New Device Being Studied for Migraine Relief
According to this news article out of Chicago, a new study is currently enrolling participants to study nerve stimulation for migraine relief.
Freitag is teaming up with Dr. Sandeep Amin at Rush University Medical Center to study nerve stimulation for migraine relief.
“You are stimulating large nerve fibers, which have the ability to block the sensation of pain,” said Dr. Sandeep Amin, anesthesiologist.
When implanted, this device sends electrical impulses to the occipital nerves in the head. The occipital nerves are a set of nerves in the back of the head that arise from the upper part of the cervical spine. Stimulation of this particular set of nerves is an exploration of whether blocking nerve impulses will block the sensation of pain in patients who have migraines.
It’s an interesting idea. I know for me, sometimes if I press on just the right spot at just the right time with just the right amount of pressure, I can sometimes get temporary relief from the pain, as though I’m blocking off the pain.