I suffered from migraines from the age of 5. By time I was age 29, I was seeing a neurologist once a month. I went through every test that could possibly be done and there was no explanation for the cause of my migraines. In 1996 I moved from Ontario, Canada to British Columbia, Canada. I have had 1 migraine since moving. Why do you think that is?

Did the altitude change?

Melissa.

I have had migraines for 18 years, seen many doctors been on many meds….still no relief…..

maryec … have you tried a chiropractor or acupuncture?

Melissa.

I have tried Acupuncture. It did not work and have tried herbal

I did try

 a chiropractor when I was suffering and it did not help. I’m not sure if it is an altitude thing or not but it is possible. I always wondered if altitude or barometric pressure had anything to do with it though.

I would say yes. I lived in Missouri and never had them. Moved to NC and that is when I was blessed with them. Any time I travel to different areas….I know the next day I will probably have one. I have also noticed that when the weather changes I will also have one. Like today woke up with it raining and now I have one. Sudden changes do it for me.

I have had migraines for as long as I can remember.  I’m on neurologist #5.  I’ve been on almost every type of meds…treatment and prophylactic types.  Even alternative treatments…chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, Botox ink. I was intrigued by today’s show that showed an implanted devise. I can’t find the info on this website but was wondering if anyone could tell me the name of the procedure/devise???  HELP!

My Daughter got migraines at the age of 2. After seeing many DR’s and taking several meds that did not help I was introduced to Young Living essential oils and they have been the only thing that has helped her. She has had only 1 migraine in 3 yrs! It was not fun to see my baby knocked out for 24 hours after giving her the meds before and now she starts getting the feeling and she rubs on th eoil and it is gone

thank you so much for putting this information out there….the last time i watched your show you had a short segment and it said “megrim, hard to say, easy to treat”….i’ve been a sufferer for 30 yrs….it is hard to diagnose so it isn’t easy to treat….my first dr said maybe my ponytail was too tight…..i fired 4 more drs after him until i could finally get someone to believe what i was feeling was real

my painwas so bad that i became part of the study that your segment was on and i had to have 4 surgeries for them to get it right …i would have gone thru more if it needed because i was that in need of pain relief 

These neuro-stimulators have been proven for a large range of chronic pain issues.  Migraines are just one of them.  The surgery is minimally invasive and the benifits are HUGE.  Another upside…many insurances cover the procedure…may be worth looking into if you’ve found relief no where else.

Look up Boston Scientific for these neuro-stimulators (AKA spinal cord stimulators).

Hope this helps!

Dawn

@DawnAlaska.  Thanks so much for your help.  Much appreciated!!!

Why get surgery?  The problem is the Trigeminal Nerve.  I know that it is big word, so google it to learn more!  I must admit, I work for a dentist who is part of a wonderful network of dentists who can treat these headaches and migraines.  Usually by the time the patients have reached us, they have gone thru several specialist who will at least rule out a tumor or some other underlined medical reason.  Our treatment consists of gathering the data needed to asses your treatment.  After that the patient will beging therapy which as follows: Patients get fitted for an Orthotic Rehab Appliance, Therapy sessions once a week for a length of time determined by the dentist (like a day at the spa ladies) which includes Ulltrasound Therapy, Massage Therapy with MSM Lotion, Alpha-Stim & Cold Laser Therapy (which is used on athletes) The patient will receive a homekit to take home and will be instructed on they need to do at home daily.   At the end of the Treatment, the dentist will balance your bite.  Go to Trudenta.com to learn more and to find a dentist near

@lindainmarco.  Thanks for the input.  I actually was under the treatment of an orthodontist that specialized in TMJ Dysfunction, which I also suffer from.  I was fitted for a retainer-type device as well as a mouthpiece to keep from clenching my teeth.  That was a long time ago and I’m sure technology has changed a bit. 

@mhicks8588 – Yes the treatment has changed over the years.  When I first started dentistry 29 years ago, the treatment  for TMJ Dysfunction was slightly different.  The treatment we have now is amazing!  Believe it or not, most people have some sort of imbalanced bite which effects the jaw muscles that lead to that nerve.  Especially those of us who have had a lot of dental treatment, braces, or some sort of head trauma.  Even being in a car accident can cause changes.   With every muscle being so sensitive, it triggers migraines, headaches, neckaches, even those who wear appliances at night for grinding should have this therapy.  I have learned that this therapy can also help insomnia.  Dentistry has come a long way since I began, and I am so excited to be a part of the cutting edge of dentistry.  

I have 2 nerve stimulators in me.  The first one I had put in was for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and it has been very helpful.

Last May I had a nerve Stimulator put in for my migrianes.  The only problem is the stimulaton only goes to the crown of my head and recently I have been having some migrianes in my temples and forehead so the stimulator doesn’t help.l  My doctor said it could be only wired to the back of my head, but the piece on the show looked like they wired it for her forehead and the back of her head.

Does anyone know if this is true or not?

I suffered from migraines twice a month for over 20 years.  I finally saw a neurologist who prescribed nortriptylin 2 years ago, and I have not have a migraine since.  I asked him why my family doctor didn’t know about this and he told me they generally treat the symptoms with medication, but for some reason don’t know about nortirptylin. 

@lindainmarco. Does insurance normally pay for it

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Click here for the show page: End Migraines, Banish Blemishes and a Lifesaving Test

Kenneth Reed, MD Interventional Pain Specialist
www.reedmigraine.com

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@maryec – Some dental insurances may pay a small portion.  Your Medical Insurance may pay as well.  Since every insurance plan is different, I as the patient would contact both of my insurance carriers to see if they cover TMJ therapy.   I would ask if they cover appliances, actual therapy & home kits.  I hope that helps

I just had migraine surgery Dec 8 that did not involve attaching anything to me forever.

I don’t have anything foreign in me.  At first it cut only my migraines in half.  Now given time for recovery migraines are almost non-existant.  I may yet needd a surgery on one small area to fine tune but I am so glad I don’t have something foreign in my body that could cause me infections or some other problem. 

The surgery I had done has successfully helpingmigraine patients for 8 years, but because it’.s still considered experimental by insurance companies insurances are refusing, but I got a grant that paid for mine by the grace of God. 

My surgeon wasand is in plastic surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland, Ohio.  The same University Case Western Medical University that has graduatedmany doctors in the ClevelandClinic.  In the ned it has been this doctor who has brought me my most significant relief and is appearing to be more long lasting.  I had removal of some nerves, unentrapment of some others with somehow, also the un-entrapment of occipital nerve and cushioning of it as was also done to a nerve in my eye socket.  Some people also have the addition of a nerve inside the nasal passages worked on too.  I had sinus surgery years ago so they did not touch that area, some get their foreheads operated on too which would remove or paralyze a muscle there, that may yet be part of a future fine tuning for me, but for now, as I am healing from my temples,left eye, and back of my head operated on the less and less I am having migraines.  The qualityof life change is huge from the pain I was in, torture really.

I will be getting another trial of botox in the areas in question that seem to be left in triggers.  Healing has laready vastly improved even from the last two weeks.  My day to day life use to be a living nightmare of daily migraine.  Never give up hope. 

What type of surgery did you have?

My insurance does pay for the nortriptly, with my copay, of course.  And it is cheaper than the drugs I was taking to simply “contain” or lessen the symptoms.   As noted on this site, this was a treatment suggested to me specifically,  by my neurologist.  But I had to push my GP to refer me to a neurologist.  He then did a couple of MRI scans and said I actually had some scarring on my brain from the migraines and we needed to stop them, not just manage them.  I would suggest seeing a neurologist, rather than just your general practititioner, and following his directions.

I’m not sure how it goes in other states but here in Alaska, Doctors (GPs) have been hesitant to prescribe anything for pain, be it narcotic or not.  They’ve been transferring  these cases to pain specialists and not treating chronic pain at all.

Dear GreeneyesCindy,

I had a nerve stimulator put in for my migrianes, but the stimulation doesn’t cover my whole head.  So if I’m having a Migriane in my temples or forehead area the stimulator doesn’t work.

Was your procedure  done through the Clevland Clinic?

Thanks,

MikeandCindy25