A migraine is a painful headache that can occur with photosensitivity, nausea and vomiting. According to the National Headache Foundation, it afflicts over 28 million Americans. Most patients are women, and about 25 percent of female migraine patients have four or more migraines per month. A migraine headache typically lasts anywhere between four hours and three days, but it can last longer.
What Causes a Migraine?
The exact causes of migraines are unclear, but they are believed to involve inherited abnormalities within parts of the brain. A susceptibility to migraines does run in families.
People in such families may also inherit a vulnerability to certain stimuli that can trigger migraines. Such triggers include fatigue, stress, changes in weather and bright lights.
How are Migraines Treated?
There are a variety of treatments for migraines. They include medications that either stop the migraine itself or treat the symptoms, like pain or nausea. Some treatments help the patient identify stressful situations that can trigger a migraine.
What Does Migraine Surgery Involve?
Migraine surgery is an option that can be used if other treatments have failed. There are several possible techniques that fall into two broad categories: nerve release and pain blocking.
Migraines involve compression and irritation of certain nerves in the head and face. Migraine surgery is done to either block the pain signals or remove tissue that is pressing on a nerve.
Nerve release procedures are done to relieve nerves being compressed or irritated by nearby tissue. One example is when the septum of the nose is corrected. If the septum becomes bent or deviated, it can put pressure on neighboring nerves and cause headaches.
A pain blocking procedure can involve the injection of a nerve block into the affected nerve. While the anesthetic blocks the pain signals, the steroid soothes the irritated nerve. The effect can be permanent or temporary.
Learn More Today
Located in Princeton, Princeton Plastic Surgeons offers various migraine surgery techniques to patients suffering from uncontrollable migraines.
We are committed to making patients feel their very best, and we understand that migraines keep you from doing this. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment to learn more about this life-changing procedure.
