In the last five years, advancements in treatments include wearables. The FDA has approved four migraine devices that deliver electrical pulses to nerves that can cause migraine. They are worn on different areas of the body: the forehead, neck, arm, or head.

Monteith and her colleagues are investigating a device worn around the arm that uses a phone application to stimulate a pain-relieving response.

She and fellow researchers also are studying a nasal spray that thwarts an an acute headache attack, and a breathing device for adults suffering from attacks of migraine with aura.

And like Blaya at Memorial, they are looking at combining anti-CGRP drugs and Botox to see if the pairing leads to fewer migraine days per month. “We already are using this combination but the clinical trail is important to capture the data and bring it back to insurers,” Monteith said.

One of the challenges, Monteith says, is not all of the available treatments are covered by insurance, and some can be costly. “We do the best we can to come up with these great strategies; sometimes cost and insurance is a barrier and that’s where advocacy comes in,” she said. “Many patients depend on coupon programs to subsidize the cost.”

Monteith says migraines may differ in intensity, in which part of the head they occur, and their triggers.

“It’s important to tailor the best regimen to the patient, which could include newer treatments, older treatments, or a combination that includes behavioral therapies such as more lifestyle things,” she said. “It’s really depends on what their needs are and where the migraine is. It’s also important to give people what they’re actually going to take. You know, adherence is a huge issue.”

In the future, a new class of medications could become available. Researchers are studying antibodies that specifically target pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) receptors that can trigger a migraine attack. Migraine researchers believe once an effective PACAP inhibitor is found, doctors will have yet another drug to add to their arsenal of treatments.

The bottom line: There’s hope for people living with migraine attacks.

“We have some people that have achieved freedom, or close to it,” Monteith said. “If you aren’t seeking help for your migraine, I strongly encourage you to start. We have so many new treatment options, with many more coming down the pipeline.”

Garzon has become a spokesperson for the Association of Migraine Disorders, grateful for advancements in treatments She still needs to take breaks often while recording pop songs, but the singer-songwriter will be releasing new music this month. “I am definitely able to function a lot more than before,” she said.

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