What Everyday Activities Can Trigger Joint Pain?
How Can Chronic Pain Affect Your Quality of Life?
Chronic migraines aren't just painful, they can affect every aspect of your life. At Aether Medicine in Wayne, PA, board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Dr. Asare Christian and his team use a unique approach using neurotoxin medicine to treat chronic migraines and offer patients relief.
Keep reading to discover how neurotoxin medicine can address migraine headaches and what you should avoid after treatment for optimal long-term results.
How Does Neurotoxin Medicine Work?
Neurotoxin medicine involves injecting purified neurotoxins into the muscles that cause severe and chronic pain. While this may sound intimidating, you've no doubt heard of some of these treatments in the past, including BOTOX®, Dysport®, XEOMIN®, and MYOBLOC®. Neurotoxins work by blocking signals to specific muscles to prevent them from contracting. This can help prevent pain and spasms.
How Do Neurotoxins Treat Chronic Migraine?
Painkillers aren't always practical for migraine headaches since they involve a variety of symptoms beyond head pain. Migraine headache sufferers may also experience nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and dizziness. It can also be challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of migraine headaches.
After reviewing your medical records and speaking with you about your symptoms, Dr. Christian will try to diagnose the root cause of your chronic migraines. If muscle contractions contribute to your pain, he may recommend neurotoxin medicine. However, Aether Medicine also offers other treatment options.
If neurotoxin medicine is indicated, Dr. Christian will explain which treatment he will use and the specific muscles that will be injected. You'll also get information on any risks so you can make an informed decision about your treatment.
Once the problematic muscles are injected with neurotoxins, chronic migraine sufferers may experience relief within a week of treatment. In other patients, relief may take months. Patients typically come in after one month for a progress assessment.
If neurotoxin medicine works for your migraine headaches, Dr. Christian may recommend getting injections every 3 – 6 months as needed. Ongoing treatment is usually required to keep migraines at bay, and some people require multiple injections per session to target all of the relevant muscles.
Things to Avoid Following Chronic Migraine Treatment?
Even if muscle spasms play a role in your migraine headaches, you'll still want to avoid any triggers (such as caffeine). A lifestyle plan will often be recommended in conjunction with neurotoxin medicine for migraines and can include exercise, diet, and sleep hygiene recommendations.
Almost immediately after neurotoxin injections, patients should avoid rubbing the treatment area. In some cases, you may want to avoid strenuous activity in the days following treatment while your muscles adjust. If you feel dizziness or muscle weakness after your treatment, it's wise to relax until your body adjusts.
Neurotoxins are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, so if you become pregnant during your treatment, alert Dr. Christian. He may postpone further treatment until you've given birth and finished breastfeeding.
Treat Chronic Migraines with Neurotoxin Medicine in Wayne, PA
Chronic migraines can limit your ability to enjoy life. When painkillers don't work or need to be avoided, neurotoxin medicine may be recommended. At Aether Medicine in Wayne, PA, board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Dr. Asare Christian is committed to helping you identify the cause and best treatment for your chronic migraine pain.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Christian today to learn more about neurotoxin medicine for chronic migraines.