This holistic-medical comprehensive approach to treating migraines will help reduce frequency, severity, and pain, while increasing your quality of life. We want to help you be social with friends and family again, to be able to go outdoors and enjoy your hobbies, or simply get back to work.
You will have a 30-minute conversation with our migraine team. We will discuss your history with migraines, including the severity, frequency and your accompanying systems. We will also talk about your goals with our treatment.
It depends on several factors. Everyone experiences migraines with varying levels of frequency, severity and accompanying symptoms. After the consultation we do a full evaluation and assessment and we develop your personalized comprehensive migraine treatment plan.
Our migraine team will develop a personalized plan which will include a 60-minute Acupuncture treatment, a 60-minute CranioSacral treatment and then 30 units of Botox from our nurse practitioner or M.D. Each treatment will be customized to your needs.
Yes, each member of our migraine team has been trained to help people with migraines using their particular skills, specialization and education. However, taking a comprehensive approach to treating your migraine is going to yield your best results.
Botox can only be given once every few months, but we have Continuation of Care packages available for Acupuncture and CranioSacral Services. This can help maintain or improve results depending on how your body responds to the care.
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle touch therapy that monitors the fluid around the central nervous system to detect potential restriction and imbalances. The therapist will then use gentle, manual techniques to "release" these problem areas, thereby relieving undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord and relax the CNS.
Studies have shown numerous responses within the central nervous system as well as activation of multiple metabolic pathways during acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture points in different areas of the body may cause reactions within different areas of the brain, which may trigger or inhibit the release of various hormones and neurotransmitters. One of the hormones released includes endorphins, which is the body’s natural pain reliever. Other studies have shown acupuncture influences the body’s blood pressure and inflammatory process. Because migraines are believed to be caused by neurological issues which trigger constriction of the vascular system and inflammation within the brain, acupuncture may be used to alter the nervous system response, relax/dilate blood vessels, and reduce the inflammatory response within the brain.
Acupuncture uses hair fine, filiform needles. There may be sensations induced by the insertion of an acupuncture needle, but a lot of needle insertions are not felt. The most common sensation experienced is that of a light pressure. Other sensations include tingling, a change in temperature at the insertion point, a small pinch, or a slight movement away from needle. Acupuncture treatments have been shown to induce the release of endorphins, which are the “feel-good” hormones of the body. These endorphins may decrease pain in the body and leave you in a relaxed state.
In 2010, the FDA approved Botox for the treatment of chronic migraines. Botox enters the nerve endings where it is injected and blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission. This lessens pain and helps reduce symptoms of migraine headaches, including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to lights, sounds, and smells. Research suggests that with continued treatment Botox can reduce the frequency and severity of migraines by 50%.
We accept HSA and FSA cards, but we don’t file with your insurance company.