Methods of Treament
Traditional Medicine
Botulinium Toxin Injections
Botulinum toxin injections, or Botox, are given for many medical conditions, including for tight muscles in stroke and MS patients, as well as for headaches. The way it works for relaxing muscles is well understood, the way it works for headaches is not quite as well understood. Several small injections are given, in the office, and the procedure lasts only a few minutes. The effects can last months, sometimes more.
Best Diagnosis/Imaging
Disorders of the brain can be quite complicated, and often spending time talking about symptoms and understanding in detail, the history of these signs and symptoms is more than 95% of making the correct diagnosis. When a doctor spends 10 minutes talking to you, he or she often cannot understand the details of your history. Of course, making the right diagnosis is very important in being able to prescribe the most appropriate and effective treatment, too. The most appropriate imaging and testing, such as Impact testing, also help to ensure the correct diagnosis, and the best chance of providing relief to your symptoms.
Oral Medications
Medications are often the stronghold of traditional medicine. This is not a bad thing. Many medicines are necessary, and still others ar
very helpful. There are a whole host of medications that are extremely helpful in people suffering from neurological conditions. Some of the medications actually treat the underlying disease, and some just provide relief from the symptoms of the disease. For chronic migraine sufferers, finding relief from the pain is of utmost importance, so they can go about functioning.
IV Treatment
IV or intravenous treatments can be useful in a number of neurological conditions, including severe headaches. These treatments need to be given under the right conditions, and are typically reserved for the most refractory sufferers of migraine.
Weight Loss
Several studies have now shown that becoming overweight can increase the risk of your migraines becoming chronic (more than 15 days per month), and that lowering your BMI (body mass index) can help to revert your headaches back to an episodic form from a chronic form. Several therapies can be used to aid in weight loss. The impact of lifestyle changes including diet and exercise cannot be overemphasized.
Nerve Blocks
Several different types of nerves blocks and trigger point injections can lead to significant relief from headaches and neck pain. Various medications may be injected, most typically, bupivicaine is used. The injections are performed in the office and take only a few minutes.
Crossovers: diet, exercise &; sleep, calendars, biofeedback, deep breathing, modify behavior.
Complementary Medicine
Natural Remedies
Natural remedies are an important complement to traditional medications. They may include supplements such as magnesium, or even teas and essential oils. Body therapies for stress reduction, and other techniques to help reduce muscle spasm such as yoga, meditation and chiropractic can be used. Many of these remedies also help to reduce the excessive sensitivity of the brain. Although they tend not to be as strong as some of the traditional medications, they can often be used along with the traditional medications, or as an alternative.
Supplements
Some supplements used for headache management include magnesium, riboflavin and more. They need to be taken every day and often take at least 3 months before you can tell if they’re working.
Crossovers: Yoga, meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, diet, exercise & sleep.
Stress Reduction
Disorders of the brain can be quite complicated, and often spending time talking about symptoms and understanding in detail, the history of these signs and symptoms is more than 95% of making the correct diagnosis. When a doctor spends 10 minutes talking to you, he or she often cannot understand the details of your history. Of course, making the right diagnosis is very important in being able to prescribe the most appropriate and effective treatment, too. The most appropriate imaging and testing, such as Impact testing, also help to ensure the correct diagnosis and the best chance of providing relief to your symptoms.
Body Massage
Massage of muscles on a regular basis, can help to reduce spasm and to reduce stress. Often, during a migraine, massage is not welcome, and is in fact more painful. Used correctly, though, massage can be very helpful.
Scalp Massage
Similar to body massage, scalp massage may help to reduce stress, and for some, the actual pressure applied to the scalp has relieving properties. Again, the use of scalp massage during a migraine attack may be uncomfortable, but this is very individual and for some, it is relieving.
Facials
Facials using aromas that can be relieving for migraines may provide relief. Many migraineurs, though, are very sensitive to smells, so be careful that this doesn’t trigger a migraine.
Crossovers: exercise & sleep, calendars, biofeedback, deep breathing, modify behavior, Yoga, meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, diet, exercise & sleep.
Diet, Exercise & Sleep
Modifications such as including daily exercise into your day, and using good sleep hygiene have been shown to reduce the chances of developing worsening migraines, and are important for stress reduction.
Calendars
Using calendars to track your headaches, your exercise, your diet, can help both you and your doctor to understand realistically what is happening on a daily basis. A calendar can help the physician to get a true glimpse of what is going on in your life on a daily basis. In addition, a calendar can uncover previously unrecognized behaviors or habits, and can help track improvements especially if they are subtle improvements.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a technique that is used to help you train your body to relax. Various methods can be used, but the focus is on teaching you to control your body’s physiologic functions, and change the way your body behaves and reacts in certain situations. Deep breathing may help in this sort of way as well.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be useful in migraine and other neurological disorders. Aromas can help to relieve migraine, relax muscles, help sleep, aid in energy, decrease appetite and more. Because migraineurs may be very sensitive to smells, though, care should be taken in the use of aromatherapy.
Yoga & Medidation
Aromatherapy can be useful in migraine and other neurological disorders. Aromas can help to relieve migraine, relax muscles, help sleep, aid in energy, decrease appetite and more. Because migraineurs may be very sensitive to smells, though, care should be taken in the use of aromatherapy.