I hope you’re excited! Here are tomorrow’s topics at the Migraine World Summit…
Thanks to those who have already been a part of this year’s summit by getting their free tickets. Remember, here’s why you should get your ticket even if you can’t participate. But I hope you can!
The schedule for the Migraine World Summit has been announced! Check it out and make sure you know which sessions you don’t want to miss. Pro tip: Have a friend get free tickets too, so that at least one of you can see that (or those) session(s) that are most important to you, if life (or migraine!) gets in the way.
We’ve talked before about how just getting your free ticket is a way to protest migraine and show policy-makers that there are many, many people who take fighting migraine very seriously.
So I’d like to take a moment to say thank you – thanks to so many in our community here who have taken the time to get tickets and show your interest! The response has been incredible so far, and hopefully interest will increase drastically over the next week!
That’s all for now – to see the full schedule of speakers and topics, go to the Migraine World Summit 2019 page here and click on schedule in the top menu.
If you’re in the USA, a great way to raise awareness of migraine and maybe even raise funds for migraine research is through “Miles for Migraine”. If you’re not familiar with this organization, here’s their mission:
Miles for Migraine is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of improving the lives of people with migraine and other headache disorders, and their families, by raising public awareness about this disease, and helping to find a cure. Miles for Migraine produces fun walk/run events, typically a 2-mile walk and 5K and 10K races to raise money for migraine research. We also host adult education days, and a youth program for kids and teens impacted by migraine and other headache disorders.
Miles for Migraine
If your first thought is that you have a headache and that running 10K sounds pretty painful – don’t worry! There are lots of opportunities through Miles for Migraine. For example, friend of family member could do the actual run or walk, and raise funds to fight migraine.
Most local events are also looking for volunteers – someone to cheer at the finish line, someone to be at the water station to help hydrate the participants, someone to help with registration. Or, just come out and add to the crowd! Of course, they also need people to donate, or to promote events through the media. Even if you’re not in the area of one of the events, you can ask how you can help here.
There really is an opportunity for everyone.
Plus – there are other events. You can come to an education event, and learn how to better fight migraine. There are youth camps for teens with chronic migraine and their parents (currently in San Francisco and Philadelphia).
Believe it or not, you can even set up a virtual event through Miles for Migraine. Are you into biking? Running? Ok, how about a talent show, or car wash? They will help you set up the event, and even send out prizes based on how much money is raised.
Here are some of the upcoming events you can be involved in. Check out the Miles for Migraine site for the full calendar.
There’s a way for everyone to be involved! Be sure to come out and support the cause.
The migraine-fighting device now called the sTMS mini has received expanded approval from the FDA. It is now approved as a preventative and abortive device for ages 12 and up – now covering adolescents and older teens and adults.
You might be forgiven if you’re not familiar with the name sTMS. Although the device has been around for a while, its design has been improved and its name has changed along with the improvements. You might know it as the Spring TMS device, or the Cerena Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator, a device we’ve talked about before. Although originally discussed as a treatment for migraine with aura, it is now used for other types of migraine as well.
The device is based on the idea of transcranial magnetic stimulation, a technology developed in the 1970s. It does what it says – creates a small magnetic pulse, which creates a small electrical current in the brain. In some way this seems to disrupt the migraine chain-reaction in many patients.
The newest sTMS mini is remarkably portable and easy to use. Just power-up the hand-held device, place it on the back of your head, and press one (or two) buttons. There will be a snapping sound (no pain – don’t worry), and you’re done. Repeat as prescribed by your doctor.
This may be done to stop an attack that’s starting, or on a daily basis to prevent attacks.
The sTMS mini now gives younger patients another option. In a study specifically focused on adolescents last year, a couple of the 12 patients experienced mild discomfort, but no one had serious side effects. In that sense the sTMS mini is a much safer option than many drug treatments.
The company who makes the device (eNeura) reported on one of its own recent studies, which was reviewed by the FDA. 46% of patients experienced at least a 50% reduction in their migraine attacks.
If you’re interested, talk to your doctor about this treatment. If you’ve tried it, leave a comment. We would love to hear about your experiences.
For more information
The line-up of speakers has been announced for the upcoming free online conference – the Migraine World Summit. And it is certainly an unparalleled line-up!
Not only are some of the foremost experts speaking, we’re also getting more speakers from outside of the USA, particularly from Europe – and I imagine that will continue in the years ahead, as the reputation of the summit grows worldwide.
For example, from Italy we have Dr. Pierangelo Geppetti. From Spain, Dr. Patricia Pozo Rosich. From Estonia, Dr. Mark Braschinsky. From Canada, Dr. Christine Lay. From Greece, Dimos-Dimitrios Mitsikostas.
And, of course, some excellent speakers from the USA, such as Dr. David Dodick from the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Eric Baron from the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Christopher H. Gottschalk from the Yale School of Medicine.
I’ll let you check up the line-up for yourself – just go here and click on “speakers”. But I do want to highlight a few of the exciting topics that have been announced!
That’s only a few of the topics and speakers – wow! If you don’t have your ticket yet, get it here. It’s free – and it sends a message that we’re serious about fighting migraine and raising awareness.
Have your family and friends get tickets as well. We need to make this the biggest year yet – so that the fight against migraine will not be ignored!