CANDIDACY

Am I a Candidate?

TEMMA® isn't for everyone — and that's by design. Careful patient selection is what makes the results so strong. Here's how to know if you might be a good candidate.

Who Qualifies

Designed for migraines that haven't responded

TEMMA® is designed for people with chronic, hard-to-treat migraines who have not found adequate relief from standard medical therapy. If your migraines significantly limit your daily life — or if you're looking for a drug-free, long-lasting alternative — TEMMA® may be appropriate for you.

The best way to find out is to schedule a consultation. We'll review your history, examine your imaging, and discuss whether TEMMA® (or a different treatment path) makes sense for you. If you have a neurologist or primary care provider, they stay part of the plan — we handle the interventional side and keep your doctor informed.

A woman considering a new treatment option, looking out a bright window
Common Indicators

You may be a candidate if you have

Severe migraine frequency
You experience 8 or more headache days per month, with migraines that significantly limit your daily activities.
Medication-overuse headaches
Rebound headaches from frequent rescue medications, where breaking the cycle is the goal.
Standard treatments haven't worked
Preventive medications — CGRP inhibitors, Botox®, beta-blockers — as well as supplements and lifestyle changes haven't provided the relief you need.
Medication side effects
You experience unacceptable side effects from migraine medications, or you cannot tolerate them due to other medical conditions.
Hormonal or menstrual migraines
Migraines tied to your menstrual cycle or hormonal changes, when standard hormone-related treatments haven't helped.
Migraines limiting your life
Migraines regularly interfere with your work, school, family responsibilities, or quality of life.
You want a drug-free option
You're concerned about medication side effects, tired of ongoing injections, or simply want a one-time procedure instead of a lifetime prescription.
A positive lidocaine test
If you've already had a lidocaine test (or are willing to have one), a positive response is a strong indicator that TEMMA® will help.
When TEMMA® May Not Be Right

Who is not a candidate

TEMMA® may not be appropriate in certain situations. During your consultation, we will review your medical history and discuss any concerns. Common reasons we may not recommend the procedure include:

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Pregnancy
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Active infection or severe untreated medical conditions
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Allergy to contrast dye, anesthesia, or coil materials
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Bleeding disorders or anticoagulation that cannot be safely paused
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Anatomy that makes the MMA inaccessible via catheter
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Lack of correlation between migraine symptoms and the MMA pathway
A consultation with one of our providers will help determine your eligibility. We will discuss your options honestly — even if that means recommending against TEMMA®.

Not sure if you qualify?

That's exactly what the predictive test is for. Before any permanent decision, a small amount of lidocaine is delivered to the target pathway and your response is monitored for 90 minutes. If your headache responds, we proceed with confidence. If it doesn't, we stop. The test — not a guess — determines candidacy.

Schedule ConsultationHow the lidocaine test works
Already had imaging? Bring it to your consultation and we'll review it on the spot.
Common Questions

Questions about candidacy

Ready to find out?

Schedule a consultation. We'll review your migraine history, determine if you're a candidate, and discuss whether the lidocaine test is right for you.

Request a ConsultationCall (833) 4-CORTEX