Women suffer from both migraines and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) more often than men. In fact, approximately 18 percent of all women suffer from migraines. As a result, many women with MS will suffer from both. In fact, having MS increases the frequency of migraines to up to 45% and often occurs concurrently or before MS relapses. The increased occurrence of migraines in MS patients is likely a combination of the relapses worsening migraines and the potential for some MS treatments to cause migraines. Both MS and migraines often appear in younger adults in their 20’s to 30’s.
Both MS and migraine affect the nervous system, MS through brain lesions that can disrupt pain pathways (damaging myelin-the coating of nerve cells in the brain) and migraines through temporary alterations of chemicals and electrical patterns in the brain. The scarring from MS lesions can disrupt the function of areas of the brain that control pain, leading to increased risk of migraines. Accordingly, many of the symptoms arising from MS overlap with symptoms associated with migraines. Such overlapping symptoms include brain fog and disturbed vision. Migraine auras which present as flashing lights and blind spots usually resolve faster than MS flares.
Because the triggers for MS and migraine are the same (stress, fatigue, hormonal changes), management of both MS and migraines overlaps, including lifestyle changes (diet, sleep, exercise) and some migraine treatments. Because some MS medications can trigger a migraine (particularly interferon-beta drugs), co-management of the two conditions requires detailed communication with your doctor.
There are types of headache other than migraine which also occur more frequently in MS patients than in the general population. For example, trigeminal neuralgia (TGN), which presents as a lancinating and/or stabbing facial pain, occurs in 10% of MS patients as compared to 0.16% in the general population. TGN also occurs more frequently with MS relapses.
BeCareLink can help with its apps for MS (BeCare MS) and for headaches (BeCare headache) to help you track both your flares and your headaches, allowing you to determine if your migraines and MS flares co-occur. Further, the BeCare headache app can help you determine a presumptive headache diagnosis to assist you and your doctor optimize your treatment.
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