The Pain Management Institute offers headache therapies as part of our comprehensive pain treatment plan.  While there have been major advancements in the field of headache medicine in the past 20 years, there remains a large population of patients that have not had a satisfactory response to these therapies and continue to suffer from frequent disabling headaches that affect their daily relationships and work productivity.  We at the Pain Management Institute would like to offer an alternative approach for patients that don’t respond to the standard treatments.

 

A Novel Approach to Headache Pain:

 

There are numerous approaches to this difficult problem.  While medical management for migraine, tension and mixed type headaches has remained a mainstay of treatment, there have also emerged alternative therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback, herbal medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, and Botox injections.  These treatments have added to the armamentarium against chronic headaches.  

At the Headache Center of the Pain Management Institute we offer another novel way of treating headaches, the use of minimally invasive interventions.  During a detailed initial evaluation, patients will be assessed for whether interventional therapy is right for them, or if a more conservative traditional treatment has not been tried and is still indicated. Dr. Larkin will seek out and consult with neurologists and primary care providers to come up with the best plan for each patient recognizing that interventions combined with coordination with other caregivers is critical to long-term success.

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Interventions Offered

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• Occipital Nerve Stimulation

• C1-2 Facet Denervation

• C2 Pulse Radiofrequency Treatment

• Occipital Nerve Radiofrequency and Cryotherapy

• Gasserion Ganglion blocks and Denervation

• BOTOX Injections

• Trigeminal Nerve Blocks

• Stellate Ganglion Injections and Radiofrequency Treatment

• Sphenopalatine Ganglion Injections and Radiofrequency Treatment

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Thomas M. Larkin, MD

 

Dr. Larkin has been practicing interventional pain management for over 20 years in the area.  He led the expansion and modernization of the Pain Management Clinic at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for 5 years before transitioning to private practice in 2005.  He has authored over 30 publications in the field of interventional pain management.  His specialization is in the emerging field of interventional management of headaches and atypical facial pain as a compliment to more traditional medical management of headache disorders.  Dr. Larkin has lectured nationally on this subject and continues to teach others on how to perform these new and promising procedures.

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Dr. Larkin is one of 4 physicians in the United States board certified by the American Board of Headache Management and the only one in the Mid-Atlantic Region. 

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