Earlier this year I wrote about intranasal nerve blocks for migraine treatment, a newly-FDA-approved treatment. Â At a recent appointment with my neurologist, I asked about it. Â My doctor doesn’t recommend it for me, but he does recommend a lower tech version (one I referenced in my initial post). Â Instead of lidocaine applied via camera-guided catheter to a bundle of nerves deep in the sinuses, he prescribed me a 4% lidocaine solution and gave me a nasal dropper. Â When I get a migraine, I am supposed to lie down on my back, on my bed, with my head hanging off the end. Â Then I dispense several drops of lidocaine – the angle of my head will allow the lidocaine to flow back and anesthetize the ganglion block.
My neurologist expects that these nasal drops will significantly improve my migraine pain, although he’s not sure whether they’ll be effective on my other symptoms, like nausea and photosensitivity. Â But I have my drops waiting by my bedside table now, waiting for my next migraine to hit. Â I hope this works!
Have you ever asked about a treatment and had a lower tech or less invasive version recommended, either for medical reasons or because insurance wouldn’t cover the more involved treatment? Â Have any LL readers tried lidocaine treatments for their migraines? Â While I wait to see how these drops work for me, I’d love to hear how they’ve worked for you.
