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Q: I am very confused when I hear that neurologists who specialize in headaches are not including the research, which is now not new, that links the pain and emotional centers in the brain?
Tired of Head Pain,
-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•*Welcome to MyMigraineConnection!*•-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-
Specialist ARE consideing the research linking various mental health issues to Migraine. The question in the quiz was a true or false question that read, "Migraines are triggered by psychological issues." The answer to that question is false. It's referring to what triggers an individual Migraine attack. That doesn't mean that these issues have no link to Migraine, but that they don't trigger Migraine attacks.
When it comes to depression and bipolar disorder, they're often comorbid to Migraine. That means that people can have depression or bipolar disorder and Migraine at the same time, but neither causes the other.
You don't say what your "psychological problems" are, but they may well be similar to what I just explained about depression and bipolar disorder - that your psychological problems don't trigger your Migraines, and your Migraines don't cause the psychological issues. That's not to say that they have no effect on each other, but disorders can have impact on each other without that impact meaning that one causes the other.
There's actually a lot of conversation about comorbid disorders in the Migraine field. Most specialists also look at comorbid disorders when they treat their Migraine patients.
Welcome again,
Teri
Hi, Tired of Pain,
You're very welcome!
There's no such thing as "fibromyalgic Migraines." Fibromyalgia and Migraine can be comorbid, like the other conditions we discussed earlier, but neither causes the other.
Pain doctors are generally very well trained in pain management, but often don't understand Migraine very well. Migraine is a genetic neurological disease, and there's a lot more to treating Migraine than just treating the pain. If your Migraines are severe or frequent, and you're not doing well with your treatment, you might want to consider seeing an actual Migraine specialist. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.
Teri
Hi Teri - Thanks for your reply. I will talk to my pain doc, whom I like very much and has basically been keeping me going since I left my last headache neurologist about 6 years ago. I have been in search of another one since then and have not found one that I could work with. I think I have found one, but have had too many migraine episodes to get all the paperwork together. That will be one of my main priorities over the summer so I can get an appointment as soon as possible. My psychiatrist works out of the same hospital and my pain doc did her residency there so they all know each other, and I have a referral just waiting for my list of medications to be sent. He is on your list of doctors, so I am secure about that.
Thank you for your clarification and help with my questions. I have had 3 migraines this week, and am in bed today resting, and hoping I can do some things this afternoon. Thank you again for your time and interest.
Tired of head pain.
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Hi Terri - Thank you for your prompt answer. After I wrote my question I searched your site and did find the information about comorbid problems. I guess I hit the jackpot because I have them all - bi-polar, depression, PTSD and fibromyalgia. My pain doc re-diagnosed me as having fibromyalgic migraines. Based on what you have said, is this possible?
Tired of Head Pain