A recent article from ABC News examines the case of Kelly Ampascher, a woman who struggled with a 13-year headache—until she found Stephen Silberstein, MD, a leading headache specialist at Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson Hospital. Dr. Silberstein was working on a study some are calling a migraine breakthrough.
The study tested whether a neurostimulator, a wire that looks like a spaghetti noodle but acts like a pacemaker, could prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. The device is implanted into the patient’s hip, and wires are strung from the neurostimulator through the spine to nerves in the base of the patient’s neck. Whenever the patient feels a migraine coming on, he or she activates the neurostimulator with a remote control. Electrical impulses are then used to stop the pain signals that can cause a migraine.
According to the article, when Ampascher tried the device, it alleviated her migraine pain and gave her instant relief.
The neurostimulator is still in its trial phase in the U.S. but may soon be approved to help American migraineurs. Read the full story from ABC.
Do you think this device would help your head pain? Would you be willing to get the implant? Leave your comments below.
