Roller coaster migraine: an underreported injury?
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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
1Head and Neck Pain Program, Willis-Knighton Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, USA.
Abstract:
A 28-year-old woman presented with severe headache, sleep problems, memory problems, and irritability 2 months after a violent roller coaster ride. She was diagnosed with posttraumatic migraine, and intravenous dihydroergotamine resolved her symptoms. Imaging studies, electroencephalogram, and visual and auditory evoked responses were normal. Imipramine, divalproex sodium, and propranolol were prescribed to prevent the headaches from recurring and dihydroergotamine nasal spray was prescribed for breakthrough headaches. We consider the many short but significant brain insults delivered during the roller coaster ride a critical factor in triggering this instance of posttraumatic migraine, which while unmanaged was a source of significant disability for the patient.
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