Treatment in chronic migraine: choice of reabilitation strategies

Abstract

Migraine is a disabling neurologic condition with a spontaneous clinical evolution into a chronic form. Migraine progression from an episodic into a chronic form is realized through a period of time involving several months or years, during which an increase attack frequency occurs. .According to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) chronic migraine is a type of primary headache occurring on 15 or more days per month for more than 3 months, in which more than 8 days per month headache meet criteria for migraine with or without aura or respond to specific migraine treatment. The prevalence of chronic migraine is estimated between 1-3% of general population. Persons with chronic migraine are more likely to suffer from severe disability; chronic migraine has an important socio-economic impact.Diagnostic approach in chronic migraine includes exclusion of a secondary headache disorder and confirmation of a primary episodic headache. When a patient is found to overuse pain medication, diagnosis of both chronic migraine and MOH should be considered.Treating episodic migraine early and managing attack frequency using preventive medication and behavioural interventions will be benefic in reducing the risk of chronicisation. Lifestyle changes are important for avoiding triggers for migraine attacks; treatment of comorbidities is equally important because these conditions exacerbate patient's tendency to have headaches. The initial relief step for drug abusers always relies in drug withdrawal. For migraine attacks treatment begins with non-pharmacologic interventions (staying in a quiet, dark room, pressure on painful areas, applying cold compresses ), simple OTC analgetics (NSAIDs, paracetamol, aspirin, acetaminophen). If these are not effective, triptans are the drugs of choice. Preventive treatment is always recommended in patients with chronic migraine because the high frequency of headache attacks. Treatment should be started with topiramate, because the drug has the highest level of evidence in treating CM; Onabotulinumtoxin A reduced the number headache days, headache severity, headache-related disability and improved functioning and quality of life. Additionally, complementary and alternative medicine treatments are available in CM prophylaxis, such as biobehavioral techniques (relaxation training, thermal biofeedback, electromyography feedback and cognitive-behavioral therapy). Invasive and non-invasive neurostimulation techniques have been studied in the treatment and prevention of various types of headaches, including chronic migraine. New treatment options for acute attacks and for prevention include calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP) antagonists and antibodies.

Headache occurring during rehabilitation in a migrainous patient with cervical spinal cord injury

“…Rehabilitation treatment in SPA resorts has also proved to be effective in ameliorating disability in patients with important neurological deficits (3). Also, SPA treatment is effective in different types of migraine, while behavioral interventions will be beneficial in reducing the risk of cronicisation (15).…”

Educational Intervention With Medications Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life in Migraineurs

“…It is the most widely used generic questionnaire to assess the QOL. It contains 36 questions in eight health related categories: Physical Functioning (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12), Role Limitations due to Physical Health (13-16), Role Limitation due to emotional problems (17)(18)(19), Energy/Fatigue (23, 27, 29, and 31), Emotional well-being (24, 25, 26, 28, and 30), Social Functioning (20,32), Pain (21,22) and General health (1,(33)(34)(35)(36). It also includes which is about health change (2) compared to a year ago.…”

“…Acute treatment is started early, and the drug of choice depends on intensity of attacks. 19 Preventive therapy is optional for patients who are having long term migraines and frequent attacks. 20 It should decrease the frequency of attacks as well as increase the QOL of patient.…”

“…General drugs used for preventive therapy are beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, antiepileptic, antihistamines, barbiturates, botulinum toxins, and ergot derivatives. 19,21 The main goal of migraine therapy is evolved from reducing pain towards preventing migraine symptoms and disability as well as increased HRQOL and reduction in activity limitations. 14,15 Person living with migraine often refuse or avoid taking treatment because of low healthcare focus and belief that they are not suffering from migraine but a normal headache.…”

Biofeedback and Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Migraine

“…According to preventive treatment, it is recommended in patients with high frequency of migraine attacks (usually more than 4-5 days per month)-which is always the case in a chronic migraine, but also when attacks are rare, but very severe and disabling (intense pain), or when patients have contraindications or no response to triptans [29]. Relaxation training and biofeedback focus on the perception of pain, biofeedback training focus on the physical response involved in pain persistence, and cognitive-behavioral techniques target the experience of feeling pain.…”