Headaches are one of the most common painful conditions, impacting some 36 million Americans daily, more than asthma and diabetes combined. In a recent study conducted by the American Academy of Pain Management, 47% of individuals aged 18 to 50 admitted to having had a severe or debilitating headache within the last year.
Despite the prevalence of migraines and other headache disorders, the causes of chronic head pain remain largely misdiagnosed. A pain management specialist like those at Modern Pain Solutions can help you manage and control the pain that results from chronic headache conditions, including migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches.
Though most headache disorders cannot be cured, there are several options to help minimize the pain and reduce the impact they have on your daily life. Medication, physical therapy, psychological treatment, and in select cases, interventional procedures may help reduce or alleviate the pain associated with headaches. As always, the best course of treatment is through a multidisciplinary pain management program that can help limit pain and reduce headache frequency.
Pain Management for Headaches
Botox has become a popular treatment for patients experiencing severe migraine headaches, defined as headache pain 15 days a month or more. Botox treatment usually is more effective the more severe or frequent the headaches.
In this minimally invasive procedure, Botox is injected around pain fibers that are involved in headaches. Botox enters the nerve endings around where it is injected and blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission. This prevents activation of pain networks in the brain, effectively stopping the headache pain before it even starts.
Each treatment usually takes only 20-30 minutes, and involves a series of targeted injections of Botox into shallow muscles around the neck and head. The injection sites are small, and most patients experience little to no discomfort or swelling after the procedure. It can take up to six months before experiencing the maximum benefit of Botox injections.
Headache Treatments Can Also Include:
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Psychological therapy and counseling
- Interventional procedures
- Relaxation and meditation therapy
- Smoking cessation
- Acupuncture
- Targeted stretching and exercise program
- Medication management
You Don’t Have to Live with Pain Anymore
If you are experiencing pain from chronic headaches, or if your headaches are becoming more severe, please consult one of our pain management physicians about treatment options. The staff at Modern Pain Solutions can help improve your quality of life by reducing or eliminating the pain and inconvenience of chronic headaches.
All pain deserves personalized treatment and care. Call the Modern Pain Solutions, Naples’s pain experts, at 419-843-1370 to schedule an appointment with one of our pain professionals today.