Relief for Migraine and Chronic Headaches with AHN's Holistic and Research-Backed Care

Migraine is a neurological disorder affecting an estimated 12% of the global population — and is the third most common disease in the world.*

With migraine causes spanning heredity, gender, and more, AHN Neuroscience Institute is committed to providing holistic migraine and chronic headache care based on individual needs, with research-backed methods and novel treatment options.

A holistic approach to treating headaches

Experts at AHN’s Headache Center under AHN Neuroscience Institute not only treat the immediate symptoms of headaches, but aim to prevent them. Based on an individual’s unique experience with headaches and their health history, personalized plans may involve pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions including:

• Lifestyle adjustments for stress management, nutrition, and sleep patterns.
• Oral, nasal spray, or injectable medications.
• IV infusions.
• Neuromodulatory devices and pain psychology.
• Physical, cognitive, and vestibular therapy.
• Osteopathic manipulation.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy and biofeedback.

Patients also have access to AHN’s collaborative and coordinated care model. AHN’s Headache Center may refer patients to providers in other neurological subspecialties and interdisciplinary specialties to ensure the most effective treatment for a person’s unique case.

Botox^® for headaches

AHN Neurologist, Meghan Piccinin, DO, specializes in Botox as an FDA-approved solution in cases of intractable migraine, and is one of the only physicians in western PA to offer Botox injections as a safe alternative for the management of neuropathic facial pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia. In clinical trials, Botox reduced the number of monthly migraine days by at least half in over 70% of patients.**

“Botox has proven to be a very effective treatment in reducing the severity and frequency of acute migraine attacks,” said Dr. Piccinin. “We can also use Botox injections for cervical dystonia and neck muscle spasms — both of which are frequent causes of chronic headaches — making this an effective tool for many people though the causes of their condition may be different.”

Botox is often used in conjunction with other treatment methods like lifestyle changes or medications, and a reduction in headache frequency can be seen as early as four weeks after the first set of injections. Botox is typically administered in-office every 12 weeks.***

Other advanced options for acute headaches

AHN offers urgent headache care with same-day appointments for severe and acute headache pain. These timely interventions may include the administration of nerve blocks and trigger point injections — hopefully helping patients avoid a trip to the emergency room.

Patients can also receive intravenous therapy for acute migraine attacks at our outpatient infusion centers. Many patients report rapid and sustained pain relief, and less intense and frequent migraines after their personalized treatment, which may include the infusion of fluids, medication, or electrolytes.

Research-backed results

AHN Headache Center’s active involvement in clinical trials emphasizes our commitment to providing leading-edge, comprehensive care and whole-body treatment for headache disorders. Recent studies or studies in progress include:

• A randomized control trial to compare the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment vs. neuromodulatory devices for migraine relief.
• A study focused on the effectiveness of Empowered Pain, an evidence-based practice exploring pain psychology.
• A trial examining the use of Zavegepant nasal spray to treat acute cluster headaches.

How to refer

If migraine and headache disorders are interrupting your patients’ daily lives, don’t wait to refer them to AHN Neuroscience Institute. Our multidisciplinary team will provide comprehensive and personalized care to get them back to doing what they love, pain-free. Call AHN Headache Center at (412) 578-3925.