Approximately 39 million American men, women, and children live with migraines, a painful neurological issue that can cause severe and debilitating symptoms. At New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine in Wesley Chapel, Florida, Jose De La Torre, MD, takes a whole-body approach to pain management by helping identify the cause of your migraines and providing comprehensive solutions and preventive care. If you’re struggling with chronic migraines and live in the North Tampa, Land O' Lakes, Lutz, and Zephyrhills areas, call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine or schedule an appointment online today.
A migraine is a neurological condition involving nerve pathways and brain chemicals. Migraines typically cause severe throbbing on one side of your head along with additional symptoms that can include:
When you have a migraine, your symptoms can last for a few hours or days. They can also vary in severity from mild to incapacitating.
Several factors can trigger a migraine, including:
You’re also more likely to have chronic migraines if you’re a woman or have a family history of the disorder.
Dr. De La Torre treats migraines by working closely with you to identify your potential triggers so you can develop a strategy that includes prevention. This comprehensive, whole-body approach often includes lifestyle modifications, such as:
Based on your triggers and the frequency and severity of your migraines, Dr. De La Torre might also recommend other therapies, like Botox® injections.
Botox is the medical formulation of a naturally occurring neurotoxin that’s FDA-approved to treat chronic migraines. This type of medication temporarily keeps your muscles from contracting.
When injected near the pain fibers associated with chronic migraines, Botox enters the nerve endings and prevents them from releasing the chemicals that send pain signals to your brain.
Dr. De La Torre uses Botox to prevent chronic migraines from starting. To be effective, he generally recommends having regular Botox injections every 12 weeks. Each treatment usually takes about 20 minutes, and you can expect to see fewer migraines after two or three treatment cycles.
To learn more about migraine treatments and Botox, call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine or schedule an appointment online today.