If you experience chronic migraines, an unexpected treatment may bring relief.
Fortunately, Summit Healthcare recently began offering an innovative solution: Botox®.
More Than Cosmetic
Although a recent addition to services available at Summit Healthcare, Botox has been approved to treat migraines for nearly a decade by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Botox was being used in the cosmetic industry before it was approved for migraine treatment by the FDA, which is how most of our patients are familiar with it,” says Quezia Hall, PA-C, Pain Management Physician Assistant at Summit Healthcare Pain Clinic. “But a lot of patients who used Botox cosmetically and also suffered chronic migraines realized they weren’t experiencing migraines anymore.”
She adds that many people resort to medications to treat migraines, but medications are not always effective.
“For patients whose migraines do not respond to medication, we’ve found that many of them respond very well to Botox treatments,” she says. “Botox is a preventive measure that has helped many patients with chronic migraines see remarkable success.”
How It Works
According to the American Migraine Foundation, when Botox is injected near the pain fibers that cause migraines, the medication prevents chemicals that trigger pain from being released. As a result, the pain networks that can lead to migraine never get activated. Side effects are often minimal.
Treatment requires a primary care provider’s referral. Once patients begin, they may see migraine relief after just two or three treatments, although a typical treatment course lasts 10 to 12 weeks.
Quezia adds that at Summit Healthcare, the outpatient procedure is quick and relatively painless.
“We use a small, fine needle that most patients say feels like a pinprick,” she says. “They sit in a comfortable chair, get the injection, and then go home. Some of our patients tell us it feels less like a doctor’s appointment and more like a day at the spa.”
To receive Botox at Summit Healthcare, you will need a referral from your primary care provider. Need a provider? We can help.
