Migraines and other headache symptoms can linger following COVID-19 recovery

(PHOENIX – February 25, 2021) – A neurologist at Barrow Neurological Institute says she is treating an increasing number of patients suffering from worsened migraines and other severe headaches after they have recovered from COVID-19.

“Although we still have much to learn about the lingering effects of COVID-19, we are seeing more examples of patients who had migraines before COVID-19 and are now experiencing more frequent and severe attacks,” says Dr. Kerry Knievel, director of the Jan and Tom Lewis Migraine Treatment Program at Barrow Neurological Institute. “And patients who never had headaches before have developed headaches related to COVID-19 that often persist for weeks to months after they’ve recovered.”

Dr. Knievel urges former COVID-19 patients who are suffering ongoing headaches or worsening migraines to consult a doctor who can offer a proper diagnosis and preventative and rescue treatment. Dr. Knievel says some patients turn to over-the-counter medicine, which may solve the problem temporarily, but can lead to medication overuse or “rebound” headaches.