Early in 2011, my Mom and I went to a seminar at Ascendant Neuro in Dallas, TX.  It was very educational and sounded like it would address my needs.  It was a treatment that Dr. Ken Hall and Dr. Kelly Reed had been treating back pain with for many years and had begun treating intractable migraines with.  It was called Implantable Neurostimulation.  Think like a pacemaker for the nerves in your head. I made an appointment and we wanted to proceed in getting rid of my migraines with these brilliant men.  Unfortunately, the Implantable Neurostimulation has been okay-ed by the FDA for treatment on back pain but not yet on Migraines and getting authorization took a long, long time.  Meanwhile I was trying the Botox injections and they worked for the first 6 months.  In the Fall of 2011 though, they quit working and I returned to Ascendant Neuro and Dr. Will.

Before you have the permanent implants put in, you do a trial study to see if the Implantable Neurostimulation is going to work for you.  I had my trial and it was a HUGE success!  My permanent implants were scheduled for 12/27/11.

These graphics show where the leads are places and the 5 incisions required to place them.

Within the last 15 years, Implantable Neurostimulation devices have proven to be very effective in treating chronic pain, including headaches. Certain risks are involved with any surgical procedure. However, the risks of implantable neurostimulation are quite small. They are especially small with the minimally-invasive techniques used by Ascendant Physicians, especially when compared to other surgical options for headaches. Unlike Ascendant techniques, other surgical options involve the cutting and/or removal of nerves and muscles. Our techniques do not change your anatomy.

Some of the most skilled and highly respected Neurostimulation implanters in the world, Ascendant Neuro Partner Physicians have unparalleled experience in treating chronic pain with the use of implantable neurostimulation devices. In fact, our physicians have been awarded the Cephalalgia Award for the best paper submitted to the International Headache Society Journal, Cephalalgia, in 2009.

So, I had my implants placed and have been released home with my happy little buzz in my head.  My headache is GONE.  Since I had surgery, I of course feel more than a little hammered but I am SO THRILLED to have my head not hurt!

If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to talk to you. This is my main reason for looking forward to a Bright and Shiney 2012!  More plans to come!