In today's MS in the News segment, we're exploring a topic close to the hearts of many, including myself, the link between migraines and multiple sclerosis. Recent research has unveiled a surprising statistic. About one in four MS patients also deals with migraines. And here's the kicker: if you have MS, you're nearly twice as likely to experience these debilitating migraines than somebody who doesn't have MS. I'm definitely part of this statistic because I've gotten debilitating migraines since childhood. So I'm diving deep into this study to understand the implications and any potential remedies. And of course, I'll share many of my own stories and insights. So let's dive in. I have a question for you: Would you like to feel more organized, efficient, and productive despite MS brain fog and fatigue?

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Migraines, if you know, you know. They're more than just a bad headache. Migraines are a full-body experience. I often compare it to having brain freeze and the flu at the same time. It can last hours, days, weeks, and for the really unfortunate, their migraines have no end. And what triggers a migraine for one person may not affect the next migrainer and vice versa. So similar to MS, the migraine experience is unique to the individual and it can even change over time. What I didn't know and was shocked to learn from this recent article is that one in four people living with MS also experience migraines. Talk about adding insult to injury. One chronic condition is more than enough to handle. The combination just feels cruel, not to mention nearly impossible to have an ounce of social life because both MS and migraine can be incredibly unpredictable.

Here's what makes the research special. It's not based on just one or two isolated studies. It's a comprehensive analysis of 35 studies spanning from 1969 to 2023. That is 54 years old. Participants were mostly women and their age ranged between 30 and 56. That also makes sense given the age at which you typically are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As for their health status, many had mild to moderate disability levels. And the main goal of these researchers was to figure out how common migraines are in the MS community compared to the general public. Here's what they found. Of those with MS, 24% experienced migraines. So out of all the people that they had in the study with MS, one in four got migraines.

Breaking it down a little bit further, about 18% of them had migraines without an aura, while 7% did. If you're not familiar with an aura, it's basically like a heads up that a migraine is coming. Some people see flashing lights, others feel tingling sensation before a migraine starts. Now, if we take a step back and look at the general population, because as I said, the main goal of these researchers was to figure out how common migraines are in the MS community compared to the general public. So, compared to the general public, those living with MS are nearly twice as likely to get migraines. To sum it up, if you have MS, you're likely have a higher migraine risk. These results weren’t especially surprising to me because I have lived this firsthand. I also work with a lot of clients in my nutrition coaching practice who are living with both MS and migraines. What was disappointing about the research is it doesn’t go much beyond the fact that the MS community is more likely to experience debilitating migraines.

I mean, a neurologist is who you see for migraines, right? Yes, that’s true. However, the doctor who treats MS likely doesn’t want to oversee your migraines as You’re best off finding a headache specialist who can help to manage migraines for you. And really, a headache specialist will likely have more recommendations and options to help you. With migraines, there's so many medications on the market to consider. It's far different from the experience of living with MS where your options are so limited. Migraines have so many options, it can be overwhelming to decide which is the best one for you. With migraines, there are prevention medications as well as rescue medications to help get you out of a migraine once it starts.

So in my opinion, the first stop is finding yourself a good headache specialist to discuss medications and the different treatment options. Next, I found that it is far easier to prevent a migraine than it is to stop an active migraine. In my experience, there's very little outside of medication that can stop a migraine once it's started. That's why my first tip is to meet with a headache specialist. That said, there is a lot that you can do to prevent migraines or at least reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. Now if you've ever looked at a list of potential migraine triggers it can be overwhelming. The food list alone looks like the inventory list of the grocery store. It looks like just about every food is listed as a potential trigger for migraines.

Again, it's overwhelming, I know. This part is not easy. But it's 100% worth it. Doing an elimination diet is one of the best approaches to take. Now if you're not familiar with it, an elimination diet is where you eliminate all the potential triggers from your diet for a period of time. Then you reintroduce them one at a time to see which foods may trigger migraines for you. It's not the easiest diet to follow. I will not lie to you. But that's also why I don't recommend doing it alone. I coach a lot of people through this diet because it's pretty involved. But to walk away knowing which foods are the greatest culprits to your migraines is so empowering because as I always say, nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels.

But of course, food isn't the only trigger. That's just the beginning. The other consideration to keep in mind if you experience migraines is the value of body work. One of the other common triggers can be muscular tension, especially in the head and neck. So if you tend to carry a lot of tension in your neck, shoulders, and even your back, it could be a good option to explore. Now, there are countless body workers that you could consider. It's really a personal preference. Some people love massage. Others swear by chiropractors or acupuncturists. And then the next person might tell you that cranial sacral therapy gives them the best. And just as there are so many treatment options, there are even more practitioners within each field. So one massage therapist may be more helpful for you than another. My point here is that there are a lot of options available for you. But of course, I know the greatest concern often with body work is the cost. These treatments are rarely covered by insurance. So that means that they're coming directly out of your pocket, which isn't always possible.

Listeners dealing with migraines, I can certainly speak more to this topic. I'm always looking to make sure that I'm providing you with the most valuable information so that you can feel your best living with MS and migraine. Okay, my friends, that is a wrap. Well, my friend, we've reached the end of this episode. Pick one lesson from today's discussion and put it into action now. It's time to reclaim your body, mind, and life from multiple sclerosis. And for more resources, events, and programs, head over to Alenebrennan.com. See you on the next episode of my MS podcast.