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Chronic Migraine

Living with chronic migraine is an exhausting journey that often feels invisible to the outside world. It’s more than just “having a bad headache”; it is a complex neurological condition that can steal days from your week and moments from your life.

If you feel like your schedule revolves around pain management and dark rooms, you are not alone.

At TwelveStone Health Partners, we understand the heavy burden this condition places on your work, family, and peace of mind. We are here to offer clarity, support, and advanced treatment options to help you get your life back.
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Migraine Medications

  • Vyepti
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Woman holding her forehead while experiencing a chronic migraine

What Is Chronic Migraine?

To understand this chronic condition, it’s important to distinguish it from episodic migraines. While an episodic migraine causes intense pain occasionally, chronic migraine is defined by frequency.

Medically, you are considered to have chronic migraine if you experience a headache on 15 or more days per month for more than three months, with at least eight of those days having specific migraine features. This constant cycle of pain and recovery can be debilitating, often leaving sufferers in a state of “interictal burden”, the anxiety of worrying about when the next attack will strike, even when you are pain-free.

Chronic Migraine Symptoms

The symptoms of chronic migraine extend far beyond head pain. The attack is a full-system event that can last for hours or even days. While experiences vary from person to person, common symptoms include:

  • Throbbing or Pulsing Pain: Usually on one side of the head, though it can affect both.
  • Sensory Sensitivity: Extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia), sound (phonophobia), and sometimes smell.
  • Nausea and Vomiting: Gastrointestinal distress is a frequent companion to the pain.
  • Visual Aura: Seeing flashes of light, blind spots, or zigzag patterns before or during the headache.
  • Cognitive Fog: Difficulty concentrating or finding words.
  • Physical Fatigue: A feeling of being “wiped out” that can persist even after the headache resolves (the “migraine hangover”).
Man feeling stressed at a laptop, a common migraine trigger

What Causes Chronic Migraines?

Researchers are still working to unlock the exact physiology of migraines, but it is generally understood to be a genetic neurological disease involving hyperexcitable parts of the brain. Several factors contribute to why some people develop the chronic form of the disease:

  • Genetic and Family Risk Factors: Genetics play a massive role in susceptibility, suggesting that for many, the condition is an inherited trait similar to eye color or height.
  • Hormonal and Neurological Triggers: Hormonal fluctuations, particularly drops in estrogen, and imbalances in brain chemicals like CGRP serve as primary drivers in regulating pain signals.
  • Lifestyle and Environmental Triggers: External factors such as high stress, barometric pressure changes, and sensory overload can easily turn a predisposed brain into a migraine brain.

How a Chronic Migraine is Diagnosed

Diagnosing chronic migraine is a process of exclusion and pattern recognition. There is no single blood test or MRI that confirms the diagnosis. Instead, your healthcare provider will review your medical history and likely perform a physical exam to rule out other causes, such as sinusitis or neck issues.

The most effective tool for diagnosis is a headache diary. Your doctor will look for the “15 days a month” pattern. They may strictly apply the criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) to ensure you are receiving the correct diagnosis, which is the first step toward effective treatment.

Chronic Migraine Treatments

TwelveStone Health Partners offers Vyepti, a cutting-edge treatment designed specifically for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. Vyepti (eptinezumab-jjmr) is a CGRP inhibitor administered via an intravenous (IV) infusion. Unlike daily pills or self-injections, Vyepti is delivered directly into your bloodstream, allowing it to start working fast.

Organizational Resources

The American Migraine
 Foundation provides education, support and resources for the millions of men, women and children living with 
migraine.

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The National Headache
 Foundation is focused on educating, supporting, and advocating for those living with headache disorders and migraine disease.

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The Association of Migraine Disorders® strives to expand the understanding of migraine by supporting research, education, and awareness.

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New Patient Resources

Taking Back Control of Your Life

Chronic migraine does not have to define your future. By understanding your triggers, seeking a proper diagnosis, and exploring advanced treatments like infusion therapy, you can significantly reduce the burden of pain. TwelveStone Health Partners is dedicated to walking this path with you, providing the empathetic care and advanced solutions you need to reclaim your days.

Contact us today to receive the treatment you deserve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, if it significantly limits major life activities or work. The ADA and SSA recognize it as a potential disability, depending on severity and frequency.

There is no single cause; it is primarily a genetic neurological disorder. It results from a mix of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, causing abnormal brain activity.

Triggers vary, but common dietary culprits include aged cheeses (tyramine), alcohol (especially red wine), processed meats (nitrates), chocolate, MSG, and artificial sweeteners.

Chronic migraine is a serious, often debilitating neurological disease, ranked by the WHO as one of the most disabling illnesses worldwide. It can lead to complications like depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

While the genetic condition isn’t curable, the chronicity can often be reversed. With proper treatment (e.g., CGRP inhibitors like Vyepti) and lifestyle management, patients often reduce headache days, moving back to episodic status or significantly managing the condition.