Migraine pain can affect every aspect of life. The more frequent these headaches are, the worse their repercussions can be. A study published in the Journal of Headache and Pain has shed light on the short- and long-term impact experienced by those who suffer migraines. More than 11,000 patients participated in this study, which ended with the following conclusions:
- 87 percent of participants stated that migraine pain negatively affected their private, professional, and social lives.
- 85 percent of participants reported feelings such as depression and hopelessness.
- 83 percent reported having difficulty sleeping due to migraine pain.
If you experience migraines, you know that the extraordinary pain can prevent you from feeling as though you are living life to the fullest. If you’ve experienced enough migraine pain, you have likely consulted with a doctor, or at least Google, to find strategies for reducing the frequency and severity of your headaches. Some say that identifying triggers is the key to improving quality of life. Some turn to prescription medication, stress management, and other remedies. It is often only when the effects of migraines become intolerable that a person may seek treatment like migraine surgery.
What about Botox for Migraines?
For the past several years, Botox has been discussed as a reliable migraine treatment. Many doctors recommend this approach. When diagnosing and treating patients in our office near Los Angeles, Dr. Lowenstein also incorporates Botox into his protocol, though not in the way one may expect. The premise of Botox injections for migraines is to prevent nerve cell signals from reaching facial muscles. When the facial muscles are temporarily unable to contract, migraine pain should end.
What research has shown about most migraines, and also tension headaches, is a correlation between pain and irritation to the peripheral nerves in the head and neck. These include the supraorbital nerves, occipital nerves, and other small nerves that can send distress signals. When these signals are received in the brain, they are processed into various types of headaches. Botox can be used to explore this connection but may not be the ideal treatment to achieve long-term results. This is where migraine surgery makes sense.
Migraine surgery is performed to improve or eliminate the pain and other symptoms that result from peripheral nerve irritation. This goal is achieved in over 90 percent of the patients who visit us. The specialized surgical techniques Dr. Lowenstein uses prevent further compression on the irritated nerves, often resulting in immediate improvement.
It can take time to decide to have migraine surgery. It should. Though this procedure is not brain surgery, it is a significant event that can change your life for the better. To learn more about this migraine treatment, contact one of our patient coordinators at 805-969-9004.
