Headaches & Migraines

If you suffer from chronic migraine headaches 15 or more days a month and can’t find relief with medication, you’re probably a good candidate for Botox® treatments. At Commonwealth Pain & Spine, with offices in Kentucky and Indiana, the team of board-certified physicians offers the convenience of in-office Botox injections to prevent the frequency and severity of migraine pain. When other treatments aren’t helping, consider how Botox injections can work for you by scheduling a consultation at Commonwealth Pain & Spine by phone today. Commonwealth’s Kentucky offices are in St. Matthews, Elizabethtown, Lexington, Crestview Hills, Owensboro, and London. Indiana offices are in Evansville, Vincennes, New Albany, Carrollton, and Jasper. They also serve patients from Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio.

What Causes Headaches and Migraines?

Headaches and migraines can be the result of physical, emotional, or environmental issues that can affect the chemicals and nerve communication in your brain.

While the exact cause of frequent headaches and migraines isn’t well understood, your tendency to develop frequent, painful headaches could be influenced by:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Low blood sugar
• Hormone changes
• Lack of quality sleep
• Use of caffeine and alcohol

Environmental factors like bright lights and strong smells can also cause headache pain.

What Treatments are Available for Headaches and Migraines?

Initially, your Commonwealth Pain & Spine physician reviews your medical history to rule out underlying health issues that could be causing headaches and migraines. They then can recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to reduce the severity and frequency of head pain.

If you suffer from chronic migraines, headaches that come on at least 15 days a month, your Commonwealth Pain & Spine physician can suggest Botox injections.

How Does Botox Treat Migraines?

Botox is a purified form of the botulinum toxin, which temporarily reduces muscle contractions that can trigger chronic migraines.

Following a custom treatment plan, your Commonwealth Pain & Spine physician injects small amounts of Botox into the pain fibers involved with migraine pain. The purified toxin gets into the nerve endings to block the release of chemicals that carry pain signals to your brain.

The goal of Botox injections is to stop migraine headaches before they begin. However, treatment takes time to become effective.

What Can I Expect During Botox Treatments?

Botox injections are fast, in-office treatments. Your Commonwealth Pain & Spine physician ensures you’re comfortable by applying a topical numbing cream before the injections.

Typical treatment plans involve multiple injections is seven specific areas of your head and neck. After your treatment is complete, you can return to your usual activities without limitations.

How Long Do the Results of Botox Last?

Depending on your needs, you might need several treatments with Botox before you see results. Once you do receive the full benefit of therapy, one Botox injection can provide you with 10-12 weeks of migraine relief.

In many cases, Botox injections can also reduce the frequency of headache pain by 50%.

Until the Botox therapy kicks in and starts preventing your headaches, your Commonwealth Pain & Spine provider can recommend medications or other therapies to ease migraine pain.

If you’re looking for effective relief from chronic migraine headache pain, call the office nearest you to find out if you’re a candidate for Botox injections today.