What Causes Headaches Accompanied by Hyperacusis? | Migraine

Migraine with Sensory Hypersensitivity Headache: Why Can't It Be Solved with Pain Relievers Alone?

Hello. This is Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.

1. It's Not Just a Headache

It's not simply a headache. You might be startled by small noises, want to close your eyes in slightly bright light, and feel nauseous from a single smell. These symptoms of heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli are not merely a sign of being overly sensitive; they represent a state where the brain itself is hypersensitive. If we dismiss these as mere peripheral symptoms of migraine, we miss the core of the treatment.

2. The Diagnosis is Simple, But the Symptoms are Complex

The most common diagnosis is migraine. However, simply receiving a 'migraine' diagnosis doesn't fully explain the entire cause. Why are some people more sensitive to auditory stimuli, while others suffer more from visual stimuli? Even with the same headache, the pathways of stimulation and patterns of sensory response differ. Therefore, the approach of 'headache = pain reliever' is inherently limited.

3. Why is There Particular Sensitivity to 'Auditory Stimuli'?

Auditory stimuli directly excite the ear → auditory nerve → amygdala. The problem is that the amygdala is the brain region responsible for processing threat signals. In individuals who frequently experience migraines, this circuit is in an overloaded state. Even with slightly loud noises, the brain signals, 'This is a danger. Prepare!' This is why a premonition of a headache and a sense of pressure in crowded places often accompany the onset.

4. The Brain is Currently in an Overheated State

In short, a migraine-prone constitution means the baseline setting is always close to a state of tension. Even with a little sleep deprivation or slight accumulation of stress, stimuli that would normally be tolerable can overwhelm the entire brain on that particular day. This is a state of reduced sensory attenuation. In other words, stimuli that would ordinarily be filtered out directly shake the entire nervous system.

5. Why Do Pain Relievers Have Limitations?

Pain relievers don't reduce the 'sound.' They are more akin to temporarily suppressing the 'brain that hears the sound and sounds an alarm.' That's why the pain returns when the medication wears off, and with repeated use, sensitivity to stimuli gradually increases. This is called central sensitization. When this intensifies, headaches appear more frequently and unpredictably, and more stimuli become triggers.

6. The Perspective of Korean Medicine: Collapse of the Sensory Regulation System

In Korean medicine, such states are described using terms like Gan Pung Nae Dong (肝風內動, internal stirring of liver wind), Gan Yang Sang Hang (肝陽上亢, ascending hyperactivity of liver yang), and Gan Sim Bul Hwa (肝心不和, disharmony between liver and heart). These are not mere wordplays with Chinese characters but refer to a state where emotions, senses, and the circulatory system are all simultaneously agitated. 'Gan Pung' describes a brain state that rises and shakes like the wind, while 'Gan Sim Bul Hwa' refers to a state where emotions and judgment operate independently. These concepts perfectly align with the actual symptoms experienced by patients. And the treatment to calm and regulate this state is something Korean medicine has been practicing for thousands of years.

7. The Goal of Korean Medical Treatment is to Create a 'Non-Reactive Brain'

Ultimately, the core is to create a neurological state that remains unperturbed even when stimuli arise. This is difficult to achieve with just a few acupuncture sessions or a few doses of herbal medicine. It requires the simultaneous adjustment of lifestyle patterns, emotional routines, sleep rhythm, and breathing habits. Acupuncture can directly influence these circuits, herbal medicine is specialized in mitigating constitutional hypersensitivity, and breathing and meditation can restore the brain's filtering function.

8. Headaches, and the 'Pain That Cannot Be Articulated'

Headaches accompanied by sensory hypersensitivity are not merely simple pain. They are a problem where consciousness, sensation, emotion, and reaction are intertwined in a single loop. If this loop is not addressed, symptoms recur, become increasingly complex, and eventually begin to be dismissed as merely 'being an overly sensitive person.' However, this is the result of normal brain circuits being excessively stimulated by abnormal triggers. We can provide that brain with respite again and create recovery pathways that allow it to become non-reactive to stimuli.

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