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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | Biofeedback New Patient Information (Appointments and Payment) Headache Diagnosis Guidelines Diagnosis & Treatment of Headache (in Detail)
The Headache Clinic of West Houston, also known as the Headache Care Center of Houston, was established because of an increased need for a diagnostic and treatment facility for those suffering from debilitating headaches. Clinic director Dr. Dennis G. Brown is a neurologist. He received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston and completed his residency in Neurology at the New York Neurological Institute of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, in New York City. He is currently a clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. His memberships include the Texas Medical Association, American Headache Society, National Headache Foundation, Texas Neurological Society, American Academy of Neurology and American Academy of Neuroimaging. Clinical interest in headache disorders has led him to focus on the diagnosis, treatment and management of headaches. In recent years, Dr. Brown has educated the medical community through a variety of headache programs including seminars, speaking engagements and preceptorships in the field of primary care. In addition, he teaches medical students and residents at The University of Texas, Health Science Center and Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston. Headache sufferers can now take advantage of the many advances in headache diagnosis and treatment. State of the art imaging allows for a clearer diagnosis and better understanding of the causes of headaches. This has led to many treatments for migraine including specific migraine medications, biofeedback, and physical therapy. The Headache Clinic of West Houston provides innovative treatment for those suffering from both acute and chronic headache disorders.
THE USES OF BOTOX (BOTULINUM TOXIN TYPE A) Botox was approved by the FDA in 1989 for treating strabismus and blepharospasm. In 2002, BOTOX® was approved for cosmetic surgery, being used to reduce facial wrinkles above the nose. Many patients receiving BOTOX® for cosmetic reasons reported fewer migraine headaches after receiving the drug. This led to further studies and a larger use of BOTOX® for headaches. It is now used as a preventative therapy for headaches and has a high rate of success. BOTOX® is used for treating following conditions, all approved by the FDA:
BOTOX® is also used for "off-label" treatment of the following conditions:
Botulinum toxin is a natural substance secreted by the bacterium that causes botulism. Botulism is a disorder in which the muscles become paralyzed. BOTOX® works by interfering with neuromuscular transmission, which results in the temporary relaxation of the targeted muscles. This is an effective treatment for various muscle spasms, facial spasms, and spasticity. This relief lasts anywhere from three to four months, and sometimes longer. In headaches, BOTOX® effectively relaxes muscles of the scalp and reduces both the frequency and the severity of the headache. When treating migraine headaches, BOTOX® is injected into the muscles of the forehead (frontalis muscles), sides of the scalp (temporal muscles), the occipitalis muscles at the back of the head, and the cervical paraspinal muscles. Significant improvements begin in about one week and the effect of BOTOX® usually lasts anywhere from three to four months. Improvement appears to be cumulative in that results improve with the second and third treatments if the first treatment has only a mild effect. Side effects are minimal.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physical medicine can be an effective treatment for headaches. After an initial evaluation is performed by the therapist, a treatment plan to aid in the management and prevention of your headaches will begin. Approximately 12 sessions will be scheduled. Your course of treatment may include electrical stimulation, massage, ultrasound, stretching and hot and cold packs. Muscle tension and tightness can be a major contributing factor triggering the onset of a headache. The release of tension is achieved by treatment to the pressure points in the neck and base of the skull. The physical therapists are healthcare professionals trained to provide you with the appropriate tools and information to improve your condition. The physical therapy scheduler will contact you to set your appointments. Should you need to re-schedule an appointment, please call 713.932.8886 or 713.467.4082. A 24-hour notice of cancellation is appreciated.
Biofeedback can be a powerful therapeutic tool for the treatment of migraine and tension type headaches. Biofeedback therapy is a process in which one can learn to reduce and control the symptoms of headache disorders. This non-invasive form of treatment uses specialized equipment to train patients in self-regulation of both mental and physical processes. The biofeedback clinician attaches sensors or electrodes to the body. These sensors provide a variety of readings or "feedback" such as skin temperature, heart rate, muscle tension (EMG) and brain waves (EEG). With this information patients can learn to change and control specific behavioral and emotional stress patterns as well as the physical effects of stress which may trigger headaches. Biofeedback incorporates deep breathing, relaxation and visualization techniques. During the training sessions with your biofeedback clinician you will practice a variety of techniques facilitating the learning and acquisition of self-regulation skills. These become life-long habits, helping to reduce or eliminate headache symptoms. The biofeedback department is under the direction of Lydia Esperanza McKay, B.C.I.A.-C. Dr.?McKay is a certified biofeedback clinician. She completed her biofeedback studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and is certified by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America. Dr.?McKay is also involved with Baylor College of Medicine as the biofeedback clinician in the Department of Anesthesiology, specializing in chronic pain management. She also trains anesthesiology fellows and residents in biofeedback techniques.
New Patient Information (Appointments and Payment) Welcome to the Headache Clinic of West Houston. We look forward to working with you and your referring physician to effectively deal with your headaches. Physician Visits: For various reasons, a referral from your primary care physician may be required for your visit with us. This allows us to coordinate care with your primary physician or referring physician. If a referral is a requirement of your health insurance company, you must obtain the referral from your primary care physician prior to your visit. At your first appointment, your physician will obtain a history and perform a neurological examination. This is followed by a discussion of your diagnosis. The physician may then recommend treatment or further testing. This should be done before your next appointment. If testing is performed, your physician will review test results with you at your follow up visit. It is important that results are given to you in person, so that we can explain your diagnosis and treatment plan, and fully answer all of your questions. Office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon on Friday. We will be happy to authorize refills of your medications during our normal business hours. Please allow 24 to 48 hours for refill approvals. Since our office schedule is quite filled, we will make every effort to schedule your follow up visits at a reasonable time interval. Because of this, we request at least 24 hours notice of cancellation, so that other patients will have the opportunity to be notified of an appointment opening. A $25.00 fee will be charged for insufficient notice of cancellation. Payment Policy: For your office visits, we require payment at the time of service or your co-pay if you have a managed care insurance plan. We do accept Medicare assignment. For your convenience, we accept your personal check, cash, MasterCard, VISA, and Discover cards. We look forward to having you as our patient. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at any time during our regular business hours.
When you complete the headache questionnaire and bring it to your appointment, it provides important information for your diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis & Treatment of Headache Disorders Dr. Dennis Brown has written a comprehensive paper on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Headache Disorders. It's written for primary care providers and is also of interest to headache patients. Use the following links to go directly to the section covering your topic of interest: |
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and The Headache Clinic of West Houston 909 Frostwood Dr., Suite 205 ~ Houston, TX 77024 Tel: 713.467.4082 ~ Fax: 713.467.8585 [ map ] |
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