KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Migraine study makes stunning find

Migraine study makes stunning find

By Philippe Djegal - email
Posted by Ellen Krafve - bio | email

LINDALE, TX (KLTV) - Migraines affect millions of Americans, and women are three times as likely to get them. But, a groundbreaking study on the "Impact of a Surgical Procedure to Rid People of their Migraines" has found stunning results.

Marisa Sitton has had migraines since she was nine years old.

"I have like, two crater spots," said Sitton. "One at the top of my head and in the back. But, they're usually more. Sometimes, I have them all over the head -mainly on the left."

Sitton's 27-year old daughter, Summer Cooner, has them, too.

"Light, noise, it's thumping, it's bumping, and then at one point it just consumes your whole head," said Cooner.

Doctors tell Sitton that her migraines result from stress, stemming from a tragic incident suffered as a young girl.

"I was hit by a golf club when I was seven, and I had to have four hours of emergency [surgery], and it was to my nose and my eye," said Sitton.

And, ironically, it may take another surgery to rid her of those terrible migraines.

"We have discovered that if we stop the irritation of the end branches of the trigeminal nerve, we can actually stop migraines headaches," explained Dr. Bahman Guyuron, with plastic surgery at University Hospitals.

A recent study finds that a surgical procedure to various trigger sites will rid sufferers of their migraines. Dr. Guyuron authored the study.

"In the forehead area, as these muscles contract, they squeeze these nerves, and begin a cascade of events that lead to the migraine headaches," he explained.

The removal of temporal nerves, and nerves in the back of the head will lead to relief of severe pain for people who can't relieve that pain with medication.

"This study demonstrates that not only the surgical treatment of migraines successful, over 90-percent of the patients will benefit from the operation had sustaining results after five years," said Guyuron.

"I would really love for my daughter to read about it and consider it because she has her whole life," said Sitton.

"I mean, at this point in my life, and I'm only 27 years old, can you imagine 30 years of this?" said Cooner.

If the surgery is what it cracks up to be, you won't have to.

If you are not into surgery, doctors say you should try preventive treatments. Such treatments can take many forms, like drugs, nutritional supplements and increased exercise.

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