Simple surgery for chronic headache
 Photo courtesy of allspice1 |
A simple surgery is being researched that may bring significant relief to those suffering from chronic headaches. The small trial showed an increase in "quality of life" of 250% over 12 months.
The study involved 42 women and 13 men with chronic migraine. What was done? Certain superficial blood vessels on the scalp were cauterized (sealed off). That’s it. The side effects of the surgery? Temporary numbness. It sounds like it would be rather worth it.
Dr Elliot Shevel of South Africa, Professor Carlo Cianchetti of Italy and Dr Egilius Spierings of the United States are working together to do further studies on this technique.
Shevel, founder and chairman of the South African Headache Society, is also a maxillo-facial and oral surgeon. He explains how he discovered the treatment: "During the first operation I was doing on a patient’s jaw she had a pounding headache and the carotid artery on the temple was pulsing. When I blocked off the artery to the temple with my finger, the pain went away. When I took my finger off, it came back. I knew that I could cut the artery with no side effects and offered to cauterise it."
Now both South African and Italian governments have thrown in their support for future research. Though the surgery may not help everyone with chronic headache, it could be a major breakthrough for those with symptoms that are very difficult to treat.
26 March 2008 @ 6:14 am
I have heard news about the use of Botox for migraine headache. Please search the internet about botox scientific researches.
26 March 2008 @ 7:52 pm
Yes, Botox has been used in a couple of ways. You can read here about the basic use of Botox to keep symptoms away. Also, here’s some info on Botox and surgery (probably more what you’re interested in due to your work), and specifically information about Botox for chronic daily headache.
17 June 2008 @ 11:06 am
I was part of a research study last year using Botox injections for my headaches. Every 3 months I was injected with a series of about 10 shots throughout my neck, shoulders, forehead and behind the ears. After the 3rd series of shots, the pain and stiffness in my shoulders and upper back was so severe that I dropped out of the study. It never did help my headaches. My particular headaches are caused by weather changes.
14 July 2009 @ 6:48 am
Thanks a lot for the strides made so far to alleviate the suffering of many people in the world and the great news.
How do I get to Dr E.Shevel on the internet, I mean like his e-mail address.
14 July 2009 @ 9:59 am
Summer, sorry to hear the shots caused so much pain. It’s one of the problems of migraine that migraineurs seem to be more sensitive to pain overall. And I can personally relate to your struggle with weather related migraine.
Dr Shevel’s FAX, address and phone number can be found here. Full contact information for the Headache Clinic he directs, including email address, can be found here.