Bosses with anger management issues can make a workplace downright unbearable for anyone, but for those of you with chronic headaches… it’s well…very unpleasant. 

According to career website Monster.com, about 35 percent of American employees say they are bullied on the job.  They aren’t the only ones reporting bullying in the workplace.   A recent article in New Hampshire’s newspaper Seacoastonline reported that based on the 2011 Workplace Bullying survey, about 50 percent of companies reported bullying in the workplace, and that targets often suffer physical harm such as migraines in addition to mental and emotional effects.  Online employment site Careerbuilder.com conducted a study that found 14 percent of workers felt they were bullied specifically by their bosses.

If you already suffer with a migraine condition, your crazed supervisor is certainly not helping you manage your condition.  You may even be considering undergoing a migraine procedure, since all the alternative treatments are no longer working.

The next time you are working away at your desk, and your boss decides to pay you an unwelcome visit to chew you out or simply throw a temper tantrum, try reaching for one of these coping strategies:

  • Rise Above – Think of it as being ‘the bigger person.’  You should realize that angry outbursts have more to do with your boss than they do with your work performance.
  • Exhale – Let it all out! When you tense up under pressure, your breathing tends to become shallow and without realizing it, you may even hold your breath.  By breathing properly the brain receives vital oxygen.  This helps prevent triggering chronic headaches.
  • Medication – take your medication as soon as possible, after your boss is done blowing off steam, if you sense a migraine or headache taking hold since early treatment may ward off severe symptoms.

If your headaches or chronic migraines are worsening, and coping strategies, preventative medication and therapies are really not helping you maintain your productivity and sanity, it may be time for a long-term solution.  A migraine procedure and new job could be the answer to ending your pain, suffering and job frustration.    While it may be impossible to change your boss’s belligerent management style, you can certainly take control of your career and health.  Getting effective treatment for your chronic headaches, like a migraine procedure and a brand new job with a supportive boss will make you look forward to Monday mornings!

 

 

 

Before determining whether you are qualified for migraine procedure or surgery , it is necessary to understand whether you suffer with a chronic headache condition or chronic migraine.  Cervicogenic headache is an example of a secondary headache condition that can be mistaken for migraines. Unlike chronic migraines, which are primary headaches, secondary headaches arise from an underlying illness, condition or injury and can be tricky to identify.  Cervicogenic headaches originate in the neck region of the spine, when one or more cervical facet joints become inflamed. The pain can be experienced anywhere from the shoulder blade area up into the head. Facet joints are located on both sides of each spinal vertebra, allowing for movement of the vertebrae against each other.

Cervical facet injections are used to treat chronic headaches, but are not meant to treat migraines.  When conservative therapies and medication don’t alleviate headache pain and other symptoms, facet injections may be used to help diagnose or even treat the condition.  If in fact the chronic headaches aren’t migraines, but rather secondary symptoms from cervical facet joint inflammation, migraine surgery will not be needed.  In this circumstance, facet injections can help reduce joint inflammation and treat the pain from affected nerves in the head.   The injections contain a steroid to reduce inflammation, and an anesthetic to diminish pain.

When undergoing a facet injection procedure, the patient may be sedated.  The injections are administered with the aid of a fluoroscopic x-ray and injectible dye to help navigate the accurate placement of the thin needle that is inserted into the affected facet joint.  The medication is then injected into the site.  According to Medcentral.org it takes a couple of days for the steroids to start working, and relief from pain may be experienced for up to several months.  If the headaches continue, additional injections or a surgical procedure may be required.  If the facet injections were used to confirm a diagnosis of chronic migraines, it may be appropriate at this point to proceed along the treatment continuum with the Omega Migraine Procedure.

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