Treatment of headache

Abstract

Headache treatment methods are described and include providing an energy delivery device; locating a secondary or higher-order branch of a postganglionic nerve that provides innervation for a patient's head, by identifying a target region of the patient's head that includes the nerve branch; positioning, within the target region, a portion of the energy delivery device; and applying, from the positioned portion of the energy delivery device to the target region, an amount of energy effective to result in a stimulation activity of the nerve branch; and, after observing the stimulated nerve branch activity, delivering, from the energy delivery device to the nerve branch, energy in an amount effective to reduce a headache severity in the patient.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A headache treatment method comprising:
 providing an energy delivery device comprising a single tip;   locating a secondary or higher-order branch of a postganglionic nerve that provides innervation for a patient's head, wherein the locating comprises:   identifying a target region, of the patient's head, comprising the nerve branch;   percutaneously advancing a portion of the energy delivery device through a single point to position the portion of the energy delivery device within the target region; and   applying, from the positioned portion of the energy delivery device to the target region, an amount of energy effective to result in a stimulation activity of the nerve branch;   after observing the stimulated nerve branch activity, delivering, from the energy delivery device to the nerve branch, energy in an amount effective to reduce a headache severity in the patient; and   delivering a neurotoxin to an area of the patient's head.