How In The World Do You Get A Migraine Diagnosis?

To diagnose your migraines, your doctor needs to know what’s happening and rule out other causes for the attacks. There is no actual test to diagnose for migraines. There is no blood test or scan can confirm the diagnosis. Doctors base their diagnosis on the information you provide.

In this article

Your doctor

Diagnoses can change

You may have more than one diagnosis

Getting clear on your diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, you doctor may:

• Take a detailed history of your headaches and other symptoms, including gathering information on the features of the headaches. Your doctor may ask how often attacks happen, how severe the pain, how long the attack lasts, and what symptoms go with your attacks. Your doctor may ask about your family history relating to headaches and migraines.
• Perform a thorough examination, including a neurological assessment. Your doctor will ask for detailed information about your attacks and will likely ask you to keep a migraine diary. This might include details of triggers, treatments, and symptom emergence. (Good thing you have this app!)

Diagnoses can change

Over the course of a person’s life, the pattern of their headaches and migraines often shift and change. This is especially common with teenagers with their hormonal fluctuations and bodily changes. And it’s common with women as hormones change with their life phases. Migraine mainly affects younger people, and the condition often improves with age.

Anytime there is a change in the pattern of your pain, you should be checked out, especially if your migraine attacks get worse or develop unusual symptoms. If your headache patterns get worse while you are taking birth control, be sure to see your doctor right away.

You may have more than one diagnosis

Many migraine sufferers have a dual diagnosis of migraine with aura and migraine without aura. This is just one example of two different diagnoses. Migraine sufferers also sometimes experience other types of non-migraine headache, such as tension headaches.

Bringing non-migraine headaches under control may reduce the number of migraine attacks overall. Be sure to inform your doctor about other headaches beyond your primary diagnosis. Other headaches need to be identified so they can be treated appropriately. If you suspect that you are experiencing more than one type of headache disorder or are not sure, it’s important to address all your headache types.

Getting clear on your diagnosis

The correct diagnosis is more likely to lead to proper treatment. With migraines, it’s important to continue working on your treatment plan after diagnosis. We encourage you to be your own self advocate. Finding the right treatment plan can be tricky, and you’re most likely to find the best one for you by working together, over time, with your care team. Continuing to engage and seek care is the best strategy to get your pain under control. This app is an important tool to help you on your path to health, and it works best when assisting the work you’re doing with your care team.

Whether you go to a primary doctor or a specialist, your caregivers can give you advice on stopping, managing and treating your symptoms. Whatever your care situation, take the time to give your doctor full and accurate information. This is important. If you’re concerned that your headaches or other symptoms are a sign of a very serious illness, your doctors can reassure you and rule out other conditions.

When other medical conditions co-exist alongside your migraine, it’s important to be clear when seeking treatment. Make sure your doctor knows all your diagnoses.

migraineweek1