Migraine care and research
Migraine Care built around you
A clear diagnosis and an individualized treatment plan can help reduce migraine’s impact on daily life. We evaluate established treatments and discuss emerging research for people with persistent symptoms.
More than a headache
Migraine is a neurological disorder that can cause recurrent headache, nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, and difficulty concentrating. Some people also experience aura, such as temporary visual or sensory symptoms. Attacks can interfere with work, family life, and sleep.
Migraine involves networks in the brain and the trigeminovascular system. Signaling molecules such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) help transmit migraine pain. It is not simply a problem with one blood vessel.
What an evaluation considers
- Headache pattern, associated symptoms, and change over time.
- Days with headache and use of rescue medication.
- Previous treatments, side effects, sleep, and relevant medical conditions.
- Whether symptoms suggest another cause that needs investigation.
Established options for migraine treatment
Treat an attack
An acute treatment plan may include an anti-inflammatory medicine, a triptan, a gepant, or another prescription option. The choice depends on symptoms, other conditions, medication interactions, and prior response. Frequent rescue-medication use also needs review.
Prevent future attacks
Prevention may include oral medications, CGRP-targeting therapies, or onabotulinumtoxinA for appropriate patients with chronic migraine. The American Headache Society recognizes CGRP-targeting therapies as a first-line preventive option; selection remains individualized.
Regular sleep, hydration, meals, activity, and a headache diary can support treatment. The goal is fewer disabling attacks and better function. Some patients benefit from a combination of treatments rather than a single approach.
MMA embolization: promising research for difficult-to-treat migraine
Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization is being investigated as a treatment for refractory migraine. It uses a catheter to deliver embolic material to selected meningeal arteries. Its role in migraine is still being studied and is different from its established, evidence-supported use in selected patients with chronic subdural hematoma.
Research by Dr. Wazni and Dr. Zaidat
Their 2025 published case series described three patients treated with bilateral MMA embolization. All three reported improvements in migraine frequency, intensity, and disability over follow-up through three months, with no complications reported in that small series.
- 3
- patients in the published case series
- 3
- months of reported follow-up
- 2025
- publication year
These early results support further study. A small uncontrolled series cannot establish long-term effectiveness, compare the procedure reliably with other treatments, or rule out uncommon risks. Migraine embolization should not be presented as a proven cure or a guaranteed way to eliminate medication.
Catheter procedures carry risks, including bleeding, vessel injury, and potentially serious neurological complications. A research discussion should cover alternatives, expected benefits, uncertainties, and procedure-specific risks.
Interested in research? Contact the office to ask about current study availability and eligibility. Enrollment and procedure suitability require an individual evaluation; an appointment request does not enroll you in a study.
Make your visit useful
Bring a headache diary if available, a list of current and previously tried medications, relevant imaging or reports, and information about what has or has not helped. Tell us how headaches affect your daily activities and what you want treatment to improve.
Do I need to stop my migraine medicines?
Continue your prescribed treatment unless your treating clinician gives you a different plan. Changes should account for your symptoms and medical history.
Can I ask about embolization after other treatments have failed?
Yes. We can review your diagnosis and treatment history, explain the current evidence, and discuss whether a research evaluation is appropriate. It is not suitable for everyone.
Where can I request a consultation?
Contact our office for scheduling in Pasadena, Long Beach, or Orange.
Sources and further reading
- American Headache Society: acute treatment for migraine
- American Headache Society: CGRP-targeting therapies as a first-line preventive option
- Wazni & Zaidat. MMA embolization for intractable migraines: three-patient case series (2025)
General education from Neurovascular Centers. Your clinician will discuss the options appropriate for your diagnosis and medical history.