Migraine headaches and other forms of scalp pain are extremely common in the United States, with 28 million people suffering with this condition. Over 9 million of these migraine patients are NOT helped by medications, but may be aided by other interventions: Nerve Blocks, Botox and/or Surgery. A trial of nerve blocks or Botox to specific muscles of the face, scalp, and/or head can temporarily halt the triggers for migraines. We take this concept one step further, when indicated, by decompressing or removing the nerves that trigger the migraines. Dr. Rosenberg has spent a year of fellowship studying peripheral nerve surgery, and his expertise applies the anatomical knowledge and skill derived from this additional training to accurately place Botox and/or nerve blocks, and to surgically decompress or remove sensory nerves for patients who desire a more permanent solution to their migraine headaches.
When Should I see Dr. Rosenberg for an evaluation?
If you have rare headaches, and they do not impair your daily routines, Botox and/or surgical intervention are probably not worth pursuing. If you have chronic migraines, significant worsening of a lifelong headache pattern; headache following trauma, or sudden onset of severe headaches, you should consult with a neurologist or our office. We recommend discussing a referral with your primary care doctor or neurologist and have a full evaluation, or discuss a Botox injection or nerve block with us; it will give you a clear idea of whether or not our clinic might be able to help. Botox will also eliminate (for a 3-4 month period) the wrinkles of your lower central brow region, an added bonus, but of course, not the primary goal of headache treatment.
I’m on Migraine medication but I still have headaches, what can I do?
For many patients, migraines/chronic headache lead to years of suffering, lost work, and loss of family activities. Migraines/chronic headaches can impact every facet of a person’s life. Also, many of the medications used to treat head pain can have major side effects. If you find yourself in this severe category, you have likely seen multiple specialists, had many tests/evaluations, and tried a wide variety of drugs, acupuncture, etc.
Our clinic treats migraines/headaches by determining whether your pain seems related to a particular type of nerve compression syndrome caused by small muscles in the region of the brows and/or at the base of the skull, and to offer you treatment if this seems to be the case. This is a part of the peripheral nerve surgery we already are focused on providing. Fortunately, recent research demonstrates that many patients with chronic head pain experience relief when specific muscles are weakened temporarily with Botox, and surgery offers a more-permanent solution for most of these patients. Success rates for migraine patients are approximately 80%.
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