Minor Injury & Illness

Migraine

A migraine usually feels like a very bad headache with a throbbing pain on 1 side. It’s common and there are things you can try to help.

A migraine tends to be a very bad headache with a throbbing pain on 1 side of the head.

You may get other symptoms just before a migraine, such as:

• feeling very tired and yawning a lot
• craving certain foods or feeling thirsty
• changes in your mood
• a stiff neck
• peeing more

You may also get warning signs you’re about to have a migraine (called an aura), such as:

• problems with your sight, such as seeing zigzag lines or flashing lights
• numbness or a tingling that feels like pins and needles
• feeling dizzy
• difficulty speaking

Aura symptoms should not last for longer than an hour.

There are different types of migraine with different symptoms.

Migraine treatments include:

• painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol
• medicines called triptans
• medicines that stop you feeling sick or being sick

You may have to try a combination of medicines before you find something that works.

A GP may also recommend making changes to your lifestyle to help manage your migraines, such as eating at regular times and drinking less caffeine.

If your migraines are severe, you might be offered other things to help, such as learning relaxation techniques and acupuncture.

If these treatments do not manage your migraines or they’re getting worse, you may be referred to a specialist for further tests and treatment.

It’s not known what causes migraines.

You’re more likely to get them if you have a close family member who gets them.

Some people find certain triggers can cause migraines, such as:

• starting their period
• anxiety and depression
• stress and tiredness
• not eating regularly or skipping meals
• too much caffeine
• not getting enough exercise

It can help to keep a migraine diary to help you work out what might trigger your migraines.

There are things you can do yourself to manage your migraines, with help and advice from a GP.

An allergy is where your body reacts to something that’s normally harmless like pollen, dust or animal fur. The symptoms can be mild, but for some people they can be very serious.

Things that cause allergic reactions are called allergens.

Common allergens include:

• tree and grass pollen (hay fever)
• house dust mites
• foods, such as peanuts, milk and eggs (food allergy)
• animal fur, particularly from pets like cats and dogs
• insect stings, such as bee and wasp stings
• certain medicines

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:

• a runny nose or sneezing
• pain or tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
• coughing, wheezing or breathlessness
• itchy skin or a raised rash (hives)
• diarrhoea
• feeling or being sick
• swollen eyes, lips, mouth or throat

A GP may arrange some allergy tests or refer you to a specialist allergy clinic to have them.

Tests you may have include:

• a skin prick or patch test – where a small amount of the allergen is put on your skin to see if it reacts
• blood tests – to check for allergens that may be causing your symptoms
• a special diet where you avoid or eat less of a food you might be allergic to, to see if your symptoms get better

Treatments for allergies include:

• trying to avoid the thing you’re allergic to whenever possible
• medicines for mild allergic reactions like antihistamines, steroid tablets and steroid creams
• emergency medicines called adrenaline auto-injectors, such as an EpiPen, for severe allergic reactions
• desensitisation (immunotherapy) for severe allergic reactions – this involves carefully exposing you to the thing you’re allergic to over time, so your body gradually gets used to it and does not react so badly (this should only be done by a medical professional)

Your specialist will give you an allergy management plan that will explain how to manage your allergy.

Animal and human bites

Most animal bites are not serious, but you may need to get medical help if the bite is severe or there are signs of infection.

This page is about human bites and bites from animals, such as cats and dogs, that have broken the skin. There’s a separate page about snake bites.

There are some things you can do after being bitten by an animal or a person.

If you’ve been bitten by an animal or person, a doctor or nurse will check the wound.

They may:

• clean the bite thoroughly – if the wound is very dirty, some of the affected area may need to be removed to reduce the risk of infection
• close the wound with stitches, sticky strips or special glue, or leave it open to heal
• give you antibiotics to stop the wound becoming infected
• check your risk of getting tetanus and rabies – you’ll be given treatment to prevent these serious infections if needed

If you’ve been bitten by a person, you may also be offered a blood test to check for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Back pain, particularly lower back pain, is very common. It usually improves within a few weeks but can sometimes last longer or keep coming back. There are things you can do to help ease the pain.

Back pain can have many causes. It’s not always obvious what causes it, and it often gets better on its own.

A common cause of back pain is an injury like a pulled muscle (strain).

Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve) or ankylosing spondylitis can cause back pain.

Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer or an infection.

Back pain often improves on its own within a few weeks. There are things you can do to help speed up your recovery.

There are specific exercises and stretches you can do to help with back pain. But stop if your pain gets worse and see a GP for advice.

If your back pain is severe or not getting better, a GP may prescribe painkillers or medicines to relax the muscles in your back.

Other treatments may be recommended if your pain does not get better after a few weeks.

These include:

• group exercise sessions and physiotherapy
• manual therapy – where a trained therapist massages and moves the muscles, bones and joints in your back
• cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help you cope with the pain
• a procedure to seal off some of the nerves in your back so they stop sending pain signals (only for long-term lower back pain)

If your back pain is caused by a medical condition like a slipped disc and other treatments have not helped, surgery may be an option.