Migraine Treatment

How Can Injection Treat Migraines?

The crippling effects of a migraine headache can make it impossible to get on with life until the worst passes, with nausea, light sensitivity and throbbing pain to one side of the head. As they can take a number of days to fully pass, sufferers are often keen to find ways to prevent migraines from occurring in the first place – and the careful use of Botulinum injections can help by blocking certain nerve signals to the brain which can lead to a migraine. The treatment is not for everybody but can help chronic migraine sufferers who experience at least 15 days of headaches per month.

What Can Be Treated?

As well as its better-known use as a cosmetic treatment, Botulinum Toxin A has been shown to help prevent migraines. The treatment is shown to have positive effects for people with chronic migraines, who experience 15 or more days of headache pain in a month, and who have not responded to other preventative drug treatments. Botulinum injections are not currently recommended for more episodic migraines or other forms of headache.

What Is Involved?

You will have a face to face consultation with your Doctor to assess suitability for migraine treatment. A consent sheet is then signed, and the treatment itself can take from 15 to 30 minutes. The treatment uses a very delicate, thin needle to administer a series of tiny injections into the treatment area, which causes minimal discomfort for a few seconds. The Vistabel®  blocks the action of the nerves that can carry the headache pain to the brain. An ice pack or numbing cream may be used to reduce the discomfort. It starts working 7 days after treatment, and it can take up to 14 days to see the full result.

How Long Will Results Last?

The effects of this treatment can last approximately 3 months with new courses of treatment recommended every 12 weeks. Every patient is different; age and lifestyle are factors. In cases where treatment has not reduced headache days per month by at least 30% after two treatment cycles, it may be recommended to end treatment. Conversely, if treatment has been successful in reducing headache days to fewer than 15 per month for three consecutive months, the condition is considered to have changed from chronic to episodic migraine and treatment should be stopped.

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