Migraines are pulsating headaches and may greatly affect the quality of your life. You usually experience the pain on one side of your head and it becomes severe with physical activity. There may be a great variation in symptoms from one attack to the next. The severity of symptoms may also vary from person to person. Most people experience migraine and neck pain together along with other symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and extreme sensitivity to sound and light. Find out how to make your condition manageable.
Yes, it can. Migraine attacks can cause serious pain that may continue from hours to days. You may experience some symptoms before this disabling pain hits you hard. These symptoms are known as aura that may occur before the headache, which may include blind spots, flashes of light, or tingling in the arm, leg, or on one side of the face. Since the neck and head work together, it is common for migraine sufferers to experience neck pain at the same time.
Neck pain may include the nerves and muscles in the neck, and they may affect the bones in the spine. Some people find a connection between migraine and neck pain and say that their migraine pain seems to radiate from the neck to head. It is important to understand that people with migraines are at a greater risk of developing occipital neuralgia, which is a throbbing pain behind the ears or in the upper neck. This may also be the reason why you experience neck pain whenever you have a migraine attack.
It is a good idea to take a break from your usual activities as soon as you notice the first sign of a migraine.
It is never going to be easy to fall asleep when you have migraine and neck pain, but a poor night's sleep is only going to make matters worse. Here are some tips to try:
You need to pay attention to your diet to prevent migraine and neck pain. Here are some rules to follow:
It is important to have an active lifestyle to prevent migraines. You should exercise regularly because physical activity releases feel-good hormones that improve your mood and prevent headaches. These chemicals also play a role in lowering depression and anxiety. At the same time, regular exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight – obesity can make your headaches worse. Swimming, walking, and cycling will all work. Talk to your doctor to determine the best exercise for you.
You cannot get rid of migraine and neck pain if you do nothing to manage stress. It is hard to stay away from stress, but you can try things to keep things under control. For instance:
In addition, you should try some breathing exercises and meditation to help lower stress. Deep breathing works great – inhale and exhale slowly for at least 10 minutes to see the difference.