Migraine surgery

Look up nerve decompression surgery for headaches. Im 24 and have had migraines for 5 years. Nothing helps me and I think this will be my next route. Heard a lot of great results from the surgery. Its an out patient surgery where they go in and open up compressed nevers to help blood flow to the brain. lack of blood flow is what causes migraines. Keep your head up I feel your pain. God bless and good luck

Hello Dear Headache/Migraine Buddies: I am new to this post and glad to have fumbled upon it. My migraine journey (I mean hell) began in my late teens shortly after starting birth control pills. Although I went off the pills within several months, the headaches continued. They were manageable then as I only recall having one to two per month. Unfortunately, with each decade came more headaches. The only time since my teens that I did not have headaches were during my second and third trimesters of both of my pregnancies. In my late 30's, the headaches became daily. Surely like a lot of you, I have tried every (no, I really mean EVERY) medication and alternative treatment available. None have worked for me. Five years ago, I had sinus contact point surgery. Although I knew there was only a slight possibility it may help, I thought it was worth trying. The pain was getting more severe and refractory. Unfortunately, my sinus surgery seemed to make things even worse, and I had to give up a career I truly loved. Fast forward five years later, I am worse now then ever. Almost two years ago, I saw a clip on tv about a local dr. who was successfully treating chronic migraines with nerve decompression surgery. Of course, having run out of options, I couldn't wait to see him. This HAD to be my "cure"! He felt I was a good candidate for his surgery and I was scheduled pretty quickly. If you have had it done, I hope your surgery was a success. If you haven't and are considering it, I wish you the best of luck and I caution you to talk to other patients who have had the procedure and talk to your surgeon specifically about what is going to be done. I wanted this surgery to be the answer but once again was deeply disappointed. Any of us who is in pain is desperate for relief...any relief! Although I felt my husband and I had done enough research and asked enough questions, healing from my surgery was not at all what we had expected. My chronic daily migraines (in my case constant) headaches are normally bilateral with extreme pressure behind both eyes. My surgery was successful in that it seemed to have provided relief from the pressure directly behind my eyes. However, my entire forehead area now feels like it is going to explode. I'm not sure myself which circumstance is better. They both suck! The surgeon had initially indicated there may be a chance I would need a second surgery. However, given the apparent complications and extremely long recovery I experienced, we ALL decided it is not worth the risk. Living with chronic pain is so extremely difficult particularly when it NEVER goes away. I don't know where this journey will take me next but I am desperate for some relief and just wanted to share my story. Wishing all of you a headache free tomorrow!

I'm new to this site and it hurts me that so many people are in pain daily like me:( I had a benign tumor removed from my skull six years ago. What a six years it has been.. The dr put in a titanium mesh and four screws, and until two years ago I would feel something like pulling lose when I washed my hair or dried it with a towel. When I felt that it would hurt and I would get a headache. I also had a headache everyday that would trigger migraines two to three times a week. I couldnt get a Dr to believe me! So I went to dr after dr, when I did one would put me on meds the other would take me off saying I was suffering rebound pain... I had a surgeon at Vandy put in a neurostimulator, surgery one was putting in a temporary one to see if it would work. The temp worked well, then he put in a permanent one and it did not. It wouldn't stay in place, and it hurt, it was bigger than the temp. Anyway we had to remove it, so I have a big scar on my chest where the battery pack went and a big scar on the back of my neck where the rod went.. After that about a year later I went to a accupuncturist, just another idea someone had, and he was feeling around on my head and he pulled back and said what is that clicking in your head. I told him its been doing it since 2006 and for some reason no one else can feel it.. He said that needs to come out! I told him I'd had X-rays, MRI's, etc. and it doesn't show anything, he said well its there..
So I went back to the surgeon at Vandy, he said I don't see anything wrong with the plate. He said I can go in and take the plate out and put bone cemement in. So I had surgery again and when the surgeon woke me up he was so excited.. He said"you were right the mesh was curled up on the edge and was poking the occipital nerve!" he said" I'm sorry.. I will never not listen to a patient again" I wish I could say that fixed everything but the damage was done... I have headaches everyday, my eyesight changes, my pupil stays dilated on the right side. I feel like I have a icecream brain freeze one the right side behind my eye. I have migraines four to five times a week. I have no life at all. I take pain meds alot and every six months I have the nerve burnt on my C3 burnt. Once a month I get an injection in my head, which would all be ok if I got some relief, or one day free of pain! I do still work, but have to miss quite a bit. And I do spend days at a time in bed, matter of fact today is my third day this week! Ok.. Has anyone had the nerve decompression? And did it work for you?

TIDP, was just wondering where do you work? There is no way I can work right now, the pain is just too bad. We need the extra income but I just can't do it right now. I wish I could find a job that wasn't stressful and it would be nice to work from home, but don't know if there is such a job. lol! I do work...running my household, running my 11 year old daughter where she needs to be for school activities/friends, etc...but it would be nice to have a check with it. :)

Mercyme

Hello, I am new to this forum...and I wanted to say that I'm sorry for your pain! I too suffer from migraines almost daily...it seems far fetched, however for myself I was diagnosed with a pituitary Gland Tumor in the year 2010. And it seems that since then they have been getting worse. My Neurosurgeon is supposed to be the best, however he will NOT take out the tumor that is located inside my gland until it reaches 9mm. At this time it's 7mm, that I know of.
I saw a neurologist, & he said I will have to live with migraines for the rest of my life...NOT something I wanted to hear!!
Yeah sure my doctor gives me Imitrex/Sumatriptan 100mg for my migraines, however with any migraine pills...you only get like a small portion. So I have to try to endure unless I cannot anymore, then I will take one, cause I get 9 pills a month!!
Migraines are a horrible thing to deal with, I never heard of surgery for migraines...that's all news to me.
Just know that your NOT alone...Sadly it's as though no matter how well we take care of ourselves, we get sickly!!
Hang in there Kat***62 :)

Hi everyone, so sorry you are in so much pain. Mine have gotten better from yoga, ballet, and taking liquid magnesium and liquid B complex. White willow bark and feverfew are also excellent herbs, you can find in any vitamin/health food store. They are Native American remedies.

I wish everyone better health and blessings.