New Minimally Invasive Migraine Treatment Helps Reduce Symptoms, Need For Medication

Researchers at the University New York Empire State College in Saratoga Springs are working on a new minimally invasive intervention for patients dealing with recurring migraines. To help prevent painful symptoms and reduce the need for medication, this may be the next step in treating the health issue.

"Migraine headaches are one of the most common, debilitating diseases in the Unites States, and the cost and side effects of medicine to address migraines can be overwhelming," said lead study author Kenneth Mandato, in a news release. "Intranasal sphenopalatine ganglion blocks are image-guide, targeted, breakthrough treatments."

The treatment involves the administration of 4 percent lidocaine, a common local anesthetic, to the sphenopalatine ganglion, a nerve bundle that's located just behind the nasal cavity and is strongly associated with migraines. The numbing solution is then delivered via a spaghetti-sized catheter that's extended via the nasal passage.

During the study, doctors asked patients to rate the degree of debilitation from their headache symptoms using a visual analogue scale, a psychometric response scale sliding between two end points (in this case 1 and 10).

Before the treatment, 112 patients gave an average rating of 8.25. Immediately following, the score went down to 4.1. About a month later, it went up a bit to 5.25.

In future studies, researchers hope to further determine the plan's long-term efficacy and the treatment's effectiveness.

"These results sound very promising," Lipton concluded. "Of course, it remains to be seen if the demonstrated benefit already seen holds up over a longer period of time, and with a bigger group of patients."