Everyone in their lifetime will suffer from a headache now and again, but migraines are a completely different story. Slightly different from a regular, run of the mill headache, a migraine is actually a neurological condition that not only appears with blinding headaches but other debilitating symptoms as well, such as nausea and vomiting. Some patients have been down quite a few treatment paths in their quest to get rid of migraines, often meeting with unsuccessful results. Read on to learn more about migraines and their treatment, and a surprising treatment that may be the best bet for migraine management.
Causes of Migraines
A simple headache can have a myriad of different causes, ranging from loud music to lack of sleep. While migraines are officially classified as a neurological condition, many of the headache triggers may be the same. The amount of stress you deal with is a factor. In women, hormonal imbalances can trigger migraines. Other causes include foods and food additives and sleep-wake patterns. However, it’s good to remember that these are just triggers, not causes. Migraines are caused by chemicals in the brain and their associated nerve pathways.
Symptoms of Migraines
It’s not uncommon for a patient to not be sure if they are having recurrent headaches or migraines. Migraines often carry with them severe nausea and vomiting as well as problems with vision (usually an increased sensitivity to light). You may also feel faint and have throbbing head pain. If you believe you are suffering from migraines, you should contact NewSouth NeuroSpine for treatment.
Typical and Innovative Migraine Treatments
Those who regularly suffer from migraines may have already tried a few treatments with varying degrees of success. It is good to remember that migraines can never be fully cured, so management becomes the most important thing. You need to find a treatment that works for you and improves your quality of life. Also, every patient’s treatment plan will be different. While the root cause of migraines is very much the same, each patient’s triggers will be different.
Some patients have found naturopathic remedies helpful, while others make lifestyle adjustments (such as to their sleeping schedule) to keep migraines at bay. Other common treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescription migraine medications, hormone therapy if there is a hormonal imbalance, and counseling. Patients also may need extra treatment to deal with nausea and vomiting associated with migraines.
However, there is likely a migraine treatment you haven’t heard about, and that is Botox. While Botox is usually associated with a cosmetic procedure, it has also been FDA approved to treat migraines for the past eight years (as of 2018). In fact, doctors that specialize in these types of neurological conditions have been using Botox injections for much longer than that. Not only do many qualified physicians swear by Botox as the best treatment for migraines, but there have also been official studies on the matter as well.
How can NewSouth NeuroSpine help your migraines? Our own Dr. Winkelmann has been teaching the use of Botox injections for the last 20 years and has extensive experience in physical medicine and rehabilitation as well. Botox injections work because they affect the chemicals associated with transmission of pain in the brain, essentially putting a stop to the signal that’s causing you pain. If your quality of life is affected by migraines, Botox could be the pain management course that is right for you.
Contact NewSouth NeuroSpine today to book an appointment regarding Botox injections, or for any other spinal concerns or complaints. Our years of experience and individualized care offer you the best in treatment.
