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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Las Vagus
        
(Message started by: ben_uk on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 7:28am)

Title: Las Vagus
Post by ben_uk on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 7:28am

I came across this recently
Just wanted to share it

VNS = vagus nerve stimulation

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-2982.2005.00611.x?journalCode=cha
“Two patients with chronic cluster headaches had significant improvement of their headaches”.

http://www.drkoop.com/ency/93/guides/000099_10_2.html
“It is also being investigated as a possible treatment for chronic migraine and cluster headaches. In a 2005 study of six patients, VNS improved headache and helped a few patients return to work. “

http://www.headachedrugs.com/archives2/vagus.html
In conclusion, VNS may be an effective therapy for intractable chronic migraine and cluster headaches and deserves further trials.

shocked

Title: Re: Las Vagus
Post by chopmyheadoff on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 9:09am

:-/

im very wary of this kind of thing.

i might be tempted - if a was being BATTERED NONE STOP - and NOTHING else would work

maybe . .

Title: Re: Las Vagus
Post by pattik on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 9:18am

Ben, thanks for all the research. I'm wondering how invasive this process is? Maybe this treatment will reverse the idea of "what happens in vagus stays in vagus." 8)

Title: Re: Las Vagus
Post by BB on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 9:59am

on 10/23/06 at 07:28:43, ben_uk wrote:

I came across this recently
Just wanted to share it

VNS = vagus nerve stimulation

“It is also being investigated as a possible treatment for chronic migraine and cluster headaches. In a 2005 study of six patients, VNS improved headache and helped a few patients return to work. “

shocked

Its interesting that the study is of only 6 patients and they said " a few patients " were helped? How many was a few? One ?

Annette

Title: Re: Las Vagus
Post by pattik on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 11:23am

BB, I suggest you pay attention to the Cephalagia link that Ben posted. It said that two patients had dramatic improvement, and two more had "significant" improvement.
Four out of six seems like it shouldn't necessarily be dismissed out of hand.

patk

Title: Re: Las Vagus
Post by kcopelin on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 12:48pm

Looked this up and couldn't figure out how they stimulate the vagus nerve. Whenever I have boold drawn or get a shot, well almost everytime, I have a vagal response-which means I pass out, convulse and often lose bladder control. Same nerve, and I suppose if my choices were A. Kip10 Ch or B. passing out, convulsing and peeing myself, well I'd probably go with the B.
Lots of unanswered questions and really small sample for these studies. It did indicate that something was implanted. Hmmm...
Very interesting...
PFDAN y'all,
kathy (get away from me with that needle!)

Title: Re: Las Vagus
Post by Pinkfloyd on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 1:38pm

I have been looking into this for quite some time now..over a year now.

We have some different theories about why it may work (if it does) and I've been beating the bushes for information on it.

I've contacted many people that have had a VNS implanted and visit (in my spare time) some of the message boards where this is discussed.

The unit that is implanted is made by a company called medtronics and is always in a great deal of controversy. Between those with lawsuits and those that have had relief (from epilepsy), you can imagine some of *those* threads.

One of my theories involves why the 3x water treatment sometimes helps people. My theory is that drinking a lot of cold water may cool down and reduce inflamation in the Vagus nerve.

With all the people that have clusters and/or migraines, our hope was to find someone that has had an implant that as a side effect, may have noticed a decrease in their headaches. If 10% of the world gets migraines, then it stood to reason that 10% of those people that have epilepsy have migraines and possibly 10% of those that have had the implant, have migraines/clusters.

It appears that Medtronics is behind some of the "numbers" about efficacy and...and....well...???

Haven't found one person yet, and I've talked to a bunch that have headaches and the implant, that has reported any decrease in headache patterns.
I do still have the call out in case someone notices this effect in the future.

If anyone wants to run a self-test, next time you're experiencing an attack, drink a glass of ice water at first sign of the attack...slowly, over time, as you're able. I used to set a glass on a table in the middle of my pacing track and as I'd pace past the glass...I'd take a swig if I was able to actually stop and grab it.

Last time I tried this....it did seem to help me a bit. It also seemed to be a possible link (to me anyway) to why breathing cold air sometimes helps.

Bobw

Title: Re: Las Vagus
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Oct 24^th, 2006, 1:14am

Here's an article from Wikipedia about it.
I think I'll stay with my TENS machine for now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve_stimulation
Cheer
Barry