Oxford Migraine Practice FAQs

No, contact our friendly team in the office and they will be able to help you.

We offer Botox injections and surgery for the treatment of migraine and chronic headache. We do not prescribe medications. 

Migraine surgery is a highly individualised procedure and our surgeons will need to determine if nerve compression or irritation is contributing to your headaches. They will do this by analysing your completed questionnaire, asking you to complete a headache diary, examining the nerves of your head and neck, and trialling Botox injections to see if this has an effect on your migraines.

We will never promise a “cure” for your migraines, and it is important to us that our patients have realistic expectations before deciding to undergo surgery. While a small number of patients may find that their migraines are effectively “cured”, the majority of patients will not be completely free of their migraines. What we are aiming to do is to improve your headaches to the point where you have sufficient headache-free days per month so that your life is less dominated and dictated by your migraines.

Yes, The New Foscote hospital offers free accessible parking to all patients and has electric charging points for vehicles.

Our surgical treatment plans are all bespoke, so it depends what treatment you will be having. Our office team will be able to advise further on this.

We aim to see our patients for an initial Zoom consultation within a week of submitting their questionnaire, at busy times this may be a bit longer.

You can drive yourself home following Botox treatment. We do not advise you to drive home after surgery, as there is likely to be some post-op swelling, and we recommend you stay locally for the first night after your surgery so that one of our surgeons can see you the following day. You will need someone else available to drive you home or assist you on public transport.

You can wear gel nails for the Botox treatments but they will need to be removed for surgery.

If you have had Botox you can go home straight after your appointment. If you have had surgery it depends on the site of your surgery. Some patients like to stay overnight regardless and we can arrange that if wanted. Our surgeons will see you the next day so you will need to stay locally if not staying in the hospital.

The surgeons will discuss all possible side effects with you prior to any treatment.

While migraine surgery is safe and minimally-invasive, no surgery is risk-free. Your surgeon will discuss all the risks with you and make sure you understand and are happy to proceed.

If you have had Botox it is possible for the the first two weeks for your migraines to get slightly worse. If it is going to work, in weeks three to four, you should start to see an improvement. This will last as long as the Botox lasts, but will wear off gradually, usually around nine to ten weeks. If you have had surgery you should see an improvement within a few weeks.

There are many factors that can lead to the development of migraine. These can include genetics and hormonal changes. There are also some triggers which can lead to migraine in some people including: stress, light or smells, fatigue, weather changes, dehydration, certain foods, missing meals, alcohol, coffee, intense physical exertion, medications, anxiety or use of tobacco products.

Migraines can be diagnosed by a medical professional though a combination of physical exam, neurological exam, asking about symptoms and a patient’s medical history.

Usually on one of both sides of the head. Pain can also be felt in the face or neck.

A throbbing or a pulsing pain in the head. Sensitivity to light, sound, smell and sometimes touch. Visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting. You may also experience abdominal pain, fatigue, sweating, dizziness, poor concentration, facial pressure, diarrhoea. Symptoms can vary from patient to patient.

Migraines can be very painful and prevent you from doing your usual activities. You should seek an urgent GP appointment if your migraine has lasted longer than 72 hours, aura symptoms last longer than an hour at a time or if you are pregnant or have just given birth to a baby. You should contact 999 if your headache comes on suddenly and is extremely painful, if you are having trouble speaking or remembering things, if you lose your vision or have blurred double vision, if you feel drowsy or confused, if you have a seizure or fit, if you have a very high temperature and symptoms of meningitis, if you cannot move or have weakness in the arms or legs on one side of your body or one side of your face.

Genetics are thought to play a large part in migraine. Genes can make people more susceptible to changes in their environment that can, in turn, lead to a migraine attack.