How is migraine diagnosed? Any real reason to treat?

Question: How is migraine diagnosed? Any real reason to treat?

Answer:

Full Question:

If there is no clinical test for Migraines how do you know that what you have is in fact a migraine and what does it do to help you know this? Is it advisable to get treatment? Without treatment are there any long-terms effects? My first experience with what I believe are migraines happened about 15 years ago and the symptoms were frightening enough to send me to the emergency room. I had numbness starting on the left side of my face that moved to my arm and fingers. After CT Scan and spinal tap the doctors concluded that I didn't have anything serious though they didn't diagnose me. Since then, I have had long periods without such episodes but recently they seems to be happening more frequently (every three months or so). Also, in one recent episode I had some trouble getting words out in the right order though I knew what I wanted to say, I couldn't say it. In general an episode starts with a feeling of not having a full field of vision and then wavy lines appear and people and objects seem to be in different planes. Then the numbness starts on one side of my face and travels into my arm and fingers, making them feel cold. This lasts for about 30 minutes after which I have a headache and feel tired. However, the headache is not debilitating (though it helps to lie down) it's not at all as bad as the vision and numbness symptoms. I have never taken anything for these episodes. They are frustrating but don't have a lasting impact after they are over. Is there evidence that preventing these episodes is advisable and may reduce the chance of long-term effects? Thank you, Lisa.

Answer:

Dear Lisa;

Gracious! The answers to your questions would and have filled entire web sites and books. To fully answer them in a few sentences or a couple of paragraphs is quite impossible. However, there is content on our site that, with some introduction should do nicely. Let's break this down:

• You're quit right that there is no diagnostic test to confirm Migraine disease. Diagnosis can, at times, be somewhat difficult because the symptoms of Migraine disease can also be caused by other conditions. Diagnosis is, therefore, a process of studying the patient's personal and family medical history as well as the results of their physical examination and ruling out other causes for their symptoms before arriving at the diagnosis of Migraine disease.
• Yes, it is advisable to treat Migraine attacks. Most physicians will advise you that, unless Migraine abortive medications such as the triptans (Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, etc.), it is better to actually abort the attack, that is stop it at its source rather than just mask the pain.
• Although it's no something about which Migraineurs should be overly concerned, we believe Migraineurs should be aware of the fact that Migraine disease can increase stroke risk and work with their doctors to reduce lifestyle factors that also contribute to stroke risk. Please see:
  • Migraine and Stroke Risk: The Study Results
    Researchers correlated the results of 14 studies on Migraine and stroke, concluding that the risk of stroke is doubled in Migraineurs and multiplied by eight when Migraineurs take the pill.
• If the frequency of your Migraine attacks should increase to the point where you're experiencing multiple Migraines in one month, preventive therapies are generally advised. Yes, there is now evidence that Migraine may indeed be a progressive brain disease. Please see:
  • Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?
    A study and JAMA article, "Migraine as a Risk Factor for Subclinical Brain Lesions," examine the connection between Migraine disease, brain lesions, cerebral infarction (stroke), and the frequency of Migraine attacks. Some news articles have made this information sound very frightening. It's not, but it is information every Migraineur should take seriously, and keep Migraine prevention and early attack abortion seriously.

Lisa, you sound like a young woman who is concerned about her health. The best advice we can offer is too return to your doctor for diagnosis and treatment advice. There is a great deal of material on our site that you can read to learn more about Migraine disease. If you don't find what you need, please let us know.

Good luck,
Teri Robert and John Claude Krusz

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