Migraines can be debilitating and extremely frustrating. They can keep you from doing the things you love or even participating in everyday activities. If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from migraines, there are steps you can take to lessen their severity and frequency.

About Migraines

Migraines are a type of headache that can cause throbbing, pulsing, or pounding pain. They are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines may last for a few hours or even days.

What Can Trigger a Migraine?

Many things can trigger a migraine, including stress, lack of sleep, exposure to light, strong smells, and changes in weather or barometric pressure. Hormones can also play a role in triggering migraines.

The exact cause of migraines is different for everyone, but they are thought to be caused by changes in the brainstem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway. The Trigeminal system is the system that controls the oral region including the function of the jaw joints; jaw muscles; swallowing; breathing. Chronic irritation of this sensitive system can make the Trigeminal sensory system hyperactive and hypersensitized such that it goes on to produce headaches and migraines. The origin of the majority of migraines comes from some kind of imbalance in the jaw system. Dr. Buck has had tremendous success in headache elimination with his treatments.

About the Trigeminal Nerve

The trigeminal nerve is a major pain pathway that carries signals from the brain to the face. It has three branches: the ophthalmic branch, the maxillary branch, and the mandibular branch. The ophthalmic branch supplies sensation to the eyes and forehead. The maxillary branch supplies sensation to the cheeks, upper lip, and roof of the mouth. The mandibular branch supplies sensation to the lower jaw and teeth.

The pain may be sharp, stabbing, or burning in nature. It may also be electric, tingling, or aching. The pain may come and go, or it may be constant. It can vary in intensity from mild to severe.

There is no known cure for trigeminal neuralgia, but there are non-surgery treatments that can help relieve the symptoms.

SPG Block for Migraine Treatment

A Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block (or SPG block) is a minimally invasive procedure. It involves applying a local anesthetic into the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a small bundle of nerves near the nose’s back. Migraine pain is immediately relieved when the anesthetic numbs the targeted ganglion. This occurs because the SPG block directly affects the brain’s trigeminal central sensory nucleus, which is the key to migraines. In addition to the immediate relief from pain, the SPG block can last up to three months, assuring chronic sufferers of migraines long, pain-free periods.

Benefits of SPG Block

• Immediate pain relief
• It can last for up to 3 months
• No major side effects
• It does not require hospitalization
• Noninvasive procedure

Migraine sufferers receive immediate relief from debilitating pain when Dr. Buck uses an SPG block to treat their migraine headaches. Although the anesthetic is applied using a soft, flexible rubber catheter tube inserted into the nostril, the SPG block is not an injection.

Schedule an Appointment

Do you suffer from migraines, or do you know someone who does? The next time a migraine headache threatens to ruin your day or week, contact Dr. Buck for the brief, straightforward procedure that will instantly offer relief. Call us today at (425) 361-0962.