Migraine Specialist Los Angeles

What is migraine?

Migraine is a neurological disease primarily identified by recurring bouts of moderate to severe pain in the head. Unlike normal headache, it is accompanied by a cocktail of other symptoms such as marked sensitivity to light and nausea. The intense, throbbing pain often affect only one side of the head, and could last from a few hours to several days. This condition affects around 10% of the population including children, and is more common in women than in men.

What causes migraine?

Debilitating as migraine is, the underlying reasons for its occurrence are still being studied. Migraine specialists believe it is brought about by physiological disorders in the brain’s nerve pathways and chemical signaling. Research has shown it may also involve genetics, occurring more often to families with migraine history among its members.  There are however, what we call triggers – factors which may cause an actual attack. In order to be able to manage migraine more effectively, it is important for affected individuals to observe events that lead to their migraine attacks, and if possible, avoid their individual triggers completely. The triggers vary from one individual to another, but the common ones, as migraine specialists put it, are:

• Hormonal changes
• Certain food, drinks, or additives
• Stress
• Sensory overstimulation (e.g. bright lights and loud sounds)
• Sleep depravation
• Medications (e.g. oral contraceptives)
• Environmental changes

What are the symptoms of migraine?

Migraine often comes not only with the headache, but a couple of other symptoms of varying intensity. The combination may differ between adults and children, and between individuals, but ultimately altogether able to prevent a person from meeting normal daily functions. Seeing a migraine specialist could help patients manage the pain so it doesn’t get in the way of their responsibilities. Some of the symptoms often experienced during migraine episodes are:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Extreme sensitivity to light and sound
• Sensory warning symptoms (aura)
• Blurred vision
• Pulsating pain on one or both sides of the head
• Eye and neck pain
• Numbness and tingling sensations in the extremities

How is migraine treated?

Migraine cannot be cured completely, but seeking the help of migraine specialists would enable you to get through each attack with relative ease. Migraine specialists usually employ treatments falling into two categories – pain relief and prevention. It is of course easier to avoid triggers, but in the event of an attack, several classes of drugs are prescribed by migraine specialists to deal with the pain. Some of the treatments include:

• Pain-relievers
• Preventive medication
• Opiods and anti-depressants
• Anti-nausea medication
• Changes in lifestyle
• Rest

What can a migraine specialist do for you?

Migraine specialists are doctors who focus on helping patients with migraines. They may come from different medical disciplines including internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, and other specializations. They also would have usually undergone distinctive trainings and certifications in pain and migraine management. Seeking the help of migraine specialists could really help you gain control of the intense pain, even as they recur. By studying the history, triggers, and nature of the attacks, your migraine specialist could recommend a treatment strategy specially tailored to your needs and ensure effective and holistic pain management.

Needing a migraine specialist in Los Angeles?

Are you experiencing frequent migraine headaches that keep you from living your life? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a migraine specialist in Los Angeles, may just be who you need. His intensive training and more than a decade’s worth of experience in dealing with a broad spectrum of pain attacks guarantees you the best of care. Employing the most advanced treatment modalities techniques and really striving to provide comprehensive, patient-centered, individualized regimen, he could give you the medication strategy that would suit you best for your migraine needs. Why don’t you call his clinic today at (626) 538 – 8950 for an appointment? Let him take away your pain, so you could take back your life.