Pain, fatigue… Chronic migraine, an “extremely disabling” disease for millions of people

Chronic migraine is a disease that can involve significant pain. We speak of chronic migraine, especially when headaches (headaches) persist for more than 15 days per month, for at least 3 months.

How to recognize it? What are the consequences on daily life? How can we help people who suffer from it to live better with this pain that is so often unbearable? Some answers.

Migraine, a painful disease

In France, around 11 million people suffer from migraine. Among them, nearly 870,000 have chronic migraine (i.e. 1.7% of the French population).

“Migraine is a neurological disease which is characterized by attacks,” explains Dr. Solène de Gaalon, neurologist at Nantes University Hospital and secretary of the French Society for the Study of Migraines and Headaches.

Seizures mainly cause headaches, but not only. They are often accompanied by sensitivity to light and noise, digestive symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, and sometimes problems with concentration, fatigue and mood. Between attacks, patients generally feel well and do not have any particular symptoms.

In chronic migraine, attacks are very frequent and there may be a permanent background of pain even between attacks.

A very feminine population

According to Dr de Gaalon, “the prevalence of migraine is higher in womenwith an over-representation which appears from adolescence. The highest incidence is in young adults, therefore between 30 and 40 years old. Attacks tend to decrease, especially after menopause in women. Migraine is rarer in adults after age 60. »

On the care side, our specialist believes that “the general practitioner is able to diagnose and treat the majority of cases. If the situation is more complex, the patient can be referred to a neurologist.”

For severe and resistant migraines, specialized centers with neurologists and pain doctors can take over.

At the Nantes University Hospital, for example, she cites, “specialized consultations for migraines are available in the neurology department and at the pain center.”

Migraine and pain impact quality of life

According to Dr. de Gaalon, chronic migraine “is defined as a headache occurring at least 15 days per month for more than 3 months, having the characteristics of a migraine headache at least 8 days per month. »

Its impact on daily life is not sufficiently recognized. And yet, the disease significantly deteriorates the quality of life of patients, both personally and professionally.

This chronic migraine “is extremely debilitating. Patients avoid going out, eating too fatty foods, at odd times, going to bed late, seeing too many people, being in noise, in the light, etc.

This also has an impact on professional life, linked to work stoppages and difficulties in being productive. Thus, migraine can lead to anxiety and depressive syndromeslimit social and professional activities, and requires specific care. »

Unfortunately migraine is too often trivialized in our country. There are several reasons for this, “including cultural factors and a lack of understanding of the disease. Migraines are often confused with ordinary headachesand some patients think there is nothing they can do. There are a number of women in particular who think it’s normal to have these headaches when you’re a woman, for example when you’re on your period,” says Dr de Gaalon.

It is essential to raise awareness of the seriousness of migraine and to train health professionals on this problem. And in particular pharmacists. » Indeed, with appropriate care provided by health professionals, the impact on the patient’s life can be reduced.

Patient association and sites to understand your migraine

Sharing your experience with other patients can help you break out of isolation and feel better understood. The La Voix des Migraineux association offers a listening ear to all migraine patients to help them live better with their illness.

“The objective of the association is to help migraine patients and their loved ones,” comments Sabine Debremaeker, president of the association.

On the Stop Migraine website, numerous resources are also available to help patients understand their illness.

The website provides information on the disease and notably offers a tool to discover the impact of migraine on daily life as well as testimonials from patients suffering from migraine and chronic migraine.

It may also be interesting to consult the website of the French Society for Migraine and Headache Studies (SFEMC) is the scholarly society for headaches. Its goal is to promote and coordinate patient care, education and research in the field of migraines and headaches.

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