Migraines are a terrible thing to experience, especially if they are consistent. They can stop you dead in your tracks and throw off your entire day. If this is the case, we have a solution for you. In recent years, Botox has been approved as a treatment for migraines, and here is why.
Migraines
A migraine is an intense feeling in your head that can leave you exhausted after hours of pain. Migraines typically go through four different levels of intensity. If you are a frequent sufferer of migraines, you are likely aware of these stages. The phases include prodrome, aura, migraine itself, postdrome. Here is an outline of the phases below.
Prodrome
This stage is typically the first and can last anywhere from a few hours to days. Some of the most common symptoms include irritability, depression, yawning, increased need to urinate, food cravings, sensitivity to light and sound, concentration problems, fatigue, muscle stiffness, and nausea. Also, some people have difficulty speaking, reading, and sleeping in this phase.
Aura
Aura lasts from anywhere between five to 60 minutes. This occurs right before the actual headache itself. Symptoms include visual disturbances, temporary loss of sight, and numbness or tingling on parts of the body.
Headache
This is the peak of the migraine phases. Unfortunately, this can last anywhere between four and 72 hours, depending on the severity of the headache. In addition to the symptoms before, this stage can bring on more symptoms. Those include throbbing, drilling, burning, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, insomnia, anxiety, nasal congestion, depressed mood, and neck pain. In addition, some feel like an icepick is in their head or sensitivity to light, smell, and sounds.
Postdrome
Postdrome is the comedown stage after an attack. This lasts typically between 24 and 48 hours. This can leave you incredibly fatigued and exhausted. Some may feel depressed, inability to concentrate, euphoric, or lack of understanding. Once this stage passes, you are officially done with the migraine cycle.
Botox
No one wants to suffer these symptoms, especially for extended periods like hours or even days. One of the ways we help our migraine patients is with Botox injections. It may come as a surprise, but some reasons for migraines stem from dental issues. Seeing a dentist can help figure out the trigger and provide relief. At Westmoreland Dental Group, we provide patients with a variety of migraine therapy. Our therapy consists of Botox injections in selected places, and a nightguard to help with any jaw pain. The FDA approved Botox in 2011 for chronic headaches. Our doctor will provide patients general anesthesia to make them more comfortable before the injection. Botox is then injected into the affected area and lasts up to three months. Botox allows the muscle to relax and reduce facial pain.
If you are interested in more information in Botox for migraine relief, visit Westmoreland Dental Group. At Westmoreland, we provide different dentistry services in addition to migraine therapy. We understand how painful migraines are and want to get you back to a pain-free life. To schedule an appointment, visit us online here or call us at (423) 282-2844 today!