Nerve Decompression Procedure

I have constant headaches that start on both sides of my neck and go inside my head to my eyes.  They are constant and severe.  I am on Vicodin and Robaxin which only helps for about the first 2 hours that I take the pain medication.    I have not worked in 2 years.  I have had all tests, medications, treatments.  Because of the side effects I cannot take anti-seizure, imflammatory, or strong pain medication.  I had neck surgery which they fused C5,6,7 about 1 1/2 years ago.  The pain got worse.  Nothing has helped over the past 3 years.  I just went to a new neurologist after seeing her on the news here in Houston.  She referred me to a plastic surgeon for Surgical Decompression which she explained would cut some of the muscle away to give room for the nerve.  It would be outpatient and recovery would be 1-2 wks.  Only risk would be I may have a tingle feeling in my head but could take anti-seizure medication, which I told her I couldn't.  In the paper she gave me she said more than 1/2 patients receive relief.  Full recovery would be about 3-6 months.  I cannot find any information on the internet where others may be doing this type of surgery or results.  Do you have any sites I could review or opinion on this surgery. I just want to live a normal life without pain.  Thank you so much.  

[Dr Santos]

How are you? Chronic daily headaches rank among the most common of human complaints with profound effect on an individual’s personal life. Nerve decompression is a safe outpatient procedure with a low morbidity rate. The cause is said to be some type of anatomic disturbance in the greater or lesser occipital nerve on either or both sides of the head, and the nerve may be compressed by surrounding muscles or the tunnel the nerve passes through at the back of the neck may be small.  The two-hour procedure under general anesthesia is performed away from the nerve roots,limiting the risk of injury to the spine. You can contact the UNRA The Headache Treatment Center of Northwest, located at 1801 N. Loop W. on the campus of Memorial
Hermann Northwest.
(http://www.memorialhermann.org/forphysicians/System_JulyAugust2007.pdf)

I hope this helps. Take care and keep us posted.

[purplerocz]

Thank you for your information.  I did go see Dr. Blake (neurologist) and Dr. Perry (plastic surgeon) and am a candidate for surgery.  My insurance (BCBS of TX) has rejected the surgery because they say it is experimental and still under investigation.  I am waiting on denial letter so I can appeal.  The doctors office said they usually won't change their mind since there is no studies with proof.  Any suggestions.  This was my last hope since all other treatments did not work over the past 3 years.  There is not a day or night that I am free of headaches.  Thank you.  

[jacee1967]

Hi, I chat with a lady on line that her daughter has bad chronic headaches, and her daughter jsut had this procedure done last week I think it was... So far she is healing well and feeling well. they did the back nerves and are deciding on wether to go back in and do thr frontal ones also.  

I hope you can get your insurance company to cooperate with you. and whern you do, good luck with it. I have read and heard good things about this procedure.

[jacee1967]

here is  some i nformation on the procedure,  hope this helps you ...


Dr. Blake sends her patients to Dr. Carlton Perry for their surgery. His website has a link to their spot on Good Morning America.



www.migraineheadachesurgery.com


This next website is from the hospital where Dr. Blake used to practice. I'm not sure who else in the US does this procedure, you might be able to call this practice, where I think the procedure originated, to find out.

www.georgetownuniversityhospital.org
Then do a search for "Revolutionary Migraine Treatment"

[nesweetie67]

First I was wondering how you are doing?
I have been suffering from chronic neck pain and migraine headaches since I was 9 years old.  I work for a major Insurance Company myself and was curious wehter ot not your insurance approves your procedure?  I know when I had my spinal fusion, parts of my surgery were approved and other parts were considered exp/inv.  It's frusterating to say the least.  I have been searching dor solutions for this terrible pain for quite some time.  I have been off work and on short term disability since April.  I just received a letter advising me that I had exhaisted my FMLA for 2008, which I had expected.  I  hope I can keep my job while the doctors decide what they are doing with me.  I told my Dr. in May that I thought this was a neck issue and he dissagreeged with me and placed me on Topamax for Migraines.  Friday he decides it is my neck since the Topamax wasnt agreeing helping.  He also remembered that 5 years ago when I first came to him with this simular condition that I had been to a Dr who was over medicating me and I had just weaned myself off 13 different meds before finding him as a new Dr.  I told him I thought the headaches were related to my back and he listened and referred me.   I have made an appt. with my spinal surgeon for a second openion this time myself, in a few weeks, my PCP thought that was a good idea.  It has been 4 years since my spinal fusion, which was of my lower spine, not c-spine.  My headaches are constant with exacerbations like migraines with triggers such as smells, noise, ect... It's so confusing and complicated.  My MRI showed the damage in my neck and I have had a spinal injury to my neck and spine, so we know it could be that Very frusterating.
Take care

Sweetie