If you are among the one billion people worldwide who suffer from migraines, you understand how debilitating they can be. The pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound can make it impossible to work or care for your family. Migraine is the second leading cause of disability in the U.S.
If you suffer from migraines, you may be finding it difficult to find relief through traditional treatments. Ketamine is a fast-acting alternative treatment for chronic refractory migraines.
What are Migraines?
Essentially, migraines are severe headaches. However, the difference with a migraine is that you can still live your life through a headache. With a migraine, it is difficult to think, withstand being in a lit room or even keep your eyes open. Migraines can be so severe that they have a ripple effect through your nervous system, causing side effects like nausea, vomiting and auras.
What Causes Migraines?
The exact cause of migraines is yet to be determined. Some triggers are constant among migraine sufferers, including:
- Stress
- Medications
- Sensory stimuli
- Physical exertion
- Hormonal changes
- Alcohol consumption
- Temperature changes
- Brain chemistry alterations
- Atmospheric pressure changes
- Specific food additives and preservatives
What are Migraine Symptoms?
Migraines generally develop in childhood or adolescence and continue through adulthood. There are four recognized stages of migraines, but experiencing each stage is not necessarily a requirement for diagnosis.
Prodrome Phase
This will generally start 1-2 days before a migraine. During this phase, you may experience cravings, mood swings, muscle tension and thirst.
Aura Phase
You may experience the aura phase right before a migraine when the nervous system is overwhelmed. Symptoms of this phase include difficulty speaking, tingling sensations, visual distortions and temporary vision loss.
Attack Phase
The attack phase is generally the most severe phase of a migraine. It can last anywhere from hours to days and usually includes light and noise sensitivity, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and extreme pain.
Postdrome Phase
This is the final phase of a migraine and is characterized by mood shifts, lethargy, muscle pain and weakness.
Does Ketamine Therapy Work for Migraines?
Ketamine is showing promising results in addressing treatment-resistant migraines. In fact, Ketamine is often used in emergency departments to treat severe pain and migraines.
The research about how Ketamine works to treat migraines is ongoing.
It is believed that Ketamine acts as an inhibitor to the neural pathways that are generally responsible for migraines.
Ketamine Treatment for Migraines in South Jersey
At Alternativ Total Wellness, we are focused on providing you with a calming environment so that you can get the most out of your treatment, especially if you are at the center with a migraine.
We are happy to discuss how Ketamine can help you manage your migraines. Contact us for a consultation.
