TMS Therapy for Migraine Headaches

What is a Migraine Headache?

A migraine headache is a recurring neurological condition characterized by severe head pain, often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances.

Unlike regular headaches, migraines may last for hours or days and typically involve one side of the head (unilateral), though they can also present bilaterally.

Migraines are estimated to affect over 1 billion people worldwide, making them one of the most disabling conditions globally.

Despite their prevalence, progress in migraine diagnosis and treatment has been limited, primarily due to an incomplete understanding of the condition’s underlying brain mechanisms.

What Does a Migraine Headache Feel Like?

People often describe migraines as:

• Throbbing or pulsating pain on one or both sides of the head.
• Visual disturbances, such as flashing lights or blind spots.
• Heightened sensory sensitivity, a key symptom of migraine headaches, where patients experience extreme pain from normal light, sound, or even mild scents.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Fatigue or cognitive “fog.”

The intensity and duration vary by individual, but the effects can interfere with daily functioning, work, and social life. If these symptoms are becoming a regular part of your life, it may be time to seek expert care and support.

Symptoms of Migraine Headaches

While symptoms vary, common signs of a migraine include:

• Intense, throbbing head pain.
• Migraine aura, which includes visual phenomena like zigzag lines or flashing lights or sensory disturbances that precede or accompany the headache phase in certain types of migraine headaches.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Hypersensitivity to environmental stimuli, including light (photophobia), sound (phonophobia), or movement, which are hallmark symptoms of migraine headaches requiring specialized treatment.
• Cervical (neck) muscle tension and stiffness, often reported as both a trigger and symptom of migraine headaches, particularly in patients with chronic forms.
• Impaired cognitive function during migraine episodes, including difficulty with concentration, memory, and processing information—symptoms that significantly impact work performance and daily activities.
• Mood swings before or after an episode.

Some people experience warning signs (prodrome) up to 24 hours before, such as food cravings, fatigue, or irritability.

Types of Migraine Headaches

There are several types of migraine headaches, including:

• Migraine with aura: Includes visual or sensory symptoms before the headache begins.
• Migraine without aura: The most common type includes head pain without sensory warning signs.
• Chronic migraine: Occurs 15 or more days per month, often with medication overuse.
• Hemiplegic migraine: Causes temporary weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
• Vestibular migraine: Presents with vertigo or balance issues instead of intense pain.

Understanding your migraine type is key to developing an effective treatment plan.

What Causes Migraine Headaches?

The exact cause of migraine headaches is still being studied, but key contributors include:

• Genetic predisposition.
• Brain chemistry imbalances, including serotonin and dopamine.
• Dysregulation of brain networks, such as the default mode network (DMN).
• Changes in blood flow or neural excitability.
• Environmental triggers, like stress, weather, or diet.

Functional brain imaging has revealed abnormal connectivity in key regions of the brain involved in migraine generation, offering insight into how targeted therapies like TMS can help.

How fMRI Identifies BMigraine-Related Brain Dysfunction

At Neurotherapeutix, we use resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) to visualize and measure how different brain regions communicate.

Research has shown that patients with migraines often have disrupted connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) and visual processing areas like V3/V3A.

Through rsfMRI, we can:

• Detect hyperactive or underperforming brain regions.
• Map disrupted network dynamics associated with migraines.
• Identify precise treatment targets for fMRI-guided TMS.
• Track neural connectivity improvements throughout the TMS for migraine headache treatment protocol, allowing for objective measurement of treatment response and customization of therapy as needed.

This medical service approach allows us to address the neurological root of migraine, not just the symptoms.

How TMS Helps Treat Migraine Headaches

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive neuromodulation therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain areas.

At Neurotherapeutix, we combine TMS with fMRI data to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient.

Key benefits of our approach:

• Targeted brain stimulation based on individual connectivity maps.
• Non-invasive and drug-free alternative to traditional medications.
• Neuroplasticity support for long-term symptom reduction.
• Objective progress tracking with ongoing fMRI scans.

Unlike standard TMS, our protocol leverages leading-edge neuroscience and precision imaging to deliver treatment where it is most needed.