4 Advanced Types Of Treatments For Migraine Headaches
If your current migraine medication isn't controlling the throbbing in your head, consider using an advanced treatment method. Below you'll discover four new types of treatments that can give you relief from migraines.
Electric Current
This new type of treatment uses an electric current as a nerve stimulator to relieve migraine pain. An electrode is located inside of a band that you wear on your forehead. As you position the plastic headband above your eyes, you'll secure it in place with adhesive pads.
When cells in your brain become over stimulated, the trigeminal nerve discharges chemicals that aggravate the blood vessels on the surface of the brain, which causes your head to throb. As the blood vessels in your brain enlarge due to this irritation, they transmit indicators of pain to the stem of your brain. When the electrode in the headband discharges the current, it intensifies the pain blocking chemicals in your brain.
This device runs on batteries and you'll wear it for approximately 20 minutes every day to control your migraine headaches. As the electrical current flows through the headband, you'll feel a slight tingle on the surface of your skin.
Nasal Spray
If you're one of the 37 million people in America who have migraine headaches and you currently take a migraine medication called prochlorperazine, you can now get rid of the pain faster. This medication helps to control migraine symptoms such as a queasy stomach and vomiting as well as the associated pain.
This drug is already available in pill form and injections, but the new nasal spray offers quicker relief from pain because it absorbs into your system faster.
Eyelid Surgery
Surgeons are now performing cosmetic eyelid surgery to stop the occurrence of migraine headaches. Doctors recommend this type of procedure for patients who have migraines due to compressed nerves at the back of the skull. A traditional form of surgery consists of starting at the scalp and going underneath the skin to cut the nerves that cause migraines.
During eyelid surgery, a surgeon will make an incision in the upper portion of the eyelid to suppress the nerves that cause migraines. After the completion of the procedure, the eyelid appears smoother and free of wrinkles.
Magnets
Magnetic therapy isn't new and it's often used to relieve pain from arthritis and other painful conditions. Now, it's also being used to relieve pain from migraines. Magnetic therapy creates an energy field that corrects imbalances in the body and increases blood flow.
When you feel migraine pain, you place the handheld device against the back portion of your head and push a button. This causes the device to release magnetic energy to your brain. The magnetic pulse stimulates the occipital cortex and this part of the brain is largely responsible for sight.
Depending on the severity of your migraines, you can adjust the number, length and frequency of magnetic pulses that you receive. The device is computer controlled to document each magnetic pulse so that you'll have a record of your treatments. Since it's small enough to fit in your hand, you can take it with you wherever you go and use it when needed.
You can use this mechanism to lessen the pain when you have a migraine or use it when you don't have a headache as a preventative measure. If desired, you can also use magnetic therapy along with other types of migraine treatment methods such as medication.
If you frequently suffer from migraine headaches and your current medications aren't helping, talk to your doctor about these new types of treatments. You may become dehydrated with continual diarrhea or vomiting due to a headache. Visit an emergency room if you have the above symptoms or a migraine that won't go away.