| Kathleen: Hemiplegic migraines (3 days post implant) |
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Kathleen says, that it doesn't hurt to try. "Who wants to take pills all the time?" "After two weeks, I started noticing I was sleeping better... I lost weight, my mood improved, I felt really good." Dr. Greenspan: What kind of pain do you have? Kathleen: I have headaches, migraines... left-sided weakness, and numbness and tingling, and visual problems. Dr. Greenspan: Would you say you have hemiplegic migraines? Kathleen: Definitely. When I stand up I feel like I'm going to fall over. Dr. Greenspan: You've seen a number of neurologists and doctors in the past. What kind of things have you tried for your pain? Kathleen: I've tried.... preventative pills, acupuncture... different drugs. Dr. Greenspan: How about procedures, blocks, botox? Kathleen: They did one Botox block at the hospital last year, and it didn't help; I was already into a really bad migraine. Dr. Greenspan: When I first suggested occipital neuromodulation to you, what was your initial response? Kathleen: I thought it was pretty interesting, I was kind of skeptical. I'm very cynical. I have to see scientific things. Dr. Greenspan: How about the actual trial procedure itself, how did that go for you? Kathleen: I was having problems with my right hand being numb. I came in, you put the [wires] in; three hours later my hand was perfectly fine. Later on, I was having problems with my battery pack, that the device would shut off. And I knew it because my head would start tingling again. I knew there is a connection; it wasn't just a placebo thing... I was very surprised, because I did not think it was going to work. That got my attention. After two weeks, I started noticing I was sleeping better... I lost weight, my mood improved, I felt really good. And then coming to the end of the trial, I didn't want to give it back. Dr. Greenspan: So after we pulled out the electrodes, things went back right to where they were before then. Kathleen: Yes. Dr. Greenspan: Now, you had the implant done three days ago. The surgery itself, how did that go? Kathleen: That went very well. Before I went under, I had one of my migraines. They put me to sleep, it was so easy. They are bsolutely wonderful. When I woke up, I was a little nauseated - headache was gone. The next day I had the visual [aura]... Dr. Greenspan: But you didn't have the pain? Kathleen: I didn't have the pain. I knew I was in the migraine... I didn't have any numbness. A little weak on my side. I'm interested to see how this goes. Dr. Greenspan: What would you tell somebody who says it is a placebo response? Kathleen: Oh, no. I have the numbness... You can't make that up. When you think of the body, and the electrical impulses, you can understand it. Dr. Greenspan: What would you tell somebody sitting on the fence and not sure whether to go forward. Kathleen: I would say, "Go for it." It doesn't hurt to try. Who wants to take pills all the time?
This procedure is performed by Dr. Joshua Greenspan at our Somersworth facility. For more information, read Promising new treatment: Occipital Neuromodulation. |
