Headaches
Is it just a headache?
Headaches are extremely common and likely a reason of why they are overlooked. Whether they are tension type, migraines, cluster, or another type of headache, they should be properly evaluated and treated. Dr. Bhandari’s practice involves taking care of headaches from diagnosis to treatment. If you have a new onset headache or a chronic one that hasn’t been looked at, it is a good idea to have it looked at by a specialist dedicated to treating headaches.
With quite a bit of overlap with sleep medicine and epilepsy, Dr. Bhandari’s concentration on headaches can lead to improvement not only in headaches, but hopefully also in sleep quality and the prevention of future seizures.
Treating headaches is multi-faceted and can involve pharmaceuticals, sleep hygiene, changes in the patient’s daily routine and stress levels, therapy, botulinum toxin, massage, yoga, and nerve blocks.
Here are links to a few therapies for headaches we do here in the office.
Botulinum Toxin
Nerve/ Ganglion Blocks
CGRP Blockers
Alternative Therapies Therapy
Botulinum Toxin Therapy
Botulinum toxin
Botulinum Toxin Therapy
Botulinum toxin is approved for adults who get chronic migraines. If you have both a history of migraines that are ongoing 15 or more days a month, this may be an option for you. In a previous study of migraineurs, it was found that botulinum toxin cut down the total number of days they had headaches.
Patients get up to 50 shots around your head and neck every 12 weeks to dull or event prevent migraines. Most patients see results 2 to 3 weeks after the injections.
This procedure is done in the office under the care of Dr. Bhandari or his mid-levels. Most insurances do cover this therapy to treat chronic migraines.
If you are interested in using this therapy in treating your migraines, please schedule an appointment by clicking on the link below.
Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide Blockers
(CGRP) Blockers
Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide Blockers
The FDA recently approved 3 new monoclonal antibodies that target CGRP or its receptor- galcanezumab, erenumab, and fremanezumab, for chronic migraines. CGRP blockers represent a novel class of medications to target the pathophysiologic process implicated in migraine, specifically. They are typically given once monthly by the patient themselves as an injection. Side effects are minimal as it targets CGRP. Moreover, drug interactions are scant, if any, making it easy to administer in most patients.
If you are interested in using this therapy in treating your headaches, please schedule an appointment by clicking on the link below.
Nerve/Ganglion Blocks
(CGRP) Blockers
Nerve/Ganglion Blocks
Occipital nerve (ON) and sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) blocks are an effective means of treating occipital neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, cluster headaches, and migraines. The SPG is located just under the tissue lining the back of the nose. The ON exits the back of the skull on both sides. Both procedures are minimally invasive and can be done in minutes. Side effects are minimal and because they are both localized therapies, systemic side effects are very rare.
SPG blocks are best done when you are having a headache. We block off a few slots every day for patients with active headaches so that you can hopefully get relief soon. This procedure is done in the office under the care of Dr. Bhandari or his mid-levels. Most insurances do cover this therapy to treat chronic migraines. If you are interested in using this therapy in treating your headaches, please schedule an appointment by clicking on the link below.
Alternative Therapies
Variants
Alternative Therapies
Headaches, whether they are cluster headaches, migraines, tension, or another variant, have an underlying inflammatory cascade occurring. Treating that underlying cascade can aid in combating the headache. Infusions and other therapies can be used to play a very important role in the body’s healing/regeneration process.
These procedures are done in the office under the care of Dr. Bhandari or his mid-levels. Most insurances do not cover these therapies to treat headaches. If you are interested in using alternative therapies in treating your headaches, please schedule an appointment by clicking on the link below or reaching out to us to discuss further.