Chronic Migraine

Migraines are a common cause of recurrent headaches. Treatments usually consist of lifestyle modifications (i.e. avoiding triggers) along with medications that abort and/or prevent the headache attacks.

In some cases, migraines can be severe and frequent despite lifestyle changes and medications. For patients who are affected by migraines in their daily lives and have not found relief with these measures, surgery can be considered.

There are several surgical options for chronic migraine, including sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) rhizotomy, occipital nerve stimulation, and trigeminal nerve stimulation. The latter two can be quite effective, but they require a permanent stimulator implant that is not MRI compatible, and they are seldom covered by insurance plans. For these reasons, SPG rhizotomy is a good starting place for many patients.

If you live near Denver and suffer from chronic migraines or another facial pain disorder, please consider meeting me in consultation to learn whether you might be a candidate for one of the above therapies. Importantly, patients with chronic migraine must first see a neurologist (I am a neurosurgeon - not a neurologist) before considering surgery. I perform surgery for chronic migraine; I do not prescribe medications.