Treatments

10 May 2005

The NTI-tss device

For people with TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders), "splints" for the teeth have been a major treatment. But there’s much more available than just the basic splint. Basic bite, clenching and grinding problems can cause headaches and tension.

Splints don’t work for everyone, and there are many different types. In HeadWay issue 10 we talked about a cheap solution that works for some people. But others are still looking for solutions. One of the newer types is the NTI-tss device, which is approved in the USA for migraine prevention. It’s designed to not be "clench-friendly" – to help your jaw properly relax without clenching or grinding. The device can also be made for children with headache. Visit this site for more on how the NTI-tss device works. It’s now available in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, South Africa, Singapore, Norway, and many more countries.

3 May 2005

Surprising acupuncture study

James Discoveries & Stats, Treatments 0

Studies are still giving us conflicting answers about acupuncture. First, scientists from Britain brought good news – acupuncture seemed to be better than drugs for headache sufferers. Now, we read in JAMA the bad news – this time from Germany. This was a large, controlled study of 302 patients suffering from migraine. This time there was a baseline group who didn’t get treatment, and then a group that got acupuncture, and another group that got "fake" acupuncture. Fake acupuncture basically meant that they got needles in non-acupuncture points. The result? There was a decrease in migraine attacks, in the acupuncture group, and the exact same decrease in the sham acupuncture group!

So what’s the moral of the story? Could there simply be a benefit from being pricked anywhere by needles? Is it simply the human interaction that’s providing the benefit? No doubt more studies are needed.

By the way, even the group that had no treatment improved, though not as much. Maybe the best treatment is being a part of a clinical trial! Have you volunteered lately?

11 April 2005

Image-guided radiosurgery

James News, Treatments 0

One of the goals of surgery is to be more precise – to treat the problem without causing more problems. One new technique that is allowing doctors to do this is called image-guided radiosurgery (IGRS). This technology is being marketed by companies such as Varian Medical Systems and Accuray.

Here’s how it works: special imagining technology uses focused beams of radiation to target a specific area of the brain, for example. It uses real-time x-rays to target the treatment properly. Radiosurgery can be used to target cancer tumours. One head-related disorder that is being treated using this new surgery is trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia causes extreme bolts of pain in the face, along the trigeminal nerve. Although anticonvulsant medication has often been a successful treatment, in rare cases surgery is needed. Newer techniques are allowing patients to be treated with greater precision.

4 April 2005

A second bite

James Treatments, Website news 0

Back in January I mentioned to you an article by Dr David Leader on misaligned teeth. This is an important topic to understand because problems with your teeth can give you headaches. Sometimes headaches can be caused by a variety of things, and if your teeth are part of the problem, it may take a long time for you to detect the trigger.

The link to the article is out of date now, since the article has been archived by the news source. Dr Leader was thoughtful enough to write me last month and offer the article for use on this website. Since this topic is so important to headache sufferers, I have now included it on the site. So, if you missed it the first time, read about tooth malocclusion and other bite problems here.

21 March 2005

Butterbur for kids

James Discoveries & Stats, Treatments 0

Back in January I told you about the new research on the herb butterbur. A regular dosage of butterbur reduced headache frequency by almost 50%.

Now, butterbur is being tried with children, and the results are encouraging. In this month’s issue of Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, German researchers did a study with children (ages 6 and older) and adolescents. Now the researchers admit that the results of the study may be influenced by the fact that the children knew what they were taking. However, they were encouraged by two factors. First, the butterbur was tolerated well, and second the study results were similar to the studies that have been done with adults (which were controlled).

About 77% of the children in the trial had at least a 50% drop in migraine attacks.

As you probably know, when you buy any herbal formula at the store the ingredients can vary drasticly, and so can the results. So the research team used Petadolex, which is a reliable standardized and safe form of butterbur. The dosages were between 50-150mg per day. Click on the Petadolex link for more on this butterbur extract.

So far, it seems that similar dosages are effective in children, teenagers and adults. Check here for more herbs for headache.