Additional Procedures
Other types of procedures are available to treat specific types of pain, including ketamine infusions, which are to treat various chronic pain syndromes that have a neuropathic component, and botox for chronic migraines.
Headache Treatment Specialist in Ankeny & Des Moines, IA
Headache Treatment Ankeny & Des Moines
Injections can help stop migraines before they start. When injected in small doses the Botulinum toxin protein is very good at blocking nerve signals. It can block the nerve signals that can lead to some headaches. During the procedure the doctor will give you series of injections in specific locations in your head and neck. The needle is small and the injections feel like tiny pin pricks.
How Is Botox Used To Treat Chronic Migraine?
Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) is FDA-approved only for chronic migraine, meaning that it’s approved for patients who experience migraine headaches 15 or more days per month. For those who deal with chronic migraine, however, Botox is a marvelous medication that can help you get your life back. It’s one of the safest medications out there, even safer than aspirin or ibuprofen. Botox has no abuse potential, and it is not addicting. Serious side effects are extremely rare compared to other pain treatments. Side effects of Botox for migraines are minor and include swelling or bruising of the injection sides. Botox for migraine works very differently than Botox for anti-aging, so a migraine patient should not consider aesthetic Botox as a replacement. A Botox clinic will typically inject the medicine into concern areas to help reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging. But migraine patients receive a different set of shots. Every three months, migraine patients are given 5 units (0.1mL) of Botox in 31 specific areas in the head, neck, back, and shoulders. Some patients are able to stay on Botox indefinitely if they see results from the treatment. Not all patients will see results, and Botox will not eliminate migraine headaches entirely. Botox has not been shown to be effective for other types of painful headaches, such as tension or cluster headaches. If you think Botox might be right for you, schedule an appointment for headache treatment in Ankeny today.
Ketamine Infusions Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa Ketamine Infusions for Pain Relief
IV Ketamine infusions are used to treat various chronic pain syndromes that have a neuropathic component. Ketamine produces strong analgesia or numbing in neuropathic pain conditions by inhibition (blocking) of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and by enhancement of descending inhibition and anti-inflammatory effects at central sites.
In clinical settings, ketamine is well tolerated, especially when benzodiazepines are used to modulate the psychotropic side effects. Close monitoring of patients receiving ketamine is necessary and the proposed treatment includes a safe environment with an anesthesia provider monitoring the patient during the infusion.
How Does Ketamine Work for Pain Management?
Ketamine is a well-studied anesthetic and analgesic medication used in surgery and pain management. It works by blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain, allowing the patient to remain comfortable. It also has a calming effect, reducing anxiety and helping the patient to relax. By reducing sensitivity to pain and providing a sense of comfort, ketamine infusions in Iowa can help relieve acute and chronic pain. It can also be used to provide temporary relief from pain in cases of surgery, trauma, and severe pain syndromes. While ketamine has traditionally been used mostly in emergency medicine, physicians are starting to use it as part of a pain management regime. The mechanism by which ketamine works is as an NMDA receptor antagonist, which reduces the action of the NMDA receptor and results in dissociative anesthesia. However, it is not an anesthetic at low doses, leading physicians to consider its use as a pain management drug. It also interacts with other systems in the brain, leading it to be used as a treatment for major depressive disorder. One of the best uses for ketamine is for treating cancer pain that is not responsive to opioid medication. Ketamine is also used to help hospice patients deal with opioid-resistant pain, reduce dependence on opioid medications, and treat severe pain in patients who don’t want to use opioids at all. The American Society of Anesthesiologists endorses using ketamine as an adjuvant for pain management following procedures that result in severe pain.