Nerve Decompression Surgeries
I have tried everything to reduce the daily chronic migraines. This year I had 3 nerve decompression surgeries and 1 follow-up: Occipital, Temporal, and Frontal. I have not had any changes in the severity of my migraines, the only positive outcome is that my neck and shoulders don't hurt nearly as bad from the occipital decompression. Has anyone had any luck on any of these surgeries?
Hi Jessie Brown,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I've not had this surgery, but hopefully others will be along shortly to share their experiences with you.
It may feel as if you've tried everything for migraine, but that really may not be true, so don't lose hope! There are over 100 medications that can be used to treat migraine, and if you add up the different combinations, that number goes up greatly. And it would take 25 years or so to try each medication in the correct manor, at the proper dose. Let me share more information with you on this; https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-management-essential-4-preventive-treatment/.
Migraine is thought to be a genetic neurological disorder that is managed, not cured at this time. Trigger identification and management plays a vital role in a good migraine regime. Have you kept a detailed migraine diary recently? If not I would encourage you to do so because if we can identify and manage our triggers, we may be able to reduce our attack frequency and severity. Continue reading this article for more information; https://migraine.com/blog/keeping-migraine-diary-basics/
Invasive surgeries may temporarily reduce one trigger and help with pain, but most of us have many more triggers to contend with. We do have some research on nerve compression surgeries that are not real positive. Let me share this with you here; https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-trigger-site-deactivation-surgery-studies-not-convincing/.
Keep us posted on how you are feeling,
NancyHihi there Jesse I had nerve decompression surgery I had six sites done and I still have migraines I'm 3 months out of surgery I my migraines come as they feel like it prior to the surgery I had migraines everyday all day and no medication was working anymore I had built a tolerance I guess nothing was working and I have gone to many doctors in New England and all around I think the severity intensity of the migraine are far more tolerable they're not as intense before the surgery it felt like somebody just took a gun shotgun and blew part of my head off it just was intense I don't know how far you know your surgery when I did themi was at the end of my rope technically I'm still in the honeymoon period where I shouldn't be having any headaches soma little nervous
I had migraine surgery done six weeks ago on my temples, back of head, above my eyes, and nose. It really worked! My head is still sore and numb at some places, but it's improving. My migraines are SO much better. It's like night and day difference. Oh, and neither Botox nor nerve blocks helped me before, but the surgery still worked. I got improvement almost immediately. What my doctor does has a 90% success rate and he's never had anyone get worse. So sorry for all those that weren't helped or got worse through surgery.
Where is your Dr located?
My doctor is David Branch, MD in Bangor, Maine. He is an amazing doctor!
http://www.northeasternmigrainesurgery.com
By the way, since I commented here a month+ ago, I have still been improving! My feeling is gradually coming back and the soreness from the surgery is much improved. I am so happy to be feeling better and doing more normal things! 😀
I'm looking at both occipital nerve stimulation as well as nerve decompression. I'm fortunate that Bardia Amirlak is here in Dallas (considered a expert in nerve decompression). I also have access to the Omega procedure (nerve stimulator). Which one is a better option? Anyone have both?
Initially after my sinus surgery, I was better. I had 3 months of controllable migraine (abortives) and no visual aura which takes me out regularly. It didn't last though. I didn't consider that I had it in September and the winter months are normally my best (no rain). As soon as Spring sprung, they came back. I feel like I had more visual aura than before. I had two subsequent "tweaks" to the surgery and each time, multiple months of my sinuses "settling down" to their new normal. The most recent tweak was two months ago and I have had a headache every day since. We have had a miserable and uncommonly rainy winter - so it's like Spring never left. One thing I have deduced and am testing is that a combo of migraine meds and sinus meds seem to be helping. I think the sinuses start - the aura arrives and one thing leads to another and the migraine knocks on my door. Like clockwork I get visual aura at 3pm every day - and I'm literally blind, confused, clutzy because I lose my depth perception, etc. For the past 5 days I have been taking Sudafed PE (sinus drain) and meclizine (to put my bubble back in the middle) coupled with Claritin to dry my sinuses out depending on how bad they are. It's helping. I'm making it further into each day now without total wipeout. A long while ago I was on my knees sick and could't work. I'd wake up fine but after moving around, got dizzy and found myself on the couch to stabilize. My doctor told me a combination of Sudafed and Meclizine would help and she was right. For some reason I had forgotten about that and then just tried it again for the first time in a while. We shall see. It's also important to know that I do a sinus rinse to make sure everything is flowing well on a regular basis. It's such a tricky balance. Wow, you have been through a lot with your sinuses. Sinus issues can be such a mess, and the symptoms can blend with migraine symptoms, and it can be so hard to sort it all out. It sure is a tricky balance! I'm really glad you found a combination of some meds that gives you some relief...at least that's something. Have they considered any nose surgery along with your migraine surgery? I know you have already had a lot of surgery with your sinus issues...but sometimes a deviated septum can cause migraines...and my surgeon felt it was very important to address that as part of my migraine surgery, even though I had already had sinus surgery and work on my deviated septum...
