Reasons for Delayed Pain Management in Patients With Chronic Migraine: A Qualitative Study
Abstract Background: Chronic migraine is often perceived as complex disease and difficult to manage. People with episodic migraine run the risk of developing chronic migraine, leading to great suffering for themselves, their families, and the larger society. The management of each attack may influence the development from episodic to chronic migraine. Aim: The aim of the present study was to explore experiences and management of migraine pain in patients with chronic migraine. Methods: Ten migraine patients participated in open interviews based on functional behavioural analysis within a cognitive behavioural framework. The interviews were analysed using systematic text condensation. Results: Participants’ experiences and management of chronic migraine pain was categorized under four concepts: Migraine pain signal, Hope of false alarm, Guiding assumption, and Delayed medical management. Conclusions: Difficulty distinguishing early migraine pain from other pain signals, neglect of migraine pain signals, and assumption of pain management can lead to delays in initiating emergency medication. Potentially early response to migraine pain signals could alleviate attacks.