Novel Treatments Ease Migraine Pain

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Previous research had studied a similar, table-top device when administered by health-care professionals. This is the first study to look at patients administering TMS to themselves.

One hundred sixty-four outpatients, aged 16 to 68, were randomly selected to receive either the TMS device or a "sham" device. They recorded pain levels and symptoms in an electronic diary.

After two hours, 39 percent in the TMS group were pain-free, compared with 22 percent in the sham group.

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For the second study, 28 patients were implanted with an adjustable neurostimulator, 16 were implanted with a neurostimulator that could not be adjusted, and 17 patients received standard medication therapy with no implant.

In occipital nerve stimulation, an electrode is implanted near the occipital nerve in an outpatient procedure. That device sends electrical impulses into the central nerve system that are thought to block the perception of pain in the brain.

"It stimulates the occipital nerve in an attempt to turn off the pain," Silberstein explained.

Close to 40 percent of patients in the first group had a positive response, meaning at least a 50 percent reduction in the number of days each month they suffered headaches, or a reduction in pain intensity of three points or more on a specific pain scale. Only 6 percent in the second group, and none in the control group had a positive response.

"This group is typically hard to treat," Palm said. "Electrical stimulation sounds like it resulted in improvements in a significant number of people. It's no more invasive than spinal cord stimulation."

Silberstein added: "These patients were, by definition, the worst of the worst and that is why this is so important. These are patients who give up hope."

Now more studies need to be conducted before seeking approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

More information

The American Headache Society has more on migraines and other types of headaches.

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