If you suffer from frequent headaches, especially migraines, you know how inconvenient and even debilitating it can be. Severe headache pain can cause nausea, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and sound, among other symptoms.
Chronic headaches can negatively impact your daily life. High frequency of headache pain can make it difficult to hold down a job, maintain relationships, enjoy time with friends and family, and other aspects of a happy life.
But there is hope, because there are a variety of treatments and procedures that can reduce and prevent headache and migraine pain. The key is to find a pain management treatment plan that works for you and maintain that routine.
Medication
There are a wide variety of pain medications available that can treat headaches and migraines. They fall into two basic categories:
- Preventive. These medications serve to prevent headaches and migraines from occurring. You take them daily in order to reduce the frequency of painful headaches. Unfortunately it is not always possible to prevent every headache or migraine. Which is why you sometimes need medication that is:
- Abortive. This refers to medication you take once you feel headache or migraine pain. The sooner you take this medication after the onset of symptoms, the better chance of success. In the best case scenario you stop the headache in its tracks. If not, you may still be able to reduce the level of pain you feel.
Botox
Another option besides oral medication is Botox. Botox is a toxin created by bacteria called clostridium botulinum. It can make you sick when it is ingested, but is safe when injected into your skin. When it is applied in small amounts by injection into the skin, it paralyzes your muscles by blocking the nerve signals in the location where the botox is applied. It is used as a cosmetic procedure to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. But it has also been shown to relieve headache and migraine pain by blocking the pain signals from the nerves.
Botox is a safe and effective procedure for most patients who suffer from frequent headaches or migraines. In this case frequent is defined as 15 or more days out of each month where you experience headache pain.
Acupuncture
Some patients find relief from headache pain and migraines from a procedure called acupuncture. This Eastern medicine technique involves the insertion of thin needles into the skin at strategic points of the body. Eastern philosophy states that acupuncture restores the flow of energy through the body, referred to as qi in Chinese medicine. Western medicinal philosophy states that acupuncture improves circulation which brings healing blood cells to the area.
The exact science behind why acupuncture can help to relieve pain may be unclear, but it has been known to reduce and prevent headache pain and migraines in some patients.
Occipital Nerve Block
This procedure involves injections of anesthesia to the area of the occipital nerve, which can relieve and reduce headache pain and migraines. Sometimes the injection will also include a small dose of a corticosteroid.
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelet rich plasma therapy is a procedure that involves taking a sample of the patient’s blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the blood cells. Then a sample of blood with concentrated amounts of platelets is injected back into the patient in the area where healing or pain relief is needed. This therapy can help to relieve headaches and migraines as well as reduce the frequency of these issues.
Get Relief from Headaches and Migraines with Help from the American Pain Institute
The American Pain Institute specializes in providing pain relief for patients suffering from acute, sudden, and chronic pain. We offer a variety of procedures and treatments that can relieve headache pain, migraines, and other issues including back pain. If you suffer from frequent headaches or migraines, this could be the relief you’ve been looking for. You shouldn’t have to suffer or take strong prescription drugs to find relief. The American Pain Institute can treat your pain at the source and work to not only relieve it, but eliminate it.
Call 603-766-8500 or contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you find lasting relief from your headaches and migraines.