Sunday, July 30, 2017

Self Administer SphenoPalatine Ganglion (SPG) Blocks: Improve Your Quality of Life!

SPG Blocks were featured in the book "Miracles on Park Avenue" but it is often difficult to find doctors who utilize these blocks.  It is even more difficult to find doctors who teach patients to Self-Administer these blocks.  There is a link below to SPG Block referral forms.

Learn More about these blocks at www.sphenopalatineganglionblocks.com

See Videos of patient stories at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk9Bfz6pklC7_UluWFHzLrg
and at
https://www.reddit.com/r/SPGBlocks/

Self administration is typically done with cotton-tipped nasal catheters and 2% lidocaine.  The cost of self administration after initial visit is less than $1.00 per bilateral administration.  The real savings are decreased drug use and associated side effects, less physician visits saving driving and waiting time, decreasing or eliminating visits to the ER,  increases in quality of life, interpersonal relations etc.

In addition to relieving pain resetting the autonomic nervous system to turn off sympathetic overload which can help turn off anxiety, PTSD, depression and panic attacks.  This may be useful for patients suffering CRPS.

Patients frequently come to my office to learn this technique.  If you have a referral from your physician there is a better chance of being reimbursed by your insurance company.

Patients can learn the procedure in a single visit and we frequently see long distance patients who come in just to learn Self-Administration of the amazing block.

Referral information can be found at:  https://thinkbetterlife.com/referrals/

I have been teaching physicians and dentists to do this procedure for many years.  Most recent courses were in Scottsdale and in Buenos Aires.  I am teaching my next course in Seattle in August 2017 at the Myotronics 50th Anniversary meeting.

The SPG Block is amazing as a stand alone procedure but we routinely utilize it as a part of neuromuscular treatment protocol designed to correct balance and homeostasis to the craniomandibular-cervical complex and to control the trigeminal nervous system where all headaches and migraines originate.

The referral for also has referral information for Diagnostic Neuromuscular Orthotic, Neuromuscular Dentistry, Trigger Point Injections, Occipital Nerve Blocks, ULF-TENS and many other treatments.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Chicago Migraine Management: Amazing Migraine Relief With SPG Block

Management of migraine is often difficult and the side effects of treatment regimens can sometimes be as bad or worse than the initial problems.
SPG Blocks is a radically different type of migraine treatment that can be a game changer for many patients. The side effects of SPG Blocks include a feeling of relaxation and well being, lower BP, increased libido and increased parasympathetic / reduced sympathetic activity.
Contrary to many current algorithms for deciding which treatment to utilize for Migraine, Autonomic Cephalgias and Chronic Headache Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks should always  be considered a first line approach to treatment due to high efficacy and minimal negative side effects.  A very high quality of life can be achieved when these blocks are effective, though like all treatments they do not work for everyone.  It is important to remember that the method of delivering an SPG Block is important as it can determine how successful the block is.
A new article in Current Pain Management (abstract below) discusses Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks in treating Migraine, Facial Pain and various neuralgias.
The article states “SPG blockade is a safe and effective treatment for chronic headaches such as cluster headaches, migraines, and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.”
The degree and duration of relief varied with the method of delivery of the SPG Block. Dr Shapira has been utilizing Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks for over 30 years and utilizes many different methods of delivery, He teaches course in delivery of SPG Blocks and has recently lectured in Buenos Aires and Scottsdale and is next lecturing in Seattle.
It is important for many reasons to have multiple methods of delivering these blocks. The most effective method appears to be via Suprazygomatic injection route followed by the intra-oral injection route.
In spite of high success with injection techniques Dr Shapira generally promotes the cotton tipped nasal catheter approach. While it may be less effective initially than injections because it is easy to self administer at home. The cost afte initial appointments is under $1.00 per bilateral block. The biggest savings to the patient are in travel time, aggravation and avoiding delay in treatment, ie increased time suffering.
The advantage to self administration is that patients finally are in control of their pain treatment. They can utilize blocks multiple times on the same day if desired.
There are several commercial devices for delivering SPG Blocks as well. The Sphenocath is my preferred device in patients where cotton tipped nasal catheters are not possible to utilize. These all require 20 minutes in the supine position for best results. The Sphenocath device adds considerable costs BUT the same device can be used repeatedly by a patient at home.
The Allevio and TX360 devices are also available. None of the commercial devices are marketed for home use.
Medications for treating Chronic migraine, Daily headaches, facial pain and autonomic cephalgias are very expensive, beset with many annoying and often dangerous side effects and frequently not effective.

These videos are patient who has success with SPG Blocks:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SPGBlocks/
The SPG Block is probably the safest treatment modality for many of these chronic headache problems.
Neuromuscular Dentistry is also extremely effective in eliminating the underlying causes of these same disorders and can be easily utilized in combination with SPG Blocks.
www.ThinkBetterLife.com
PUB-MED ABSTRACT BELOW
Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2017 Jun;21(6):27. doi: 10.1007/s11916-017-0626-8.
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block in the Management of Chronic Headaches.
Mojica J1, Mo B1, Ng A2.
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
Sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block has been used by clinicians in the treatment of a variety of headache disorders, facial pain syndromes, and other facial neuralgias. The sensory and autonomic fibers that travel through the SPG provided the scientific rationale for symptoms associated with these head and neck syndromes. Yet, despite the elucidation of this pathogenic target, the optimal method to block its pain-producing properties has not been determined. Clinicians have developed various invasive and non-invasive techniques, each of which has shown variable rates of success. We examined the available studies of sphenopalatine ganglion blockade and its efficacy in the treatment of cluster headaches, migraines, and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.
RECENT FINDINGS:
Studies have demonstrated that SPG blockade and neurostimulation can provide pain relief in patients with cluster headaches, migraines, and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Patients with these conditions showed varying levels and duration of pain relief from SPG blockade. The efficacy of SPG blockade could be related to the different techniques targeting the SPG and choice of therapeutic agents. Based on current studies, SPG blockade is a safe and effective treatment for chronic headaches such as cluster headaches, migraines, and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Future studies are warranted to define the optimal image-guided technique and choice of pharmacologic agents for SPG blockade as an effective treatment for chronic headaches related to activation of the sphenopalatine ganglion.
KEYWORDS:
Cluster headache; Hemicrania continua; Migraine headache; Paroxysmal hemicrania; Sphenopalatine ganglion block; Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias