Keep up with the doctors, patients, treatments—and results—from all our locations.
BOTOX® is a neurotoxin prepared from the bacterial compound onabotulinumtoxinA. It’s used for medical purposes to treat specific muscular disorders, and in the cosmetics industry to remove wrinkles by briefly paralyzing the facial muscles. While BOTOX® has been around since the 1970s, it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a preventive migraine option only in 2010. Since then, however, it has become frequently used as a treatment to provide relief for sufferers.
Anyone can get migraines, but women are more likely to do so than men. Patients who develop chronic migraine attacks often have several factors in common, including age, family history, and other medical conditions. Hormones play a primary role in women’s headaches, particularly during the menstrual cycle, and millions of women experience migraines triggered by fluctuating hormones. For those who get migraine attacks before or during their periods, it’s helpful to know about specific...
A preventive treatment has finally arrived that could change the life of many migraine sufferers. Around 2 percent of the global population experiences chronic migraine, which puts the condition among the top 10 causes of disability in the world. The new drug, Aimovig, is intended to help sufferers block the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) fragments from infusing the brain.
Migraine sufferers often feel the need to ask for a second opinion, but aren't sure whether they are justified in doing so or how to approach the issue. This post aims to clarify the question and provide you with the answers you need.
Medical science is continually looking for new ways to prevent or treat migraine attacks. Statistics from government health studies show the prevalence of migraine has remained consistent over the years, affecting around 12 percent of the American population or 39 million people. Sufferers have several care options to choose from, ranging from pain management and lifestyle strategies to oral medication and surgery. Due to the complexity of the condition, however, no single treatment exists...
One thing most migraine sufferers know for certain is that a migraine is not “just a headache.” Even if your family or primary care physician recognizes that your headaches and other symptoms are indications of migraine attacks, they may not be fully equipped to treat and manage your condition effectively. Here’s how to determine when it’s time to see a migraine specialist, and what type of specialist to look for.
Scheduling an appointment with a new doctor about your migraines can be stressful, particularly if you’ve been going to your family physician for years. You know you’ll have to go through your entire medical history, give details of your migraine attacks and answer what feels like a million personal questions. Chances are good that you’ll leave the appointment having forgotten to raise some important issues, and have to wait until the next visit to get answers.
These tips can make your...
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a testing procedure used all around the world to capture detailed images of tissues and organs inside the body or head. One of the uniquely-useful attributes of the MRI test is its ability to produce clear pictures of the brain, without using radio-active x-rays. The test is performed using a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to compile and distribute the images.
For centuries reading has been both an escape and an education. Just because some of it takes place electronically now doesn’t change that, and if you’re considering migraine surgery it’s important to gather as much information as possible before you take the next step. We’ve put together a list of great resources and summaries for you to digest as you plan the future of your treatment.
