Wow technology has come a long way.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Cool tracking device
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Final denial
We received yesterday a letter informing us, though the pain is indeed real, they are still going to deny the nerve stimulator due to lack of evidence and due to the determination that the treatment is considered experimental. The letter was thoughtful and personally written to reflect our personal situation, but still disappointing.
Our only option now is to go for an external appeal outside of our insurance company. Is this something we need a lawyer for. I really don't think my husband has the energy to fully present his cause and successfully argue the benefit. It just is not his personality. It really would be nice to know if this would work
Meanwhile, my husband is now using a tens unit on his neck to used for the neck pain. It helps some when on and pain fully returns when removed. However, that is expected.
Botox A for some reason failed to work fully this time. In the past he has had full headache relief with Botox A, so we are not sure why after Botox B not really working why the Botox A is following suite too. Headache is diminished, but easily fully returns with any activity. This is rather frustrating, since this has been our last of options.
Well nothing major more to report.
Our only option now is to go for an external appeal outside of our insurance company. Is this something we need a lawyer for. I really don't think my husband has the energy to fully present his cause and successfully argue the benefit. It just is not his personality. It really would be nice to know if this would work
Meanwhile, my husband is now using a tens unit on his neck to used for the neck pain. It helps some when on and pain fully returns when removed. However, that is expected.
Botox A for some reason failed to work fully this time. In the past he has had full headache relief with Botox A, so we are not sure why after Botox B not really working why the Botox A is following suite too. Headache is diminished, but easily fully returns with any activity. This is rather frustrating, since this has been our last of options.
Well nothing major more to report.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
update
We are still battling with insurance. This last appeal gave us the opportunity to meet with the appeal committee and present our case. We were told we had 15 minutes to make our case this last Friday After ward the decision would be made behind closed doors and we would be notified by mail of their decision.
There were 10 people in the room. Only 5 of them were to be voting members. They each introduced themselves and what department of the insurance company they represented. I found it interesting that the medical director, ( one of two, who made the decision on the last two appeals) was present, but not a voting member. Interesting also that both him and the nurse in the room were the only people to not give eye contact during the entire time that my husband spoke on his condition. That is hard to read into what that means, but none the less it was very obvious compared to the 8 others in the room who gave total and full attention.
I imagine we will get notified by Thanksgiving the decision. Since our (and most) insurance companies do not cover things they consider "experimental" or "not yet FDA approved" they hide behind that as the excuse to deny coverage. In reality, they don't care how much it is needed, it is simply denied. Even if we explain as in the first appeal, the items that would make us qualify due to their own written rules, we are still denied. First denial was based on "procedure was considered experimental, and based on the "new technology protocol." So when we appealed again outlining how we feel we meet each item in the "new technology protocol" the next denial letter simply put "your providers plan does not cover this procedure." But we are welcome to appeal again if we disagree. Our argument is that it is simply needed. There are no other options and we need this coverage to help my husband not be in pain every day.
So in reality we would love if they approve the device and the procedure, but the reality is they have an excuse to deny coverage and it would be miracle. We believe in miracles, so we hold out hope.
Our next option will be to go to arbitration, and this will be our last recourse.
On different but similar note. We saw a new neurologist. He ordered an "MRV" and an spinal tap. Guess what all normal. Which is good, but a quick fix would be nice. Interesting the DR did not order the MS lab work to be done on the spinal tap. The reason it would have been nice to have been ordered is to for sure rule it out. After all, my husband has deep white spots on his brain and those have been attributed to migraine, but MS patients have them too. Even though MS is "not genetic" both his mom and brother have it and both confirmed with a spinal tap. Since my husband has no other MS symptoms and headache has been argued as to whether it is a symptom or not, one would conclude that he is negative for MS. Fact though is that the medical field really does not understand headaches, nor do they understand MS very well. When we tell some Drs that both his mom and brother have MS, they tend to believe that it is a label diagnosis rather than an accurate diagnosis. Who are they to say that, when they can not figure out how to help my husband.
Not only did we see a new neurologist, we saw a different doctor who does nerve stimulation to seek for a second opinion and to see if he knew of other options. Of course, but doctors have no idea what to do to help. Of course the nerve stimulation doctor says we would benefit from the nerve stimulator, but doubts we can get the insurance company to pay.
Once doctors think it is hopeless to battle the insurance company, they leave you to battle on your own. They will not fight the insurance company, because that is who they work for since they are the ones who pay the bulk of medical cost. (forgetting the fact that we pay the insurance companies)
Speaking of insurance, sleep doctor prescribed a switch from ambient to lunesta, in order to help stop the wake ups in the middle of the night. Denied, must try a different drug first. Tried that drug, no improvement, so we got lunesta approved and well it doesn't work any better. Too bad, because literature says that is what it is best at doing. Went back to ambient.
Pain doctor, who does the botox recommended using pain patches. Denied also, insurance company requires the use and failure of morphine extended release. Really morphine. (I am scared of the opiates in the patch too), but I hear nightmare stories of morphine addictions. It is one thing to be in your 60's or 70's and be morphine addicted, but it is senseless to do this to someone in their 30's. Yet, the pain is real. He took the first 8 days of morphine and it helped reduce pain. Not gone completely, but reduced. Yet I am just not comfortable with this decision and all the future baggage it brings, so for now it is locked up. We need some answers from the doctor, before we can consider this a viable between botox option.
Lastly, Dr gave Botox A instead of Botox B, since the B version had little benefit at all. It has been two weeks and we are just now noticing that it is starting to work. Usually it starts working at 1 1/2 weeks and complete relief at around the 2 week mark. Goal is to get through Christmas, but even that will be close with our last trends with Botox A. However, we still believe in miracles and every day of it working is wonderful. Working a short time is better than not at all.
There were 10 people in the room. Only 5 of them were to be voting members. They each introduced themselves and what department of the insurance company they represented. I found it interesting that the medical director, ( one of two, who made the decision on the last two appeals) was present, but not a voting member. Interesting also that both him and the nurse in the room were the only people to not give eye contact during the entire time that my husband spoke on his condition. That is hard to read into what that means, but none the less it was very obvious compared to the 8 others in the room who gave total and full attention.
I imagine we will get notified by Thanksgiving the decision. Since our (and most) insurance companies do not cover things they consider "experimental" or "not yet FDA approved" they hide behind that as the excuse to deny coverage. In reality, they don't care how much it is needed, it is simply denied. Even if we explain as in the first appeal, the items that would make us qualify due to their own written rules, we are still denied. First denial was based on "procedure was considered experimental, and based on the "new technology protocol." So when we appealed again outlining how we feel we meet each item in the "new technology protocol" the next denial letter simply put "your providers plan does not cover this procedure." But we are welcome to appeal again if we disagree. Our argument is that it is simply needed. There are no other options and we need this coverage to help my husband not be in pain every day.
So in reality we would love if they approve the device and the procedure, but the reality is they have an excuse to deny coverage and it would be miracle. We believe in miracles, so we hold out hope.
Our next option will be to go to arbitration, and this will be our last recourse.
On different but similar note. We saw a new neurologist. He ordered an "MRV" and an spinal tap. Guess what all normal. Which is good, but a quick fix would be nice. Interesting the DR did not order the MS lab work to be done on the spinal tap. The reason it would have been nice to have been ordered is to for sure rule it out. After all, my husband has deep white spots on his brain and those have been attributed to migraine, but MS patients have them too. Even though MS is "not genetic" both his mom and brother have it and both confirmed with a spinal tap. Since my husband has no other MS symptoms and headache has been argued as to whether it is a symptom or not, one would conclude that he is negative for MS. Fact though is that the medical field really does not understand headaches, nor do they understand MS very well. When we tell some Drs that both his mom and brother have MS, they tend to believe that it is a label diagnosis rather than an accurate diagnosis. Who are they to say that, when they can not figure out how to help my husband.
Not only did we see a new neurologist, we saw a different doctor who does nerve stimulation to seek for a second opinion and to see if he knew of other options. Of course, but doctors have no idea what to do to help. Of course the nerve stimulation doctor says we would benefit from the nerve stimulator, but doubts we can get the insurance company to pay.
Once doctors think it is hopeless to battle the insurance company, they leave you to battle on your own. They will not fight the insurance company, because that is who they work for since they are the ones who pay the bulk of medical cost. (forgetting the fact that we pay the insurance companies)
Speaking of insurance, sleep doctor prescribed a switch from ambient to lunesta, in order to help stop the wake ups in the middle of the night. Denied, must try a different drug first. Tried that drug, no improvement, so we got lunesta approved and well it doesn't work any better. Too bad, because literature says that is what it is best at doing. Went back to ambient.
Pain doctor, who does the botox recommended using pain patches. Denied also, insurance company requires the use and failure of morphine extended release. Really morphine. (I am scared of the opiates in the patch too), but I hear nightmare stories of morphine addictions. It is one thing to be in your 60's or 70's and be morphine addicted, but it is senseless to do this to someone in their 30's. Yet, the pain is real. He took the first 8 days of morphine and it helped reduce pain. Not gone completely, but reduced. Yet I am just not comfortable with this decision and all the future baggage it brings, so for now it is locked up. We need some answers from the doctor, before we can consider this a viable between botox option.
Lastly, Dr gave Botox A instead of Botox B, since the B version had little benefit at all. It has been two weeks and we are just now noticing that it is starting to work. Usually it starts working at 1 1/2 weeks and complete relief at around the 2 week mark. Goal is to get through Christmas, but even that will be close with our last trends with Botox A. However, we still believe in miracles and every day of it working is wonderful. Working a short time is better than not at all.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Battling insurance for help
Last time my husband or I blogged was a while ago. I wish I could say that he is all good, but the last six months has been one big roller coaster ride.
Here is the summary:
So to sum it up. Waiting to try two new prescriptions, because our insurance company will not approve what his DR prescribes without jumping through all these hoops first.
Going to see two new doctors in hopes to find some kind of help somewhere. Someone somewhere has to have the right answer to help manage it. We are to the point now, where we have come to accept this is going to be part of our life for years to come. We hope to be wrong, but it just hasn't gone away on its own and now we only have doctors trying to manage the symptoms, not figure out the why. It is baffling to them all. They have done all they know to do and you can't fault them for that.
We have and have had great doctors, we don't blame them, but sometimes feel the insurance company stands in the way of quality care. Doctors don't get paid except for the visit, so all the calls to change prescriptions are often slow to come, because doctors are doing what gets them paid....seeing patients and hopefully help them. Doctors don't get paid to think about how to help you once you leave their office. Their plates are full and in a day they see so many that they often don't have the time to give a second thought to your case until you are scheduled to see them again. This is fine and good if what ails you is simple, but unexplained pain is complicated, because the cause is not exactly known. We are guessing the headaches are in result to multiple head injuries as a child and teenager, but in reality that is only the best guess. I also understand the insurance companies position, but trust me if they had a better idea of what to do, we would gladly do it.
At this point, we just need a new door to open. Something to make the days go on a little easier. Our five year old boy deserves to be able to play ball or ride his bike with his dad without it causing so much pain that dad is throwing up in the bushes. It should not be a normal question our kids ask, "Dad, are you throwing up again?" "Yes" "Oh, okay", as they continue playing, because this is a normal day in these little ones lives. Just a normal every day occurrence.
Here is the summary:
- Went to Neurosurgeon specializing in nerve stimulators. He diagnosed my husband with "occipital neuralgia. After reviewing his records, he said we have tried all viable avenues and should proceed with nerve stimulator. (Which we were already told this by the referring neurologist who told him there is nothing more she can do.)
- Our plan was to schedule this first procedure in May when the Botox was expected to wear off. One week after the appt. insurance denied coverage, but we were entitled to an appeal. Procedure deemed "experimental and therefore insurance does not cover experimental procedures."
- Botox wore off two weeks earlier than planned, effective for only 6 weeks, instead of the 2 to 2 1/2 months previously. DR will do Botox only every 3 months. In order to bridge gap, tried an occipital block. Worked perfectly all day, and then that night went from perfectly fine to uncontrolled nausea and pain in a matter of five minutes. Told to take zophran under tongue and phenergan by mouth to try to get it under control or go to the ER.
- Next week had some relief, so long as he did not try to do anything with any exertion (lifting, running, or sex). Just calm mild movements for moderate pain reductions. If he felt well enough to do something more, he would pay for it that day and the next.
- Did Botox a week early, to help get pain back in control. Again lasted only six weeks. I don't mean some relief, I mean total relief and then total pain. Botox A works better for him than anticipated for most patients and always has from the first time he got it. The only problem is, his body gets used to it quickly and he loses how long it works for him.
- Called referring neurologist for help with appeal. They submitted written request and medical records. Insurance denied again.
- Wrote first appeal, trying to bullet why it should be approved according to the insurance company's own policy. Denied again.
- Tried a different Botox variant (Botox B or also called Myobloc). Never got total relief as with Botox A, but there were days pain was milder. Also not able to do any type of activity or he will get really bad for 2 or 3 days. Still has very bad days even when doing nothing.
- Called the issuance company to see what evidence we could provide that would help them reconsider and approve this procedure so that my husband could go through day without severe pain and vomiting multiple times through out the day. They told him there is nothing we can provide. Experimental is just that and there is nothing we can do to change their mind. When asked then why I am I told that I need to file an appeal if there is nothing we can do to change your decision, they back pedaled and said if you have new information, you can submit it.
- Met with DR doing the Botox, she wants to try Botox B again in November. Then the next time we can see if Botox A is more effective. So we may have another rough 3 months ahead of us, OR..... let's hope this time is works better and LONGER. Please oh please, be longer and better. Must keep hope. It could be different and any relief is better than no relief. Meanwhile, she has been the DR who has required that he not be on any pain med since he began seeing her 15 months ago. Other doctor allowed max of twice a week. This doctor felt that was too much still. She now will allow him to try something for the pain since pain is unmanaged for long periods of time. (Like that is new, it is only managed when on Botox or Radio Frequency Ablasion, never once on any drug or other treatment.) Since my husband is knocked out by percoset and unable to drive or work or do really anything. The pain comes back as the medicine wears off, the doctor decided to prescribe pain patches, that release a small amount of pain medicine, all day everyday. Hopefully this will give him function and drivability. We will see, but meanwhile it it requires insurance pre-authorization and the doctor has not done that yet.
- Got a referral to a new neurologist to see if he has any suggestions (since last neurologist was out of ideas). Will see him on Halloween.
- Europe gains approval to use occipital nerve stimulation, after a new study was released in Europe.
- Called the three different nerve stimulator companies, asking for help. Case studies for appeal, studies in the US that we can participate in. One told us they only work with the doctors offices and to have our DR contact them. Another said, there was probably nothing we could do to change our insurance company's decision. The third one told us to change our doctor to the one that uses their device and they (the DR and the sales rep will try to help with our appeal, by submitting it a different way. He said he wished we hadn't already wasted two appeals by having to do it ourself without the help that they hope to provide. He did say he can't promise anything and called us back later with a name of a DR willing to take on our case.
- Called DR's office that the sales rep recommended and was told to get referral from DR and submit medical records and then we will be contacted if Doctor is willing to see us. HMMM, okay, the circle we have to go in to get any help. Done both of those things this week, now just waiting to see what happens.
- Went to sleep specialist for annual visit. Waking up in pain throughout the night. Ambien only helps to get to sleep and last only 4 hours. Phenergan for nausea works better than Ambien. Ambien extended release is not covered by insurance. Was prescribed Lunesta at this visit. Insurance denied it too, without first trying Sonata. DR has been out of office this week and so hopefully will soon fax new prescription to pharmacy.
So to sum it up. Waiting to try two new prescriptions, because our insurance company will not approve what his DR prescribes without jumping through all these hoops first.
Going to see two new doctors in hopes to find some kind of help somewhere. Someone somewhere has to have the right answer to help manage it. We are to the point now, where we have come to accept this is going to be part of our life for years to come. We hope to be wrong, but it just hasn't gone away on its own and now we only have doctors trying to manage the symptoms, not figure out the why. It is baffling to them all. They have done all they know to do and you can't fault them for that.
We have and have had great doctors, we don't blame them, but sometimes feel the insurance company stands in the way of quality care. Doctors don't get paid except for the visit, so all the calls to change prescriptions are often slow to come, because doctors are doing what gets them paid....seeing patients and hopefully help them. Doctors don't get paid to think about how to help you once you leave their office. Their plates are full and in a day they see so many that they often don't have the time to give a second thought to your case until you are scheduled to see them again. This is fine and good if what ails you is simple, but unexplained pain is complicated, because the cause is not exactly known. We are guessing the headaches are in result to multiple head injuries as a child and teenager, but in reality that is only the best guess. I also understand the insurance companies position, but trust me if they had a better idea of what to do, we would gladly do it.
At this point, we just need a new door to open. Something to make the days go on a little easier. Our five year old boy deserves to be able to play ball or ride his bike with his dad without it causing so much pain that dad is throwing up in the bushes. It should not be a normal question our kids ask, "Dad, are you throwing up again?" "Yes" "Oh, okay", as they continue playing, because this is a normal day in these little ones lives. Just a normal every day occurrence.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
First Road block and Second Chances
Whew this was a busy week and mixed in with all of the craziness we experienced the first road block to having the stimulator placed. Well you know what they say about the best laid plans ... They went to a complete halt when the insurance company denied the procedure.
Fortunately we are not out of hope, last year my head ache specialist recommended I obtain the help of a nurse advocate through my insurance company. Who knew there was such a person, but, there is and while at the time other than establishing a relationship we did not need the nurse's help. Well, when I got the rejection letter one of the first calls I made was to my nurse advocate. The nurse helped me understand the appeals process and encouraged me to work closely with the my referring doctor to submit it. In addition in the processes of reviewing my circumstances she discovered I had been pre-approved for as many Botox treatments as my Dr. feels I need through Feb 2012. One of the reasons Botox treatments have been an issue is the length of time for the pre-approval (now taken care of) and scheduling the Dr. required usually about six weeks of misery before the treatment is done and kicks in. So at least one hurdle has been knocked down and should shorten the time I spend in headache misery.
So moral of the story expect rough seas and get a nurse advocate at the very least they can talk through options with you. -SG
Fortunately we are not out of hope, last year my head ache specialist recommended I obtain the help of a nurse advocate through my insurance company. Who knew there was such a person, but, there is and while at the time other than establishing a relationship we did not need the nurse's help. Well, when I got the rejection letter one of the first calls I made was to my nurse advocate. The nurse helped me understand the appeals process and encouraged me to work closely with the my referring doctor to submit it. In addition in the processes of reviewing my circumstances she discovered I had been pre-approved for as many Botox treatments as my Dr. feels I need through Feb 2012. One of the reasons Botox treatments have been an issue is the length of time for the pre-approval (now taken care of) and scheduling the Dr. required usually about six weeks of misery before the treatment is done and kicks in. So at least one hurdle has been knocked down and should shorten the time I spend in headache misery.
So moral of the story expect rough seas and get a nurse advocate at the very least they can talk through options with you. -SG
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
A New Hope
Yesterday I had an appointment at OHSU with a Dr. who specializes in Occipital Nerve Stimulation. Going to the appointment my wife and I were afraid the Dr. would say I was not a candidate for such a device, we were wrong. Much to my surprise we learned that I was a candidate for a nerve stimulator and as we have been feeling and fearing it is pretty much my last hope.
You may ask why pursue this when the Botox works well? The answer is simple Botox lasts for me around 2- 1/2 months followed by six weeks of complete agony if not heck. For instance the last five days prior to the Botox treatments I was taking no pain meds but two anti nausea meds, muscle relaxer, and for good measure blood pressure medication (the last two did not do any thing at all) and still I vomited 16 times (once 5 different episodes in one day). So when the Botox works life is good but when it wheres off the headaches are completely unmanageable.
So that leaves us with the occipital nerve stimulator. I still have lots of questions about it, but feel at-least there is hope in front of us to improve the overall quality of life and not just 60% of the year with the other 40% in a complete meltdown. But for now it is a waiting game as we can not pursue the stimulator until the Botox wheres off. If past history is an indicator of future results my prediction is sometime between May 8th - May 15th. I never thought I would anxiously await the return of my personal beast and in reality I am not, I just have hope for the future.
I will update the blog as I find answers to my questions and have results from our latest adventure. -SG
You may ask why pursue this when the Botox works well? The answer is simple Botox lasts for me around 2- 1/2 months followed by six weeks of complete agony if not heck. For instance the last five days prior to the Botox treatments I was taking no pain meds but two anti nausea meds, muscle relaxer, and for good measure blood pressure medication (the last two did not do any thing at all) and still I vomited 16 times (once 5 different episodes in one day). So when the Botox works life is good but when it wheres off the headaches are completely unmanageable.
So that leaves us with the occipital nerve stimulator. I still have lots of questions about it, but feel at-least there is hope in front of us to improve the overall quality of life and not just 60% of the year with the other 40% in a complete meltdown. But for now it is a waiting game as we can not pursue the stimulator until the Botox wheres off. If past history is an indicator of future results my prediction is sometime between May 8th - May 15th. I never thought I would anxiously await the return of my personal beast and in reality I am not, I just have hope for the future.
I will update the blog as I find answers to my questions and have results from our latest adventure. -SG
Sunday, February 20, 2011
10:30 am and not going well
The last two weeks have been steadily getting worse for my husband. The hard part about headaches for him is not only the the persistent vice-like pain in his head and the pain in his left eye, but the nausea that comes with it. He is holding less and less food down. In the past, it was common for him to vomit daily, but now 2-4 times a day is his new norm. He went to his Headache neurologist on Thursday. After waiting two hours to see her, she pretty much said there is nothing more she can do. She did put him back on zofran, so he can take it at work to hopefully reduce some of the nausea. He will now use pheragan at home and the zofran at work. She changed his muscle relaxer back to one that did not work before. Hmmm, REALLY? Not that any of them really work any way. They only help a little or knock him out. She also gave him vicodin, which the botox/ pain management dr doesn't want him to take due to increased chance of dependency and rebound headaches. Additionally, it doesn't make the headache go away, just lowers the pain until it wears off and then he is back to full grown migraine.
The funny thing is she is his medicine prescribing doctor and has given up. So now we need to figure out who can manage his meds. One good thing she did was give him the name of the dr who does nerve stimulation implants. Now, can we get the insurance to pay for it? We will see on that one.
Today even on nausea meds, he is now thrown up 3 times in the 2 1/2 hours he has been awake. Lovely day already. Good news is the Botox appointment is Thursday morning. Bad news is that it is supposed to snow Wednesday night and Thursday morning and we live over an our away. If we have to reschedule it could be another couple of weeks to get in. That would be mean more vomiting and I am not sure he can handle that.
Pray for the storm to not come in until Thursday night, please.
The funny thing is she is his medicine prescribing doctor and has given up. So now we need to figure out who can manage his meds. One good thing she did was give him the name of the dr who does nerve stimulation implants. Now, can we get the insurance to pay for it? We will see on that one.
Today even on nausea meds, he is now thrown up 3 times in the 2 1/2 hours he has been awake. Lovely day already. Good news is the Botox appointment is Thursday morning. Bad news is that it is supposed to snow Wednesday night and Thursday morning and we live over an our away. If we have to reschedule it could be another couple of weeks to get in. That would be mean more vomiting and I am not sure he can handle that.
Pray for the storm to not come in until Thursday night, please.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Note to Dr
This post is so I remember to tell the DR when my first major headache returned after out last Botox treatment on Nov 11th. I woke up about 5:45 with 7.5 level headache. I was able to go back to sleep, but it remained upon waking up at 7 am. It will be a phenergan day, as I am already feeling nauseous.
Tuesday 1/25, went to someones house to home teach them. She is a smoker, while there headache went from mild/ almost non-existent to a level 8. Came home and took phenergan to control nausea. Headache remained until Thursday when it went away.
Friday, no headache, but could feel base of skull was hurting quite a bit, so at my wife's suggestion I used Flexal 54. Within 20 minutes, went from no headache to a pain level 7, with lots of pain behind left eye. Saturday was a moderate headache, improving as the day went on. Averaged about a pain level 4.
Sunday woke up, in severe pain, level 9, but surprisingly without nausea in the beginning. Was light sensitive most of the day. Used muscle relaxers 3 times throughout the day. By end of day pain level only decreased to a level 7.
Since then this week it has bounced between a 2 and 6. Often intensity varying within minutes from previous pain levels . Little pain, lots pain and back and forth throughout the day. This not the norm for me, and may be due to Botox wearing off.
Tuesday 1/25, went to someones house to home teach them. She is a smoker, while there headache went from mild/ almost non-existent to a level 8. Came home and took phenergan to control nausea. Headache remained until Thursday when it went away.
Friday, no headache, but could feel base of skull was hurting quite a bit, so at my wife's suggestion I used Flexal 54. Within 20 minutes, went from no headache to a pain level 7, with lots of pain behind left eye. Saturday was a moderate headache, improving as the day went on. Averaged about a pain level 4.
Sunday woke up, in severe pain, level 9, but surprisingly without nausea in the beginning. Was light sensitive most of the day. Used muscle relaxers 3 times throughout the day. By end of day pain level only decreased to a level 7.
Since then this week it has bounced between a 2 and 6. Often intensity varying within minutes from previous pain levels . Little pain, lots pain and back and forth throughout the day. This not the norm for me, and may be due to Botox wearing off.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
November Brings Round Two
Since the end of September my headaches started to come back. At first it was a day or two a week, and progressed by the end of October into a full on assault with migraines everyday. As stated in previous posts the Dr. I am seeing does not want me to take pain meds and I haven't taken them for my headache since June. Anyway because of this I was left with only a few tools to combat the headaches with, namely ice, biofeedback breathing and relaxation and lots of anti-nausea medications, which I sorely needed. I spent a good three weeks vomiting everyday if not multiple times a day before I was able to get in and have another round of Botox treatments. (Phenergan is great but you can't take it and work as it knocks you out.) Surprisingly I managed to only miss a half day of work because of the headaches what a miracle that was.
I am now just over 2 weeks post Botox treatment, and things are looking better. The headaches have decreased in intensity from about a 8-10 on a scale of 1-10 to a range 2-5. While they are not completely gone at this point, I feel I can breathe again and function, what a relief. I am grateful this treatment is working and pray it will continue to do so. If you are struggling with headaches like I do look into Botox it is certainly a viable option ( if you can stand the 20 or so shots in the face, temples, head and neck.) and is certainly a lot cheaper and less traumatic then the RF procedures I have undergone in the past. -SG
I am now just over 2 weeks post Botox treatment, and things are looking better. The headaches have decreased in intensity from about a 8-10 on a scale of 1-10 to a range 2-5. While they are not completely gone at this point, I feel I can breathe again and function, what a relief. I am grateful this treatment is working and pray it will continue to do so. If you are struggling with headaches like I do look into Botox it is certainly a viable option ( if you can stand the 20 or so shots in the face, temples, head and neck.) and is certainly a lot cheaper and less traumatic then the RF procedures I have undergone in the past. -SG
Monday, October 18, 2010
BOTOX: Clearly Not Just For Wrinkles Anymore
This article just came out from NPR. It is nice to see the FDA back up something that is working for my husband. Rather surprising the insurance company paid for it, because they hold a strict NO on any thing not FDA Approved. Even the DR's office person was shocked it was approved and approved so quickly too. All I know is it was a heaven sent blessing.
The link is below to the article, but I also copied the whole thing below too.
BOTOX: Clearly Not Just For Wrinkles Anymore
Douglas Allen/iStockphoto.com Ready for your BOTOX shot?
Even old products can learn new tricks. Just ask BOTOX.Late on Friday, the FDA announced it had approved BOTOX to treat chronic migraines in adults. That's defined as debilitating headaches for more than 14 days per month.
But this isn't the first time the anti-wrinkle cosmetic is steering its image away from a parlor game involving aging Hollywood beauties, pols, and wannabe "real" housewives from New Jersey.
The therapeutic uses from this formerly controversial cosmetic derived from a deadly neurotoxin continue to grow.
Multiple injections around the head and neck are expected to help minimize migraines for up to three months, and there are an estimated 3.2 million migraine sufferers in America, says Allergan, makers of BOTOX.
Back in March, BOTOX was approved for muscle spasm of the elbow, wrist and fingers. It's now being studied for treatments of excessive sweating and overactive bladder, reports Aesthetic Medicine News.
And WAMU radio talk show host Diane Rehm has famously used BOTOX for a decade to control spasms in her vocal chords, even though the FDA has not approved this use.
BOTOX's new approval for migraines doesn't come cheap. It came fresh off the heels of a $600 million case Allergan settled with the feds over promotion of the product for uses not on the approved label — like migraines. But, the company's profits are expected to grow.
Allergan is also looking at more medical uses for the drug, Allergan Executive Vice President for Research and Development Scott Whitcup tells the New York Times. "We call it our pipeline in a vial," he says.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/10/18/130644594/botox-clearly-not-just-for-wrinkles-anymore?ft=1&f=1001
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Botox for reduction of daily headaches
I have been waiting for my husband to post an update on his headache blog. He really just does not like to deal with it. I don't blame him, but I feel strongly that it is important to provide hope for others who are suffering. There have been so many days I have felt like crying when we reach another dead end to solving this headache phenomena. It came on just suddenly and has not gone away long term without some major medical intervention.
We were so hopeful when we had cervical radio-frequency ablation. However, recovery time is long and the benefits for him decreased with each procedure. The first two procedures lasted 3-4 months. The last two were 30-33 days. He had his last procedure in December. It wore off in January. It was not until the end of July and three new doctors later that Botox was introduced into the picture. The goal is to use the botox to paralysis the nerve endings where it was injected. He was told not to expect any cosmetic benefits. (I didn't notice any either.) The DR injected his forehead along his eyebrows all the way into his hairline every few centimenter. Then she did the same thing at the top and base of his neck and into his shoulders.
The first few days he seemed fine. The recovery from this procedure was quick and the lido-cane in the injection provided some immediate relief. It was about 5 days afterward that his headaches returned to pre-procedure levels. They stayed there for 5 days and we thought the procedure did not work, but then it began to get better and better. The Botox did not make the headaches go away, but they are much more livable. He went from having them be at a pain level of 7-9 daily for the last several months to 1-3 post Botox. When they would rise higher than a 3 they came down pretty quickly.
We were told to expect this to last 2-6 months. We are almost to three months and he is having bad days every week now for the last 3 weeks. So we know the party is coming to an end, but at least we finally have a new option.
Meanwhile, the pain management doctor, requires that he not take any pain meds at all. His old doctor told him not more than twice a week on his really bad days, but the new one says use of any pain meds at all, may be too much and cause the headache to be stronger.This is really hard on those hard days. Thankfully there is anti-nausea meds to help when the pain is really bad. She also sent him to a pain psychologist, who worked on controlling pain through breathing and relaxing. He only had three visits with this DR, because it was more to satisfy the insurance companies requirements that we have done everything, should we need to proceed with even more less traditional treatments.
Well that is it in a nutshell. Hope anyone out there suffering gets the help they need. Everyone deserves hope. And when one doctor is out of suggestions, have them refer you one to another, then to another. Some one out there has your answer.
We were so hopeful when we had cervical radio-frequency ablation. However, recovery time is long and the benefits for him decreased with each procedure. The first two procedures lasted 3-4 months. The last two were 30-33 days. He had his last procedure in December. It wore off in January. It was not until the end of July and three new doctors later that Botox was introduced into the picture. The goal is to use the botox to paralysis the nerve endings where it was injected. He was told not to expect any cosmetic benefits. (I didn't notice any either.) The DR injected his forehead along his eyebrows all the way into his hairline every few centimenter. Then she did the same thing at the top and base of his neck and into his shoulders.
The first few days he seemed fine. The recovery from this procedure was quick and the lido-cane in the injection provided some immediate relief. It was about 5 days afterward that his headaches returned to pre-procedure levels. They stayed there for 5 days and we thought the procedure did not work, but then it began to get better and better. The Botox did not make the headaches go away, but they are much more livable. He went from having them be at a pain level of 7-9 daily for the last several months to 1-3 post Botox. When they would rise higher than a 3 they came down pretty quickly.
We were told to expect this to last 2-6 months. We are almost to three months and he is having bad days every week now for the last 3 weeks. So we know the party is coming to an end, but at least we finally have a new option.
Meanwhile, the pain management doctor, requires that he not take any pain meds at all. His old doctor told him not more than twice a week on his really bad days, but the new one says use of any pain meds at all, may be too much and cause the headache to be stronger.This is really hard on those hard days. Thankfully there is anti-nausea meds to help when the pain is really bad. She also sent him to a pain psychologist, who worked on controlling pain through breathing and relaxing. He only had three visits with this DR, because it was more to satisfy the insurance companies requirements that we have done everything, should we need to proceed with even more less traditional treatments.
Well that is it in a nutshell. Hope anyone out there suffering gets the help they need. Everyone deserves hope. And when one doctor is out of suggestions, have them refer you one to another, then to another. Some one out there has your answer.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Where we are today.
Rather than start from the beginning of the story I will start with where we are today and fill in the gaps as I go along. Today (meaning the current period in time and not today specifically) I still have a headache. It ranges in intensity from 4 out of 10 through 10 out of 10, and my vary in intensity through out the day. I have just received the results of an extension/flexation MRI and it came back completely normal just like all the other MRI's. This is frustrating for many reasons. It is widely believed by my doctors, myself and my family that the headaches originate in my cervical neck, some might call them cerviogenic headaches. While the neck appears to be the cause of the headaches, imaging of the neck shows little to no abnormalities. Over the course of the last 2+ years I have been prescribed 50+ medications many of which are to treat symptomatic problems such as nausea while the rest having little effect at permanently or in most cases even temporarily alleviating the headache. Perhaps one of the most complicating problems with the medication approach to treatment is the most common medication used to treat migraines are triptans (Imitrex, Zomig, etc...) which I happen to be allergic to. I have posted the complete list and all of the things I have tried in earlier posts. Alas I must go to bed for tomorrow at 7am I have surgery scheduled for an unrelated tooth problem or is it?? One can always hope...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Lastest procedure discogram
Shaun's latest procedure included five needles last week. This one was a diagnostic one to inflict pain in areas that are problem areas in his neck. The goal is to pin point where the pain is coming from and to verify to see if there is disc degeneration. It is called a discogram. The doctor inserts small tubes in the front side of his neck. Then they insert thin needles into each of the tubes. The needles then inject dye between the vertebrae. The goal is to see if any of the vertebrae hurt more than the rest when the dye is injected. If all points hurt then the test in inconclusive, since the test itself is uncomfortable. A positive test is when some areas hurt and other areas don't or are just uncomfortable. They did five injection points, three of the five had varying degrees of pain.
C3- 4 no pain
C 4-5 lots of pain
C 5-6 almost as much pain as above
C 6-7 pain, but not nearly as much as the previous two
C 7 -T1 no pain
This is the report that the DR gave us, since Shaun was awake, but remembers none of this. This makes his 9th time under anesthetic in a thirteen month time frame. Though this was a bit different since there was no pain medicine in the anesthesia for obvious reasons. Next week will be number 10, when he goes in for his radio frequency ablation in a new location than his last one that did not take. The original plan was to do the C 3-4 area, but the DR who did the discogram is recommending that the C 4-5 be done in addition. Even though this cauterizes the nerve, it is still considered temporary relief, since the nerves grow back and reconnect. Hopefully this will buy more time than the others have provided since it is in right area.
This procedure left some pretty good bruises. He will have some battle wounds to show off for the next couple weeks. Additionally, it was his lucky day for bruises. He has great veins and has yet to bruise with all the IV's he has gotten, until this time. I am not sure what went wrong, but I have never seen an IV bruise this bad and they got him on the first try. So right now he has a couple of areas he is pretty black and blue. Hopefully next week will be better.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Latest surgery procedure
Well most of you know that Shaun had another procedure last Tuesday. They seem to be a regular occurrence for us. The doctor thinks this may be a regular event for him. He has a healthy nerve that regrows rather quickly and the headaches come back each time. This time they came on with a vengeance. Though we still hold to a hope that one day the nerve will grow back and there be no pain at all.
I am not sure why they sometimes cauterize the nerve with one needle or two, but this time there is a third needle that was used and can be seen in the right top picture. We would not have even noticed it in the pictures, except for the fact we saw the three injection points on his shoulder. Not sure what it did, but it was not near the near area, so must have been for something else.
Any way, because they insert the needles from the shoulder up to the top of the neck (actually the third vertebrae from the top), he of course has had a bunch of neck pain and swelling. He is now in phase two which is the feeling of burning. This is a pretty painful stage. He describes it as though he has a severe burn on impacted area of the neck. If he keeps laying down and ices lots and takes his medications, the pain does not radiate to the rest of his neck. For the most part his vertigo dizziness is mostly gone, which is nice.
Anyhow he hopes to return to work soon. As they are down an another employee and there is only one employee at work handling the work of three. None the less, he knows that if he pushes it to soon then the pain and swelling flairs up and healing takes twice as long.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Cervical Radiofrequency Ablation
He has had two actual procedures and two pre-procedures to test if he was a candidate for the actually procedure. The actual procedure is not too far more painful than the pre-procedures, but the healing is much more difficult. After all, they all involve a needle in your spinal area. I will explain each of the procedures and if you really are that interested or have nothing better to do just read along.
Any way the first one was to see if he responded to the treatment. They took a needle to the branch of nerves located in the C 2 and C 3 area. This area is known to trigger headaches in some people. It is a last resort of things doctors recommend to those who have not responded to other treatments. This time they did not do anything long lasting. They used some lidocane and a steroid. He was told to keep activity levels down for the first 24 hrs and most of the next 24 hrs. We found he had pain in the area for about 5 days and his daily headache was gone immediately and did not return until day 8. We had to record daily pain levels for the first week. Every one found this to be good and so we proceeded to the next step.
This one was done by the same doctor. There are three pictures. The first one shows the needle really well and the other two have pen marks pointing to the area they targeted. This one was more of a targeted nerve block. The goal was to target the actual branch of nerves that was causing the headaches. They used lidocane to isolate the area and see how long relief lasted in a temporary state. This time no bed rest, but was asked to moderately do activities that would normally increase his headache. We had to record every half hour starting just prior to the procedure and for the following six hours. It was different from the other procedures in the fact that his headache was still present following the procedure. Went from an level 8 out of 10 down to a 3 out of 10. It continued to decease until 2 hours after the procedure it was gone and then returned slightly at 5 hrs post and maintained that level for the duration of our recording. It was nice that he was finally able to do some household things during that time and still felt fine. (Any Exertion activities normally caused a more severe headache to the headache that was always present, such as mowing lawn, running, lifting items that require a bit more effort, and sudden adrenaline response (like braking quickly in the car). This time he was sore after the injection for about 24 hrs.
Now the third one was done on Christmas Eve. It is called Cervical Radiofrequency Ablation. It was to be the last step to end all headaches. At least so we hoped. It was done by a different DR, he gave us only one picture, but a bigger version of it. Yes that is two needles. The goal was to add a little steriod and lidocane, additionally the needle would heat to a high tempeture to cauterize the nerve. The headache was gone immediately. Recover was hard. It required him to be in bed and use of ice and regular use of pain meds. This came with episodes of vertigo. He was told to take it really easy the first week, and that it sometimes takes a couple weeks for the pain to go away, but things are usually pretty good by day 10. Well, Shaun took off from work from Christmas Eve on until New Year's Eve, which he needed to work, so others could have the day off, since he got Christmas Eve off. He was lucky to be able to come home early that day. Friday was Jan 2nd and was day 10, his first full day back at work. I remember him coming home after working the full day and seeing he was in excreciating pain. He described the pain felt like a severe burn. We later found out why he felt that, but thought that was strange at the time. We made it through the weekend with no improvement and were able to call the doctor's office first thing on Monday. He was told that he had inflamation of the nerve. It is a rare side affect that can happen occationally. He was told to lay down as much as possible, use ice to reduce swelling and use pain medications. One thing we noticed as the swelling increased so did the vertigo. If we could keep the swelling down then he would be fine with his balance. He was told to not lay on this side at all and that in time the pain would go away. It took another week for the pain to noticable decease and from there it went away quickly. All in all, about 4 weeks to get back to feeling normal.
This was great. No headaches and we were free to live life normal. (Finally after 10 months of very rough times.) Only thing was a spot on his neck that had no feeling.
Over time the spot gained feeling and then the headaches returned gradually. We knew then the nerve was growing back, but hoped the daily headache would not return. But then it did. We were told the procedure was expected to last 3 to 18 months and each time the nerve grows back slower. Even with the regrowth of the nerve, there was a chance he would never have those headaches again. So this time we got 4 1/2 months and we hoped this was his only time to need this procedure. So now we know we were wrong, but at least we know what we need to do to get on with life.
Today is day 5 from his latest procedure, and he is still in quite a bit of pain. He has to stay on the ice and not be up much in order to keep the swelling down, but we have great hope that in a matter of days he wil be feeling well and that recovery won't be quite as long as last time, but time will tell. This time he is not going back to work until day 11 (Monday) and if need be he will work half days for the first few days. I hope it is pretty much better by Monday for his sake. All in all we are lucky with the weekend schedule and Memorial day, he is only taking 5 actual days off from work.
This was great. No headaches and we were free to live life normal. (Finally after 10 months of very rough times.) Only thing was a spot on his neck that had no feeling.
Over time the spot gained feeling and then the headaches returned gradually. We knew then the nerve was growing back, but hoped the daily headache would not return. But then it did. We were told the procedure was expected to last 3 to 18 months and each time the nerve grows back slower. Even with the regrowth of the nerve, there was a chance he would never have those headaches again. So this time we got 4 1/2 months and we hoped this was his only time to need this procedure. So now we know we were wrong, but at least we know what we need to do to get on with life.
Today is day 5 from his latest procedure, and he is still in quite a bit of pain. He has to stay on the ice and not be up much in order to keep the swelling down, but we have great hope that in a matter of days he wil be feeling well and that recovery won't be quite as long as last time, but time will tell. This time he is not going back to work until day 11 (Monday) and if need be he will work half days for the first few days. I hope it is pretty much better by Monday for his sake. All in all we are lucky with the weekend schedule and Memorial day, he is only taking 5 actual days off from work.
http://www.pain-docs.com/painprocedures/radiofrequencyablation.html
*****UPDATE******7/9/2009 This last procedure healed much faster than the first. Back at work on day 11. Work almost a full day and then full days after that. Each day was better and he was not wiped out from work like the last time. For those wondering how long the pain last. Hang on. It does get better and your quality of life will improve hopefully. Best advice to give is ice will be your best friend until it stops hurting. The more ice he used, there was lessened inflammation and it helped with the pain. So stay on top of the ice.
*****UPDATE******7/9/2009 This last procedure healed much faster than the first. Back at work on day 11. Work almost a full day and then full days after that. Each day was better and he was not wiped out from work like the last time. For those wondering how long the pain last. Hang on. It does get better and your quality of life will improve hopefully. Best advice to give is ice will be your best friend until it stops hurting. The more ice he used, there was lessened inflammation and it helped with the pain. So stay on top of the ice.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Headache Update
So its been a number of months since I have given an update. Yes I still have a headache every day, many days I will go for brief periods without one, and I can not say how grateful I am for these brief periods. The use of what I call the Lido cream (see list below) when my headache start to turn moderately severe, and Ambien have made the most improvement. One to two times a week I still get those pesky Migraines and I still struggle to cope with them.
After they have tried prescription after prescription and countless MRI's and lots of physical torutre (I mean therapy)all to no avail. They have come to the conclusion that the root cause of the headaches is due to a combination of sleep problems, and inflamed nerves in my neck and back of head due to authritis and minor bulging disks.
This week I will under go cervical facet joint injections, these injections are done while under general anesthesia and requires the use of a flouroscope which is used to track the exact placement of the needle to deliver a small dose of cortisone and lidocain. The goal here is to block the nerves which are triggering the headaches. If it is successful, it is the first step of three to permanently deadening the nerves which cause the headaches. On the down side is I will have two days of bed rest (over Thanksgiving, sorry dear I have to watch that football game dr.'s orders. Milk shakes, flowers and lots of gifts would be nice too.) and lots of ice packs for the days to follow.
I will let you know how that goes. In the mean time here is an updated list of the medications I have tried since my last post on the topic. Basically none of them worked, except for the ambien and lidocain cream.
Nadolol (generic for Corgard): 40mg twice a day- no side effects, but no benefit
Ketorolac 30mg and Promethazine 10mg compound suppository, taken needed not more than 2-3x a week
Lidocane injections
Diacetazone/Epidrin cap EXCE– (generic for Midrin)- droggy, but unable to sleep. Reduces headache
Vitamin D 50000IU: one per month, then moved to one per week
Lunesta 3 mg: took one for a sleep study at hospital
Methocarbamol (generic for Robaxin): take up to 2 tablets, three times daily max
Metoclopramide (generic for Reglan)
Bupeopion HCL 75 mg (generic for Wellbutrin) 2 tablets each morning, J reduces morning headaches, more energy
CPAP machine-
Tylenol w/ codine 30mg
Cymbalta 30 Mg
Toridal shot
Topamax prescribed, but ended up not taking it
Lidoderm Patches
Zolpidem 10mg (generic for Ambien)
Specially made compound of Lidocaine and Neurontin creame
Tizandidine 2mg
Meloxicam 7.5 mg (Generic for Mobic)
Home Cervical traction device (ouch)
Old list of medications from April to June Just incase you really like reading long lists of nothing.
--SG
Friday, October 3, 2008
Eventful Week
What a week, the stock market crashes and rebounds and crashes again.
Shaun ponders doing something different and the opportunity is thrust upon him
and
he has had TWO DAYS with mainly no headache. This has not occurred since April when the headache appeared suddenly one day. I still have a headache daily, but it is gone or all but gone most of the day. This is a huge step in the right direction. Let's hope it stays this way and not like last month, which was the inverse.
Even when the world is going down the drain in a hand basket the Lord finds so many ways to make sure you are keenly aware that he knows you and loves you. --SG
Shaun ponders doing something different and the opportunity is thrust upon him
and
he has had TWO DAYS with mainly no headache. This has not occurred since April when the headache appeared suddenly one day. I still have a headache daily, but it is gone or all but gone most of the day. This is a huge step in the right direction. Let's hope it stays this way and not like last month, which was the inverse.
Even when the world is going down the drain in a hand basket the Lord finds so many ways to make sure you are keenly aware that he knows you and loves you. --SG
Friday, August 29, 2008
Banana Peels Will Stop Headaches
I was out tonight, and as many know Shaun has had a rough past couple of weeks. Yes, he still has the same headache as the one he got in April. It never goes away, just varies in intensity. The last few weeks, he has been as bad as he was in April. Not sure why, perhaps it goes in cycles.
Any way. We love all the suggestions people give us. We have entertained a great many suggestions. None have helped, but I keep hoping one will. Not even the Headache DR has been able to help him. Here is the latest suggestion I received. Actually I got two suggestions tonight. The banana peel is one and the other is squeezing your head in two different directions. I am always looking for new ideas. The banana one, I would have never came up with on my own. Can I convince my husband to try it. Hmm, I suggested this to him and well he gave me a weird look. Hey desperate times call for desperate measures. I just want him to not be in pain.
http://www.healpain.net/articles/banana.html Below is only a small part of the article. Let me know if it works for anyone. :) So the next time you are walking down the street and someone has a banana peel on their head. Well you now know why.
Banana Peels Will Stop Headaches Ann Landers
(We have found that Banana peels will not only stop headaches but may even relieve severe Neuropathic Pain, RSD Pain, Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain, and Kidney Stone Pain. "Apply directly where it hurts.")
by Darrell J. Stoddard Copyright 1998
A neurologist specializing in headache treatments responded to an Ann Landers' column in which it was suggested that a banana peel across the forehead and across the back of the neck would help relieve headaches, perhaps because of the potassium in the peel.
The doctor stated, "Headache is not always a minor disorder that responds easily to such simple cures. Each month in the United States, approximately 3 million days are spent in bed by headache sufferers. Many of these people are in excruciating pain, unable to tolerate even the light from a bedside lamp or the sound of a child's step. Some vomit repeatedly. For them, trying to cure a headache with banana peels is like trying to irrigate the Sahara by spitting."
I have measured the electrical resistance at the site of pain in more than 18,000 patients and categorically state my belief that pain is caused by the breaking, cutting, failure, or suppression of electrical signals between cells in living tissue. With headaches this often occurs across the forehead and across the back of the neck.
Any way. We love all the suggestions people give us. We have entertained a great many suggestions. None have helped, but I keep hoping one will. Not even the Headache DR has been able to help him. Here is the latest suggestion I received. Actually I got two suggestions tonight. The banana peel is one and the other is squeezing your head in two different directions. I am always looking for new ideas. The banana one, I would have never came up with on my own. Can I convince my husband to try it. Hmm, I suggested this to him and well he gave me a weird look. Hey desperate times call for desperate measures. I just want him to not be in pain.
http://www.healpain.net/articles/banana.html Below is only a small part of the article. Let me know if it works for anyone. :) So the next time you are walking down the street and someone has a banana peel on their head. Well you now know why.
Banana Peels Will Stop Headaches Ann Landers
(We have found that Banana peels will not only stop headaches but may even relieve severe Neuropathic Pain, RSD Pain, Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain, and Kidney Stone Pain. "Apply directly where it hurts.")
by Darrell J. Stoddard Copyright 1998
A neurologist specializing in headache treatments responded to an Ann Landers' column in which it was suggested that a banana peel across the forehead and across the back of the neck would help relieve headaches, perhaps because of the potassium in the peel.
The doctor stated, "Headache is not always a minor disorder that responds easily to such simple cures. Each month in the United States, approximately 3 million days are spent in bed by headache sufferers. Many of these people are in excruciating pain, unable to tolerate even the light from a bedside lamp or the sound of a child's step. Some vomit repeatedly. For them, trying to cure a headache with banana peels is like trying to irrigate the Sahara by spitting."
I have measured the electrical resistance at the site of pain in more than 18,000 patients and categorically state my belief that pain is caused by the breaking, cutting, failure, or suppression of electrical signals between cells in living tissue. With headaches this often occurs across the forehead and across the back of the neck.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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