Larisa Syrow, MD
Director, Headache Program
Cooper Neurological Institute
Finally, hope for migraine sufferers!
Do you suffer from relentless, debilitating migraine headaches? Does it seem that you’ve tried many treatments and nothing is working? Do you feel like it’s having a considerable impact on your life? If that’s so, you are not alone. About 12 percent of people in the US suffer from migraines, and one of every four households has a member with a migraine. Although most people who suffer with migraines have a few attacks or less per month, 3 percent of the population have chronic migraine, meaning that they have symptoms at least 15 days a month, for three months straight, despite multiple treatment attempts. Clearly, it has a major effect on one’s life. Those suffering with migraines are more likely to have depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, other pain conditions and fatigue.
If you have found yourself to be in the category of those with chronic migraine, you may be glad to know there is hope. Thanks to myriad research trials and new, emerging medications, we have many options for those with defeating migraine headaches. Some options come in the form of pills or nasal sprays, while others are injections. One particular treatment type that offers relief to many people with intractable, chronic migraine is Botox ® treatment.
Although Botox originally became popular for its cosmetic effects, it has been FDA approved for chronic migraine treatment for many years, and is now covered by many medical insurance companies. It is administered by specialized physicians, and at Cooper we provide it at our comprehensive headache clinic.
Ultimately, it’s important to know that there are many more options now available for those with frequent migraines. For example, trying something in the form of injections instead of pills may be the ticket to feeling better. Continue being open minded that something will work … and never lose hope.