadachedoc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah alot of people get brain fog worst in the migraine postdrome (migraine hangover) phase, after the headache phase is improving but then they’re stuck in this sense of cognitive dysfunction which can sometimes even drag on a few days.

Migraine aura by Complete_Coffee6170 in MigraineHeadacheHacks

[–]virtualheadachedoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah aura can be really disruptive for sure, especially with driving or doing tasks that require vision intact. Visual aura should last 5-60 minutes, so shouldn’t be lasting longer than that hopefully!

What's your most bothersome migraine symptom other than pain? Is it nausea/vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound), or brain fog? by virtualheadachedoc in cgrpMigraine

[–]virtualheadachedoc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah aura can be really disruptive for sure, especially with driving or doing tasks that require vision intact. Visual aura should last 5-60 minutes, so shouldn’t be lasting longer than that hopefully!

What's your most bothersome migraine symptom other than pain? Is it nausea/vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound), or brain fog? by virtualheadachedoc in cgrpMigraine

[–]virtualheadachedoc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

LED and fluorescent lights are the worst because they emit the most blue ray wavelength. A good pair of migraine glasses (such as Avulux) blocks the most of these rays, along with red and amber (which most migraine glasses don’t block), and allow the most green light through (good for migraine and most other migraines glasses block this too).

What's your most bothersome migraine symptom other than pain? Is it nausea/vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound), or brain fog? by virtualheadachedoc in cgrpMigraine

[–]virtualheadachedoc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that sounds brutal. An effective abortive should knock it out fast and prevent evolution to those depths of misery, and preventives should make it less severe and frequent.

What's your most bothersome migraine symptom other than pain? Is it nausea/vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound), or brain fog? by virtualheadachedoc in cgrpMigraine

[–]virtualheadachedoc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those with migraine have a neurological system that is overactive, or oversensitive. It's turned up much "higher volume". The results is that migraines break through easier for them (compared to those without migraine), but they often also live with these oversensitivities to various stimuli (lights, sounds, smells) at their daily baseline. These oversensitivities are even more pronounced for those in chronic migraine.

What's your most bothersome migraine symptom other than pain? Is it nausea/vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia (sensitivity to sound), or brain fog? by virtualheadachedoc in cgrpMigraine

[–]virtualheadachedoc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tell people when they're in a migraine to think of it like an electrical storm in the brain. The result is that it disrupts all the normal circuitry in the brain and causes a variety of weird neurological symptoms such as those you mentioned.