Headache Management

Headache Management Center

At our SSNA Headache Management Center, we strive to provide the best and maximum relief for our patients suffering from headaches. We will work to provide you with a personalized diagnosis and generate a treatment plan that is right for you. There are different types of headaches you can experience, all of which have different treatment options. Diagnostic classifications for headaches include tension-type headaches, cluster headaches, migraines, and others. If you feel as though you could benefit from a consultation with one of our neurologists specializing in headache management, there are some tools you can use to help guide you. We provide two short questionnaires that can help to lead you towards appropriate treatment as well as a headache diary that you can keep to quantify how much your headaches affect your life. These questionnaires will also aid your doctor by providing them with valuable information during your visit.

Risk Factors:

If you are experiencing headaches, there are certain factors that should be evaluated. Headaches, such as migraines, are often triggered by certain situations. It is often a good idea to keep a migraine diary so that you can identify triggers to your occurrences. Common triggers include chocolate, wine, processed cheeses, caffeine, and certain smells, amongst other things. Some also find it beneficial to regulate their sleep schedule and meal time schedule to reduce your migraine frequency.

Treatment options:

While there is no known cure for chronic headaches, there are treatment options to help restore some normalcy to your life:

Acute Treatment: Acute treatment with oral medication, nasal sprays, or injections are usually one of the first treatment routes taken, these are prescribed to treat your headache symptoms once they arrive. When appropriate, your doctor may suggest that you receive both acute and preventative treatment.
Preventative Treatment: Preventative treatment is often recommended when headache frequency and/or severity significantly impacts patients’ daily activities. This form of treatment can be oral medication taken regularly or Botulinum Toxin injections. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and possible side effects of each treatment option available to you.
Pain Management: Depending on the type of headaches that you are experiencing, you may be referred to our Pain Management Group. This entails a consultation with one of our Pain Management Specialists where they will suggest a treatment plan. This plan may involve a nerve block procedure, Physical Therapy, Chiropractic care, or acupuncture treatments amongst other possible remedies.

What are chronic migraines?

You could be diagnosed with chronic migraines if you experience fifteen or more headache days per month, lasting anywhere between four and seventy two hours. These headaches can start out mild but progress as time goes on. Typical symptoms could involve having pain on one side of the head that is moderate to severe in intensity, pulsating, and/or if you’re sensitive to light/sound while you have the headache. Often these headaches can prevent a patient from participating in activities of their daily living. If you feel as though you may fall into this criteria, consult with a headache specialist to see how you can improve your quality of life. There are many options available for the treatment of chronic migraines. Our goal is to help you find the most appropriate treatment for you.

Botulinum toxin Treatment for Migraines

The use of Botulinum Toxin for migraines was approved in October of 2010 by the US Food and Drug Administration. We offer Botulinum Toxin treatment for patients who suffer from chronic migraines as a preventative measure. You could be eligible for Botulinum Toxin treatment if you experience more than 15 headache days a month, have been diagnosed with chronic migraines, and have not had success with other preventative treatment.

What is Botulinum Toxin?

Botulinum Toxin is a protein produced by bacterium and is one of the most researched neurotoxins in the world; having been approved for medical use in 75 countries. Botulinum Toxin treatment is an effective therapy that has been used to treat patients with chronic migraines.

What can I expect from my Botulinum Toxin Treatments?

Botulinum Toxin treatment will consist of a number of injections into the muscles of your head and neck. The amount of Botulinum Toxin used in your treatments will be tightly regulated and involve multiple injections to target specific areas. After injections, you may begin seeing improvements in your symptoms within 7-10 days. Injections will be administered every 12 weeks for continued preventative effects.

Does Botulinum Toxin treatment hurt?

The needles used to administer Botulinum Toxin treatment are very fine and small, so patients may experience only mild discomfort.

Is the Botulinum Toxin used for my migraines the same as the cosmetic Botulinum Toxin?

Yes, both Botulinum Toxin products have the same formulation. However, the dosing and location of the injections carry different results for migraine and cosmetic Botulinum Toxin.

Are Botulinum Toxin Treatments Covered By Insurance?

Although all insurance plans differ, 98% of commercially insured patients are covered for this treatment.

Headache Management