Headaches and migraines can cause debilitating pain, preventing you from thoroughly enjoying life. Advances in treatment provide hope for a better way forward. We offer groundbreaking migraine and headache treatment options that deliver lasting pain relief.
From specialized techniques to state-of-the-art migraine surgery, our treatments focus on one thing: improving the lives of our patients.
Headaches and migraines can occur for many different reasons. Understanding why they happen helps guide our treatment plan. Diagnostic tests allow us to explore the underlying cause of your pain. We're proud to offer advanced diagnostic testing to learn more about your condition.
Tests may include the following:
A migraine diagnosis often comes after ruling out other potential causes. No matter what is causing your headaches or migraines, we will find a treatment plan to help improve your quality of life.
We are proud to be on the cutting edge of migraine and headache treatment with advanced procedures that provide lasting relief. Our treatment options for headaches and migraines fall into four main categories: medication, lifestyle changes, non-invasive techniques such as Botox® injections, and nerve decompression migraine surgery.
Medication and Lifestyle Changes
Medication is a common choice both for treating symptoms of migraines and headaches, such as pain or nausea/vomiting, and for preventing their occurrence. Although medication can work well for many patients, it is often less effective over time. In addition, some patients may find that the side effects of medication outweigh the benefits.
Lifestyle modifications can make a difference for some migraine and headache patients. Keeping a log of your symptoms can help you understand your triggers. Changes that may help with headaches and migraines include:
Botox® Injections
Since 2005, we have used Botox® to treat patients with occipital neuralgia or migraines — making us one of the earliest adopters of this breakthrough treatment. Botox® can provide life-changing relief for chronic migraine sufferers who have headaches 15 or more days per month, each lasting four or more hours.
How do Botox® injections help with migraines?
Botox® blocks receptors that control muscle contraction, thus relaxing or paralyzing muscles. It is theorized that in regions of certain migraine “trigger points,” nerves are compressed or irritated by excessive muscle contraction.
These irritated nerves release inflammatory chemicals into the blood vessels of the head and neck that may contribute to chronic migraine headaches. By relaxing the muscles in one or more areas of nerve compression, the source of nerve irritation is alleviated, and the resulting migraine will be reduced or eliminated.
What is the procedure like?
The FDA-approved approach to migraine treatment involves administering injections around the head and neck at intervals of about 12 weeks. With Botox® for migraines, you can reasonably expect fewer, less severe migraine headaches for up to three months, with rarely any side effects.
It is important to note that the FDA says Botox® does not appear to be useful in treating or preventing less frequent migraines (migraines that occur 14 days or fewer per month) or other forms of headache.
What is the expected outcome?
Although Botox® injections must be repeated at regular intervals, many patients have reported a greater than 50 percent reduction in the frequency and intensity of their migraine headaches. Some patients have even noted a complete elimination of migraine headaches altogether.
Certain types of migraines and headache conditions respond to Botox® better than others. Only a physician experienced in treating migraines with Botox® will be able to determine if someone is a candidate for this type of treatment.
Unfortunately, not everyone benefits from Botox®. Migraine sufferers are composed of a very diverse group of patients, and due to the complexity of the condition, we sometimes see patients who do not experience any effect from injection therapy.
Nerve Decompression Surgery
Also known as “Trigger Point Surgery,” this revolutionary procedure is only offered at a limited number of locations in the United States. It is intended as a potentially permanent solution for patients suffering from chronic migraines and who have benefited from Botox® injections.
Since the early 2000s, the nerve decompression specialists at The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction have seen tremendous success in treating migraine patients with this procedure for both migraines and occipital neuralgia.
How does nerve decompression surgery help with headaches and migraines?
Nerve decompression surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure that targets the nerves in the head and neck region that cause or contribute to headache symptoms. The trigger point sites are “relieved” by meticulously removing muscle, fascia (tissue lining) and blood vessels from the areas in which the nerves travel.
What is the procedure like?
For the surgery, we target locations where Botox® therapy has been previously effective. The process will take between 1 to 4 hours and may involve general anesthesia. The surgery involves the tissues or blood vessels that are pressing on, constricting, or irritating the nerves that are causing your pain. It is generally performed on an outpatient basis.
What is the expected outcome?
Some of our patients have essentially been “cured” of their condition following nerve decompression surgery. This means they no longer need medical therapy and rarely, if ever, have a headache.
Each individual case varies. If you suffer from occipital neuralgia or migraines and have benefitted from Botox® therapy, there is a good chance nerve decompression surgery could help you.
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