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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> deep brain stimulation
        
(Message started by: tommyD on Apr 30^th, 2003, 5:00am)

Title: deep brain stimulation
Post by tommyD on Apr 30^th, 2003, 5:00am

Found this at Dr. Koop dot com. I usually don't paste entire news stories (copyright law and all), but this sounds big...

Relief for Cluster Headaches

SAN DIEGO (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Research shows deep brain stimulation is an effective way to treat cluster headaches. The research was presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in San Diego.

Researchers from Italy studied deep brain stimulation as a new treatment option for patients with chronic cluster headaches. They surgically implanted nine electrodes in the brains of eight patients to study the effectiveness of high-frequency stimulation to the affected area of the brain.

All of the patients in this study experienced complete relief of their pain that continued through the course of the study. Over an average time of four weeks, patients reported a progressive reduction in the number of attacks. Ultimately, their symptoms eventually disappeared.

Researchers followed the patients for between two and 26 months, and all were pain-free at the follow-up period. Three of the patients remained pain-free without taking any additional medication while five required low doses of medication. Researchers say there were no side effects of the implanted electrodes and no complications with the procedure.

Angelo Franzini, M.D., author of the study, says, "The ... stimulation treatment is a safe and effective alternative for treatment of drug-resistant chronic cluster headaches."

SOURCE: The 71st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in San Diego, April 26-May 1, 2003

Last updated 4/30/2003

http://drkoop.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=93&id=8006029

-tommyD

Title: Re: deep brain stimulation
Post by Bob P on Apr 30^th, 2003, 7:57am

Here's the study:

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/surgery/hypo_stim.htm

Title: Re: deep brain stimulation
Post by Marc on Apr 30^th, 2003, 9:36am

Geez, seems like there is whole bucnh of info in the OUCH library ;D

Title: Re: deep brain stimulation
Post by Nathan on Apr 30^th, 2003, 4:58pm

it also seems that alot of people dont KNOW to look in the archives and shouldnt be harrassed about asking questions or posting something that has been covered already. this is, i thought, an informational message board and some sufferers dont have the time, patience to search archives when it is much easier to simply ask a question. a great teacher once said "the only stupid question is the one never asked." >:(

Title: Re: deep brain stimulation
Post by Drk^Angel on Apr 30^th, 2003, 5:00pm

Uhhh... What?

PFDAN...................................... Drk^Angel

Title: Re: deep brain stimulation
Post by hdbngr on May 9^th, 2003, 9:55am

I like it when their are post like this. Thanks Tommy.

Helps us keep our options open, and with all of the new visitors, it may take awhile for them to get used to navigating OUCH. HAving a search string is great, but when you hurt, don't know why, and don't know what to look for, these help.

Even with OUCH at ou fingertips, most of us come here everyday.

Title: Re: deep brain stimulation
Post by Globi77411 on May 13^th, 2003, 2:19am

Have a look at the link below. Supposed to have the same result and be less invasive.

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/surgery/occipital_stim.htm