Migraine with Aura

Welcome to our resourceful page at the clinic La Migraine dedicated to our effective treatment of migraines with aura. We aim to unveil the often overlooked facets of this bewildering condition.

In our ongoing commitment to provide effective treatment with in-depth information on headaches and migraines, our website also features dedicated pages for the treatment of other types of headaches and migraines, including chronic migraines, ocular migraines, vestibular migraines and hormonal migraines (menstrual or catamenial), atypical migraines, migraines in children, as well as the headaches of Arnold’s and Horton’s neuralgia, post traumatic, post concussion and tension type headaches. Each of these pages explores our solutions for these cephalgia, their specific characteristics and a comprehensive resource for those seeking improve the different aspects of their condition. (Some of these pages are under construction. Will follow soon.)

Clinic La Migraine – Our personalized solutions against migraines with aura

Our clinic La Migraine plays a significant role both in the practical expertise of managing migraines with aura and in the theoretical understanding of these conditions in greater Montreal. With an impressive track record spanning over two decades, our approach has yielded positive outcomes, with a significant, on average reduction of above 70% in the intensity, frequency, or duration of these migraines. In most cases, patients experience remarkable results and often achieve complete alleviation of their classic migraines. Leveraging this wealth of experience, we offer tailored solutions to guide you on your journey towards symptom relief from classical migraines.

What are our treatments like?

While conventional treatments for migraines, such as pain-relieving medications and triptans, provide acute relief, at the clinic La Migraine, we are committed to going beyond immediate relief by offering personalized strategies aimed not only at managing symptoms in the moment but also at reducing their frequency and intensity in the long term. We invite you to an initial consultation to discover how our approach can become your preferred solution for comprehensive and sustainable migraine management.

Our model harnesses the interconnection between nociception originating from the neck and the base of the head and the brain. This enables us to offer targeted interventions for you. These interventions aim to reduce neuronal interference, and nociception to your brain originating in accessible tendons, ligaments, muscles, fasciae, and joints with all their proprioceptive components. hrough these advanced treatments, we greatly enhance neuromusculoskeletal health, and foster optimal nervous system function. We thereby mitigate causes and render you much less sensitive to triggers of attacks. This reduces your migraine intensity, frequency, and duration.

That’s why you should come and see us. Call us for more information or to book an appointment for yourself, your child, or other loved ones. We accept new patients and you do not need to have a referral.

Prevention and Long Term Maintenance

Lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications (reducing or eliminating alcohol, caffeine, and other substances intake), stress management techniques, and cervical strengthening exercises can help prevent or reduce symptoms of migraines in the long term. The clinic La Migraine also provides personalized maintenance programs for this purpose.

Why choose our treatments?

At the heart of our commitment at the clinic La Migraine, we understand the debilitating impact of migraines on daily life. Our dedicated team offers exceptional solutions to free our patients from the incessant burden of migraines. We firmly believe that no one should accept living with migraines longer than necessary, and that’s why we provide much more than just momentary relief.

Personalized Approach: Each individual is unique, and our solutions are tailor-made to meet the specific needs of each person. We consider your situation comprehensively, going beyond symptoms to address underlying causes.

Reduction in Frequency and Intensity: Our goal is clear – reduce the frequency of attacks and alleviate the intensity of pain. We aim for lasting relief, offering a significant improvement in the quality of life..

Proven Experience: With many years of experience, Daniel Lachance, D.C., and his team have successfully treated various cases of migraines and headaches. Their aptitude ensures a reliable and effective approach for each patient.

Putting your life’s quality first

We invite you to seize this opportunity to improve your quality of life, regain balance, and no longer be limited by migraines. You are not alone in this battle, and our dedicated team is ready to accompany you towards a future without incessant migraines. Contact us today to discuss the best approach for you, as no one deserves to suffer any longer. Your well-being is our top priority. Your well-being is our top priority.

Navigating through Classic Migraines

The Frequency in Question

Classic migraines are characterized by specific symptoms, often referred to as “aura”. These symptoms can include visual disturbances, sensory issues, or language disruptions and typically precede the painful phase of the migraine by several tens of minutes. Understanding these distinctive signs can play a crucial role in the management and treatment of classic migraines.

According to Inserm (National Institute of Health and Medical Research, 2020), 20% to 30% of people who suffer from migraines experience migraines with auras. To illustrate the number of individuals affected, according to StatCan (2014), 2.8 million (the population of Toronto) people in Canada suffer from migraines, including approximately 700,000 individuals with migraines with auras (the entire population of the cities of Quebec and Levis combined).

The Symptoms

Classic migraines, often accompanied by auras, are characterized by specific neurological phenomena. These auras manifest as visual disturbances such as scintillating scotomas (bright spots in the field of vision), sensory disturbances like tingling or numbness, as well as language disturbances, such as difficulty speaking. Distinguishing these symptoms is crucial for obtaining an accurate diagnosis.

Migraines are divided into two main categories: migraines with auras (classic migraines) and migraines without auras (common migraines). Within these two categories, subcategories exist based on specific symptoms, thus facilitating the identification and classification of migraines. A concrete example is ocular migraines. This is a migraine with aura, but it must present specific visual auras to be classified in the subcategory of ocular migraines.

Living with Classic Migraines

More than just a medical condition, classic migraines can have a significant impact on daily life. Understanding triggers, mechanisms, and management strategies becomes crucial to minimize the impact of these migraines on quality of life.

How to identify migraines with aura?

To be considered a migraine with aura, according to the ICHD-3 (The International Classification of Headache Disorders), it must have:

  1. At least two attacks with criterias 2 and 3

  2. At least one fully reversible symptom of aura (temporary symptoms that resolve):

    • Visual

    • Sensory

    • Speech and/or language

    • Motor

    • Brainstem

    • Retinal

  3. At least three of the following six features:

    • at least one aura symptom that develops itself progressively over ≥5 minutes

    • two or more aura symptoms occur successively

    • each aura symptom lasts 5-60 minutes

    • at least one aura symptom is unilateral

    • at least one aura symptom is positive

    • the aura is accompanied or followed within 60 minutes by a headache

  4. No better diagnosis accounted for in the ICHD-3.

To be considered typical migraines with aura, it must have:

    • fully reversible visual*, sensory, language, and/or speech disturbances

    • absence of motor, brainstem, or retinal symptoms

*Visual disturbances encompass any alteration of visual function, such as scintillating scotomas, wavy lines, and color changes, often reversible and related to the aura preceding the migraine. On the other hand, retinal symptoms specifically refer to manifestations related to the retina, such as alterations in central or peripheral vision, linked to issues at the retinal level.

When the aura includes motor deficits, the term to use is hemiplegic migraine.

Prodromal symptoms can begin several hours, or even one to two days before the other manifestations of a migraine attack with aura. They encompass sensations such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light and/or noise, nausea, blurred vision, yawning, and pallor. The term ‘prodrome,’ now used in place of ‘premonitory phase’ or ‘premonitory symptoms,’ excludes the aura. Postdromic symptoms follow the resolution of the headache and can persist for up to 48 hours. Less studied than prodromes, these symptoms typically include fatigue and mood variations, alternating between elevated and depressive states.

Visual aura, present in over 90% of migraine with aura attacks, is often characterized by zigzag fortifications near the fixation point. It may gradually evolve to the right or left, sometimes taking a convex shape with a shimmering angular edge, leaving a scotoma in its wake. In children and adolescents, it may manifest with less typical bilateral visual symptoms.

The second common type of aura involves sensory disturbances such as tingling or numbness slowly moving over a part of the body.

Speech disturbances, although less frequent, are typically aphasic and sometimes challenging to categorize. Studies have revealed that many patients with visual aura may also experience sensory symptoms and speech disturbances. These aura symptoms can occur sequentially in the order of visual, sensory, and then aphasic, but other orders are also possible. Most aura symptoms last for about an hour, although motor symptoms often have a longer duration.

Source for the symptom section: ICHD-3
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Contact Form – We accept new patients

We would be delighted to assist you and discuss your migraines. No referral is necessary. Simply fill out this form and submit it, and we will get in touch with you.
You are on the right path to your first consultation and relief from migraines!

or call us:

Call 450 689 1223
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