Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Headaches can be crippling. They can start with or without a history of trauma or illness. Here at Sarasota Pain Relief Centers, we have interventional therapies that have been useful in the treatment of headaches.
Botulinum Toxin (Botox) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of migraine headaches. This therapy was identified as a potential source of relief after many migraine patients who had the treatment for cosmetic purposes reported improvement of their headaches. The points injected follow a similar distribution of the ones used for the treatment of wrinkles. The effects last between 4-6 months.
Sphenopalatine ganglion blocks can be used in the case of a severe headache attack. Local anesthetic covered swabs are inserted through the nostrils in the office while the patient is being monitored. At the base of the nose there is a plate through which nerve fibers endings communicate with a ganglion (sphenopalatine). The local anesthetic numbs these fibers, thus blocking the headache temporarily. This can be an alternative to IV medication in the ER.
Occipital nerve blocks can be given in the office to treat pain that starts in the back of the head and goes all the way up on one or both sides to the back of the eye. They can be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Steroids can be also injected. The relief is almost immediate and can last for months.
Trigger point injections with different solutions can treat headaches that are due to muscles. Yes, muscles can hurt a lot. Headaches due to this reason are better treated in combination with physical therapy. These are easy to diagnose and treat effectively.
Facet joint injections, medial branch nerve blocks and ablations are used for management of cervicogenic (from the neck), headaches and the famous “whiplash injuries”. These techniques have been used for over 40 years to treat pain related to the little joints of the spine vertebral bodies. The relief the patients obtain is great. Up to 75-80% of the patients who obtain significant relief with the diagnostic injections can obtain long lasting relief (average of 1 ½ – 2 years) with the ablation (nerve burning).
We invite you to discuss these alternatives with your provider and look forward to better living with less pain.
Sarasota Pain Relief Centers
At Sarasota Pain Relief, we have many options to help you with your personalized pain management needs. Please visit our website at www.sarasotaprc.com, or call us at (941) 923-2500.
We have 5 locations to serve you in the Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Venice area. Our friendly and well-informed team members are eager to speak with you today.
