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Welcome To

Northern Ireland Headache Clinic

The goal of Northern Ireland Headache Clinic is to prevent migraines and make the attacks less frequent.

I am a dental surgeon with a special interest in treatment of headaches and migraines

Botulinum toxin is approved by the FDA for treatment of headache and migraine.

Botulinum is a purified protein derived from a type of bacterium. It has been used in medicine for over 50 years safely.

Research has shown, that it can prevent migraines from occurring in adults, when injected into parts of the head and neck. I use a protocol called PREEMPT which involves injecting into the bridge of the nose, forehead temples, and back of the head and neck, as well as upper back above the shoulders. These areas may sound familiar to headache sufferers, as areas of pain or tension.

After a consultation, treatment lasts about 10 minutes, and is not particularly uncomfortable, and most people can get on with their daily activity straight away.

Results are seen after about 1 to 4 weeks, and last for 12 weeks or more. All patients are offered a free follow up 3 weeks later.

With my extensive experience, I will be able to advise on whether you are suitable, but if you’re suffering more than 15 days a month you are a good candidate. Treatment costs between 300 and 600 pounds.

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20+

Years Experience

Treatment may include the provision of a type of dental appliance, to stop teeth clenching.

You should be aware, treatment is available on the NHS, particularly if you have had more than three different medications prescribed over time you can contact your GP for a referral on NHS, for treatment at a hospital.

Symptoms

Although not all migraines are the same, typical symptoms include:

Moderate to severe pain, usually confined to one side of the head during an attack, but can occur on either side of the head.
The pain is usually a severe, throbbing, pulsing pain.
Increasing pain during physical activity.
Inability to perform regular activities due to pain.
Feeling sick and physically being sick.
Increased sensitivity to light and sound, relieved by lying quietly in a darkened room.
Some people experience other symptoms such as sweating, temperature changes, tummy ache and diarrhea.

Symptoms such as unusual severe headache, visual disturbance, loss of sensation or power, difficulties with speech, are all important features, which, if unusual for the sufferer, should not be ignored.

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Dr. James Rooney

Dentist (B.D.S) Aesthetic Practitioner

Dr James Rooney bds qualified in dental surgery from Queens University in Belfast in 1998. He then underwent a year long training mentorship, under a specialist in oral surgery and prosthetics in Derry, and obtained his certificate of completion of Vocational training from the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency. In 2000 he obtained membership in conscious sedation and anxiety control. James was clinical director of a dental practice in Bangor County Down for 16 years. He has been a trainer of dentists for the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency for 5 years. He was an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons, General Dental Council, and the Eastman dental hospital in London for 3 years. He has an interest in facial aesthetics and headaches and has undertaken extensive studies and courses in this area. He has a certificate in Botulinum Toxin and Facial Aesthetics from Medics Direct in Manchester and an advanced certificate in Facial Aesthetics from Genesis Academy in Amritsar, India. James has been successfully treating patients with migraine for the past 20 years, and is a member of the International Association for Study of Headaches. He has published a number of papers in the Journal Stress Medicine.

Conditions Treated

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Migraines and Headaches

When there is pressure or pain in your head, it can be difficult to tell whether you are experiencing a typical headache or a migraine.

Headaches are unpleasant pains in your head, that can cause pressure and aching. They can range from mild to severe pain, and usually occur on both sides of your head. Some specific areas where headaches can occur include the forehead, temples, and back of the neck. A headache can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a week. The most common headache type is a tension headache. Triggers for this headache type include stress, muscle strain, or anxiety.

Though the exact cause of migraine is unknown; it is thought to be due to abnormal brain activity causing a temporary alteration in the nerve signals, chemicals, and blood flow in the brain. A number of factors could cause this abnormal brain activity, and these factors are often referred to as triggers.

Triggers

In some cases, people who suffer from migraines can clearly identify triggers that cause the headaches. Potential migraine triggers include:

  • Allergies.
  • Bright lights, loud noises, flickering lights, smoky rooms, temperature changes, strong smells and certain odors or perfumes.
  • Physical or emotional stress, tension, anxiety, depression, excitement.
  • Physical triggers such as tiredness, jet lag, exercise.
  • Changes in sleep patterns.
  • Smoking or exposure to smoke.
  • Skipping meals or fasting causing low blood sugar.
  • Dehydration.
  • Alcohol.
  • Hormonal triggers such as menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills and menopause.
  • Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG), or nitrates.
  • Other foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus, onions, dairy products and fermented or pickled foods.
  • Medication such as sleeping tablets, the contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy.
  • Triggers do not always cause migraines, and avoiding triggers does not always prevent them.
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Many people have warning signs that a migraine is approaching. These are called Auras and typically appear just before or during the head pain.

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Auras

When migraines, with aura affect vision, the patient may see things that are not there, such as a string of objects, not see parts of the object in front of them, or even feel as if part of their field of vision appears, disappears, and then comes back again.

It is common for patients to describe the visual disturbance, as similar to the sensation one has after being photographed, with a very bright camera flash in a darker room.

For many migraine sufferers, the auras act as a warning, telling them that the headache is soon to come. If any migraine sufferer experiences unusual or worrying features that they do not normally have, then they should seek medical help rather than blaming the migraine.

Why Our Natural Migraine Treatment Works So Well

We Address The Root Cause

Our process includes finding and attacking the actual root CAUSES of your migraines. This is why so many have found relief with our therapies, even though other treatments didn’t work. Even those with a long family history of migraines have experienced significant relief.

We Use An All Natural Approach Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About

Your doctor may have told you that you have to live with your migraines “this is as good as it gets”. That doesn’t mean there is no treatment. It just means your doctor has run out of ideas, or there aren’t conventional treatments available. We find that people who don’t respond well to conventional treatment, often respond very well to our natural approach.

We Awaken Your Body’s Own Natural Healing System

Despite what you may have been lead to believe, your body is not “broken” and it IS possible to heal your migraines. That’s because your body never forgets how to heal itself. It just needs the right support. Your body makes its own anti-inflammatory substances and painkillers, and our therapies help it do just that.

We Keep It Simple

Healing your migraines does not have to be difficult. Simple, targeted lifestyle and diet changes, along with our targeted natural therapies, are a very clear and concise way to attack the problem head on.