Pain Relief Centers in Orange County
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Botox for Migraine Treatment?
Utilized for migraine treatment in Orange County by the specialists at CRPM, Botox is the first and only FDA approved treatment for the prevention of chronic migraines. Produced from a toxic bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, Botox is found to be an effective treatment for preventing migraines in people who experience persistent and taxing flare ups. Botulinum toxin is believed to obstruct the discharge of peripheral nociceptive neurotransmitters which can produce relief in the central pain processing systems that engender migraine headaches.
Simply put, it appears that Botox injections inhibit the relay of pain signals to our body’s central pain processor. For a muscle to contract, the nerve sends out a neurotransmitter that transmits signals from one neuron to another. In this instance, the neurotransmitter is attached to cells in the muscle, which causes them to contract. When Botox is injected, the neurotransmitter is blocked and thus the contraction of the muscle is prevented. Additionally, Botox was produced as a cosmetic means for reducing wrinkles. The wrinkles were reduced by utilizing the toxin in Botox to relax muscles in the face. By relaxing the muscle contractions in the face via Botox for migraine relief, we reduce migraines by relieving stress.
Botox injections have been found to be an effective means of reducing the frequency of occurrences in victims of chronic migraines. In fact, Botox is the first and only FDA approved treatment to stop migraines before they even occur. Botox® is designed to prevent between 8 and 9 headache days or migraine/probable migraine days. For common chronic migraine sufferers who endure 15 or more headache or migraine days a month, this reduction is remarkably advantageous. With over 100,000 successful treatments since the FDA approval of Botox for migraine relief in 2010, it is clear that for many, Botox has been an efficacious method of improving their chronic migraines.
Botox for migraine relief may be an effective method of reducing the frequency and power of chronic migraines in sufferers who experience 15 or more headache days a month. Administered in 12-week intervals, Botox for migraine relief is injected in target areas around the head and neck in order to dull future migraine symptoms. The qualified doctors at the Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine specialize in Botox® treatment for migraines.
Our specialized doctors administer approximately 31 injections into key areas in the face and neck. It is conventional for the migraine reduction effects of Botox to last approximately 3 months. Depending on each individual patients’ advancement in the reduction of migraines, the specialists at CRPM will administer additional injections generally in 3 month intervals to ensure continued success.
Following the regimen of Botox for Migraine treatment in Orange County at CRPM, there is practically no downtime. Patients can immediately return to work or their regular activities subsequent to the injections. However, it is characteristic of Botox injections to culminate in slight swelling or redness around injection sites for many patients. The swelling and redness that appears as a result of Botox injections is commonly short-lived and likely will subside within just a few hours of injections. Often times it doesn’t take long for the injections to take effect and offer patients migraine relief. For many patients their migraine frequency is simply reduced within two weeks following the injections. For others the results may not be as expeditious and may require a second treatment session to obtain the desired outcome. Each patient’s results will inevitably differ and thus it is important to discuss your ambitions for your Botox migraine treatment in Orange County with the specialists at CRPM.
Botox® for migraine treatment orange county FAQ’s
Botox is a relatively new treatment option for migraines. In fact, it wasn’t until 2010 that the product became FDA approved for reducing the frequency of events for sufferers of chronic migraine. Naturally, because the treatment is so cutting-edge and new there are many mysteries surrounding the remedy for patients. Read on to discover answers to many of the commonly asked questions regarding Botox for migraine treatment.
Each patient is different therefore each patient has different needs and desires. Thus, it is important to discuss with your doctor and the specialists at CRPM if Botox injections are the necessary and appropriate route to improving your migraine symptoms. Generally, the best patients for Botox injections for migraine treatment are patients who have experienced continuous chronic migraines or 10 or more headache days a month [4 hours or more of a headache in a day constitutes a headache day]. Additionally, patients who have tried other medicine and remedies with little to no success may be perfect candidates for Botox injections for migraine treatment. Ultimately, any chronic migraine sufferer that wants to experience a higher quality of life is generally a great candidate for Botox for migraine relief.
Customarily, injections are administered in intervals of 12 weeks, thus most patients have treatment every 3 months. However, every patient is unique and based upon your needs the injections may be administered in different intervals. The specialists at CRPM will create unique plans based upon your needs and desires which may affect the regularity of treatment.
Each patient’s results may vary. For some patients desired results can be achieved as quickly two weeks following injections; whereas for other patients results may not be attained until the second round of injections. It is essential to be patient and monitor your progress subsequent to your injections.
Naturally, it is necessary to always discuss with your doctor and with the specialists at CRPM if it is permitted to take additional medications with your injections. In rare cases there may be slight side effects for utilizing other medications in addition to Botox® for migraine relief. However, as a whole it is generally acceptable to take other migraine agents in addition to Botox® when flare ups occur. This is because the amount injected is very small in target areas. In fact, the active ingredient Botulinum toxin is methodologically undetectable in the body, because of this there are no reports of intolerabilities with other medications. Regardless, always make sure to discuss your options with the specialists at CRPM during your Botox® for Migraine treatment in Orange County.
What Causes Migraines?
For many, preventing migraines can seem like an impossible feat. The debilitating pain forged due to common chronic headaches can result in ruined days, loss of sleep and even permanent brain damage. It is necessary to prevent migraines in order to both avert the pain associated with them and deter permanent damage that can materialize later in life due to continuous chronic migraines throughout life.
With medical advancements introducing the Botox® for migraine relief treatment as a remedy for migraines and as a means for reducing their regularity, there is hope for victims of chronic migraine headaches. For many sufferers of migraines, Botox® treatment can assist in the prevention of migraines and reduce the frequency of the excruciating and unpleasant ailment.
In addition to utilizing Botox® treatment as a mode of reducing the recurrence of migraines, it is paramount to also understand migraine triggers to avoid in order to potentially ward off flare-ups. Although no medical professionals wholly understand the cause of migraines, there are various triggers that are known to contribute to the overall development of migraine headaches.
Many doctors believe that perhaps the source of migraines can be linked back to environmental factors, nerve aberrancies, blood vessel abnormalities, and even genetics. However, these are just theories believed by many. Despite these theories, it is known that various triggers involving food, stressful environments, and lifestyle choices can play a role in the provoking of an onset migraine. There are various triggers including the following:
Various foods and food additives play a key role in the development of migraines for most people. Although there isn’t official medical evidence to support that food plays a role in the triggering of migraines, it is certain that most people do in fact believe that eating certain foods can bring about a migraine. Multiple types of food including aged cheeses, chocolate, salty foods and essentially anything processed is more likely to produce the distressing headache. Additionally, food additives such as aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG), which appear in a plethora of foods, are believed to be triggers as well.
Conclusively, alcohol, wine and other highly caffeinated beverages, especially in excess, are believed to be one of the most prominent triggers applicable for migraines. It is sensible to monitor and avoid these foods and beverages if you identify them to be triggers for yourself. Additionally, Botox® injections for migraine treatment in Orange County can also be very beneficial for reducing the commonality of your headache days.
Much like with regular headaches, overstimulated senses almost always will inevitably result in a flare up. Continuous loud noises, bright lights or formidable scents can leave your sensors in overload and consequently result in a chronic migraine. Scents such as strong perfumes, secondhand smoke, paint and cleaning products are significant triggers that can leave many people with devastating results.
Women tend to generally be the recipients of chronic migraines at a rate significantly higher than that of men. In fact, according to The Migraine Research Foundation, 6% of men in the United States experience migraines. Compared to the 18% of women in The United States afflicted with migraines, we see that women account for three times the number of Americans with migraines in comparison to men. Broadly speaking, this immense difference between genders with migraines can be partially contributed to hormonal changes among women. The commonplace fluctuations of estrogen in women have the appearance of being a comprehensive trigger. Many women with chronic migraines often experience an influx of headaches before and during their period which is accompanied by a significant drop in estrogen.
Additionally, it isn’t abnormal for women to also experience migraines during pregnancy and menopause, both of which contribute to spike differences in estrogen. Hormonal medications also may worsen the ferocity and regularity of migraines among women as well, because they can also affect hormone levels. For women who have tried medicines that just don’t work, Botox® injections for migraine treatment in Orange County may play a key role in preventing migraines and headache days before they even occur.
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