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Do you often experience a throbbing pain on one side of your head? Is it so severe as to cause stoppage of your daily activities? Does it last for hours if left untreated? You probably have migraine.

Did you know migraine affects one in ten Americans? It also affects one in six women; however, in most cases, it is often misdiagnosed as tension headache or sinus-related pain. The common triggers of migraine are hormones, stress, and food.

Throbbing pain in the temples or forehead is a common indicator of migraine. A person suffering from this pain condition may also become sensitive to light or sound. Pain is also magnified when the sufferer performs any action that requires physical exertion. Other symptoms of migraine include vision problems and nausea.

Did you know 20 percent of migraine sufferers see flashing lights or wavy lines about an hour before the onset of pain? Other classic migraine indicators that occur beforehand include blurry vision and blind spots.

Many migraine sufferers may also experience a change in mood before the pain begins. It's either they become bit by bit irritable, depressed or excitable. Some may detect weird sensations such as being able to smell or taste something peculiar; others may feel fatigued, experience muscle tension or yawn frequently.

While the exact triggers of migraine are not yet fully determined, many doctors believe that this pain condition is caused by neurological disorders affecting the nerves, blood vessels and chemicals of the brain.

As mentioned, women are more likely to experience migraines than men. Family history also is a contributing factor; thus, if you have a relative who often suffers from migraines, you are at risk, too. Insofar as genetics is concerned, many experts say migraine relates to gene mutations that are passed down from one generation to another, which have a certain effect on the brain. In addition, migraine is common among individuals struggling with asthma, depression, epilepsy, stroke and other related neurological conditions.

If your migraine is severe enough to cause you to miss work or other daily activities, it is highly recommended that you speak with a pain management specialist.

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The Right Treatment

Interventional pain specialist Arif B. Khan, MD, offers lasting solutions for several pain conditions. He has helped people of all ages in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area of TX. His treatment recommendations always start with conservative interventions such as activity modification, therapeutic exercise or physical therapy.

I'm very pleased with the Medtronic Neurostimulator I received on the advice of Dr Khan. - Bridget.E

Arif B. Khan, MD, is the medical director of Texas Interventional Pain Care, an interventional pain center specializing in the treatment of many painful conditions, and located at 2201 N. Central Express Way, Suite 171, Richardson, TX 75080; 4800 North Galloway Ave. Suite 300 Mesquite, Texas 75150. Phone: 972-952-0290 or fax 972-952-0293.