VR for Headache: Time for an Update

Back in 2006, we were already talking about using virtual reality to fight pain. One of the pioneers was a VR program known as “SnowWorld”, an immersive “cooling” experience.

So where has VR treatment come since then? Unfortunately, clinical trials probably haven’t kept up with the technology. A study published in 2019 brought together some of the information that is available today. Here’s a summary of what we know:

• VR is very promising when it comes to “acute” pain. For example, if you had a bad burn and you had to have your wound cleaned, virtual reality is probably going to help lower your pain levels. This would seem to be promising for shorter term headache as well, or for use during the peak of a headache condition.
• VR may help with chronic pain conditions, but we really don’t have enough information yet. It seems to help most when you’re actually in the VR world, but will it provide benefit between “treatments”? Maybe. But we have a long way to go before we really know enough about the dosage (how long the treatment should be) and the frequency of treatment.
• Migraine patients in particular are a challenge because of the common symptom of photophobia. In other words, someone having a migraine attack will likely be sensitive to light, and will be seeking a dark room, not an immersive screen experience. However, this doesn’t rule out VR – there may be ways to have a low light immersive experience that includes sound. (A simple example – I recommend an app called Environments for iOS or Android. It’s just a picture, and sound – but go to “Alpine Blizzard”, take a glance at the picture, then close your eyes and listen with headphones. Seriously.)

So the update is that VR still has a lot of promise when it comes to treating pain, but clinical research is lagging behind.

Have you found that VR helps you with any symptoms? Reducing tension, decreasing pain? Let us know.

Meanwhile, here’s more detailed information from the recent study: Virtual reality as an analgesic for acute and chronic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. You might also want to check out this recent article from the New York Times: Virtual Reality as Therapy for Pain