Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2004 >> CH Surgery
        
(Message started by: BlueMeanie on Jan 7^th, 2004, 11:36am)

Title: CH Surgery
Post by BlueMeanie on Jan 7^th, 2004, 11:36am

My sister found this on the net. It's dated from 1999. Just wondering if anyone has either heard of this surgery or tried it ?

http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum_2/ClusterHeadacheF/11.19.993.21AMSurgeryforC.html

Title: Re: CH Surgery
Post by ave on Jan 7^th, 2004, 2:46pm

Meanie, if the whole nerve were killed, you would have no feeling at all on that side of your face and head!
Heve a look at the cluster info pages (left) to find out where the nerve goes.

There are procedures to "cook" part of the nerve and also to cut the nerve, but you'll have to look up "surgery" in the search engine if youreally want to know.

I seem to remember:for some the pain just went to the other side, for some it helped, with others it deadened the nerve and they have less controll over that side of the face.

Wouldn't do it myself!

Title: Re: CH Surgery
Post by don on Jan 7^th, 2004, 3:52pm

A drastic solution that is complicated by other problems it produces.

There are other less invasive surgical procedures being done. These are pretty much limited to those that are diagnosed chronic and irretractable. (sp?)

If you are episodic then pain management is still the best option IMO.

Title: Re: CH Surgery
Post by BlueMeanie on Jan 7^th, 2004, 5:58pm

I thought it sounded strange. I wasn't planning on doing it. Was just curious. You know how everytime you see one of these articles that supposedly helps. It always seems to be NOT TRUE.

Thanks for the comments.

Title: Re: CH Surgery
Post by bobkip on Jan 7^th, 2004, 11:10pm

NO NO NO NO!!!!

I have heard of too many negative results from the magic nerve surgery and personally know one lady who had it. She now has one side of her face paralized and was temporarily blinded by it and still gets ch.

Kip

Title: Re: CH Surgery
Post by Renee on Jan 7^th, 2004, 11:33pm

I would never do anything like that, BUT I did receive an injection for occipital nerve block (as found on ouch site) that was in essence a temporary nerve block along with another injection for a supraorbital nerve block . This lead to my being pf for several months and had nothing except a numb feeling when i would rub my forehead above the suprorbital nerve notch. These procedures were done in the summer of 03.

The pain mgmt at UTSW is where this was performed and they told me if I got temporary results from this procedure then they could go in and kill the nerve via burning it. This would result in the nerve growing back over time but with the possibility of it growing back via a different path, which could possibly eliminate the headaches.

The initial nerve blocks were successful but I never went back to UTSW as they did these blocks without the use of a fluoroscope and without ANY lidocaine.

Does anyone know any further info on burning the nerves that kills that section of the nerve and it growing back possibly via a different path?

I've often thought about going back there, but the intern that did my blocks could not speak english very well and I never could understand him.

[smiley=huh.gif] renee