Migraine brain changes

[jojomac23]

I have had aura migraines for 40 years ,not as often now . I have had pressure in my head for the last year MRI showed changes to my brain they think are migraine related . Very worrying that migraines can do this. I have an appointment with a neurologist in 3 weeks that I have waited 8 months for

Anyone had similar changes

[Cally01]

Hi I too have suffered Aura migrains for over 40yrs. I've had 2 mri in the past 4yrs but no mention of any issues.

Very worrying, hope you get on ok.

[Cat00]

I was told that bad migraines cause lesions, so I have to assume I have many lesions. I know lesions can be caused by loads of different things and I don't know if they are supposed to harmful.

[bamboo89]

Did they say what kind of brain changes - I'm not at all sure what they're talking about. If they used the term lesions, then fair enough, but people over the age of 30 (including those who don't get migraine) have one or two lesions, and we collect more as we age for a range of reasons. I know the neurology people try not to use the word 'lesion' in regard to the brain because the general public tends to overreact to that term, thinking it means cancer or something, but 'brain changes' is a bit too general for my liking!

I didn't know migraines could cause 'brain changes' but thinking about it, I suppose there's no reason why they wouldn't - I've got lesions in an area of the brain that controls physical equilibrium, balance and so on - I've had aura migraine for years (though not any more*) but have also suffered many six week attacks of dizziness. It's a bit chicken and egg really - did the dizzy attacks cause the lesions in that area, or were the dizzy attacks because of the lesions...

*in case you're wondering, it appears that dairy was the cause of my aura migraine. I gave up dairy a year ago for another reason, and to my astonishment, I have not had a single aura migraine since, and I was having 2 or 3 every day up till then...

Miriam

[Alexa49 in reply to bamboo89]

I never in my life had lesions before I had multiple MRI's as a child and grown up, I had been diagnosed with Intractable Migraines and Hemiplegic Migraines, since medications did not work for stopping the migraines I suddenly got a load of white matter lesions in my brain, those with chronic migraines are more likely to have lesion loads in the brain no matter at what age they are. its unfortunate that there are still limited studies into why lesions happen in the brain for causes and how exactly migraines can contribute to it.

[bamboo89 in reply to Alexa49]

That's interesting - might explain why I've got so many lesions (or white areas) in the brain, more than they expected even for someone my age, if there's a connection with migraines too. Although, after a serious hemiplegic migraine attack when they thought I'd had a stroke, the brain MRI was unchanged from the one I'd had done two months previously...

[Alexa49 in reply to bamboo89]

The lesions don't seem to heal even over time just remain the same and sometimes the amounts increase over the years.

[Alexa49]

What kind of changes showed up on the MRI. Could you please describe what exactly showed up? Intractable migraines and Hemiplegic Migraines can cause sudden white matter lesions deep in the brain, along with memory impairment, neurological deficits, etc. As well MRI imaging can show reduction in the gray matter volume of the brain, demyelination, silent strokes, etc. Migraines are not a benign disorder the more migraines there are the more brain damage there could be with time.

[jojomac23 in reply to Alexa49]

Hi Alexa

The letter I got said there are very small non specific features in the brain which the radiologists commented on that are seen frequently in migraine suffererers

This tells me nothing really

Thanks

Jo

[Joolstom]

I had a CT scan following my first Hemiplagic Migraine at the end of January where I demonstrated full paralysis. The CT showed that I had both left and right front lobe atrophy. No-one was able to confirm if this was due to my Migraine or the long term neurological condition which I have. No-one seems worried about it though. Ive had to fight since Jan to see a neurologist and finally have an appointment for August x

[jojomac23 in reply to Joolstom]

It's all very well for them to say they are not worried but you need answers

I have several questions ready for when I see neurologists

Finally seeing them in a few weeks after an 8 month wait x

[Kelli0905]

Same here. I am almost 40 and have had aura migraine for most of my life. Unfortunately, they have gotten a lot worse in the last 3 years.now without pain. All the visual, speech arrest and motor sensory issues. Not sure if it’s hormonal or shift in something vascular or what not. They feel very stoke like and are terrifying. I have had numerous scans and all of them came out fine but one. One mri said “brain changes” as well but nobody would explain this to me and shook it off like it was nothing. So baffling. Only thing I will say has helped me a bit is taking a baby aspirin every other day, sometimes every day. My neuro looked at me like I was crazy but after he researched it, he agreed it was probably doing the trick. I’m curious if the new amovig shot or even Botox helps aura. Haven’t tried either. Good luck, and know you’re not alone.