Chronic Pain Conditions Associated with Migraine
Posted on March 10 2025,
| Condition | Description | Association with Migraine | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | A functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. | Higher prevalence in migraine patients (6% vs. 2.2%, OR 1.6 [95% CI 1.4-1.7]) | Cole JA, Rothman KJ, Cabral HJ, Zhang Y, Farraye FA (2006). Migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression among people with IBS: a prevalence study. BMC Gastroenterology, 6, 26. |
| Gastroesophageal Reflux | A condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn. | Increased prevalence (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.6-2.0]), linear trend with headache frequency | Aamodt AH, Stovner LJ, Langhammer A, Hagen K, Zwart JA (2008). Comorbidity of headache and gastrointestinal complaints. The head-HUNT study. Cephalalgia, 28, 144-151. |
| Chest/Cardiac Pain (Angina) | Pain originating from the heart, often associated with conditions like ischemic heart disease. | Association with myocardial infarction (OR 2.2 [95% CI 1.7-2.8]), but inconsistent across studies | Bigal ME, Kurth T, Santanello N, Buse D, Golden W, Robbins M, Lipton RB (2010). Migraine and cardiovascular disease: a population-based study. Neurology, 74, 628-635. |
| Interstitial Cystitis | A chronic condition causing bladder pressure, pain, or pelvic pain, also known as bladder pain syndrome. | Higher prevalence of headache disorders (38.7% vs. 15.7%) | Fan Y-H, Lin AT-L, Wu H-M, Hong C-J, Chen K-K (2014). Non-bladder conditions in female Taiwanese patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. International Journal of Urology, 21, 805-809. |
| Endometriosis | A disorder where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain. | Higher migraine prevalence (38.3% vs. 15.1%) | Ferrero S, Pretta S, Bertoldi S, Anserini P, Remorgida V, Del Sette M, Gandolfo C, Ragni N (2004). Increased frequency of migraine among women with endometriosis. Human Reproduction, 19, 2927-2932. |
| Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) | Conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint, leading to jaw pain and dysfunction. | Higher frequency in migraine patients (OR 1.83 [95% CI 1.07-3.15]), linked to migraine chronification | Ciancaglini R, Radaelli G (2001). The relationship between headache and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder in the general population. Journal of Dentistry, 29, 93-98. Gonçalves DAG, Camparis CM, Speciali JG, Castanharo SM, Ujikawa LT, Lipton RB, Bigal ME (2010). Headache and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder: an epidemiological study. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 50, 231-241. |
| Fibromyalgia | A chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness. | Migraine prevalence 30%-55.8%, symptoms worsen with migraine attacks | Küçükşen S, Genç E, Yılmaz H, Sallı A, Gezer IA, Karahan AY, Salbaş E, Cingöz HT, Nas Ö, Uğurlu H (2013). The prevalence of fibromyalgia and its relation with headache characteristics in episodic migraine. Clinical Rheumatology, 32, 983-990. Marcus DA, Bhowmick A (2013). Fibromyalgia comorbidity in a community sample of adults with migraine. Clinical Rheumatology, 32, 1553-1556. Vij B, Whipps K, Lake AE, Lynch SM, Zempsky WT (2015). Frequency of migraine headaches in patients with fibromyalgia. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 55, 860-865. |
| Low Back Pain | Pain in the lower back region, which can be chronic and debilitating. | Associated with headache disorders (OR 1.6-8.0), stronger with chronic migraine (OR 15.2 vs. 2.7 episodic) | Yoon M-S, Manack A, Schramm S, Fritsche G, Obermann M, Diener H-C, Moebus S, Katsarava Z (2013). Chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache are associated with concomitant low back pain: results of the German headache consortium study. Pain, 154, 484-492. |
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