| Both cluster and migraine headaches, when chronic | | | | battery pack that keeps the stimulator on. Two |
| and severe can be very difficult to treat. Cluster | | | | strips that contain the stimulators are surgically placed |
| headaches are characterized by severe stabbing one | | | | over the occipital nerves, just under the skin at the |
| sided headaches, with pain behind the eye. They | | | | back of the head. Lead wires are run under the skin |
| usually occur either the same time every day or are | | | | and connected to the battery. The system allows |
| seasonal and when the attacks happen they last a | | | | the patient to control the amount of stimulation |
| few minutes to and hour. Many people want to | | | | depending on their pain levels. The most common |
| move around when they have cluster headaches. | | | | problem so far with this type of system is breakage |
| Migraines on the other hand, have throbbing pain on | | | | of the lead wires and the fact that the battery only |
| one or both sides of the head. Light and sound are | | | | lasts a year or two. Battery and lead wire |
| painful and nausea and vomiting may happen. | | | | replacement require another surgery. |
| Migraineurs as a result, want to be lying down in a | | | | As of 2008, two clinics are doing the procedure as a |
| quiet room as movement makes the pain worse. | | | | research trial. The clinic sites are the Michigan Head |
| So what do these two headaches have in common | | | | and Pain Institute in Ann Arbor, MI and the Mayo |
| that may allow one treatment to work for both? | | | | Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Both of the trials are closed |
| Well, according to research from headache specialists | | | | and are not accepting new patients, however new |
| at the American Headache Society, there is an area | | | | trials may open elsewhere in the country since the |
| deep inside the brain responsible for registering | | | | results have been so promising. At this point 67% of |
| headache pain. This part of the brain connects back | | | | cluster patients responded with eradication of their |
| to the nerves in the upper part of the neck which | | | | headaches and over 40% of migraineurs responded. |
| then connect to the nerves just under the skin at | | | | So what to do until the surgery is more readily |
| the back of the head. The nerves at the back of the | | | | available? Your doctor may be able to do occipital |
| head are called the occipital nerves and if they are | | | | nerve blocks which may also serve the same |
| over stimulated to the point of blocking impulses, this | | | | purpose in treating the headaches. Similar research |
| feeds back to the areas deep in the pain and blocks | | | | from the American Headache Society has indicated |
| pain of both cluster and migraine headaches. | | | | that even if you do not have pain at the back of the |
| Two new systems have been developed recently | | | | head, occipital nerve blocks may treat your cluster |
| for occipital stimulation. One is a hand held stimulator | | | | headaches or migraines [ effectively. Nerve blocks |
| that is placed at the back of the head at the onset | | | | consist of a small amount of an anesthetic like |
| of a migraine headache. It is supposed to stop the | | | | lidocaine, mixed with a steroid and injected around |
| headache through the feedback system. The | | | | the nerve. |
| stimulator is rather bulky and may require two hands | | | | Generally, with a severe headache profile, it is best |
| to hold it in place. This may be difficult for some | | | | to be assessed by a headache specialist to determine |
| people but most should be able to manage it. | | | | if an occipital stimulator or a nerve block is best for |
| The second system involves a surgical procedure. | | | | you. |
| This is a combination of implant stimulators and a | | | | |