Migraine headaches have long been understood to cause severe pain and discomfort, and can often be difficult to treat effectively. For many patients, migraine is a chronic condition that persists despite treatment and can prove extremely debilitating. In recent years, researchers have revisited the question of what causes these crippling headaches and discovered new evidence that migraines may in fact be the result of a neuropathic disorder.
- A 2006 report challenges the commonly-held understanding of migraines as a vascular disorder, arguing that the condition can be better understood and treated from a neuropathic perspective.
- In The Vascular Theory of Migraine – A Great Story Wrecked by the Facts, Peter Goadsby explores the history of migraine research and draws the conclusion that neuropathy-based treatments offer the most promise for patients.
- The Center for Peripheral Neuropathy lists symptoms of inflammatory neuropathy, many of which are commonly experienced by migraine sufferers, such as severe headaches, numbness, and tingling.
We’re optimistic that continued research will shed additional light on the cause of this debilitating disorder. A neuropathic understanding of migraine headaches opens the door to new treatment possibilities, including medical cannabis, which has shown promise in treating neuropathic pain. We’ll continue to share the latest scientific research as it becomes available.