Migraines are a common and debilitating condition that affects nearly 20% of the world population.
According to migrainetrust.org, migraine is found to be more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined.
Typically, migraine is a neurological disease and is more than a headache, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. It’s a severe throbbing recurring pain, usually occurs on one side of the head – although, in about 1/3 of migraine attacks, both sides are affected. Yet, this condition remains undiagnosed and undertreated in at least 50% of patients.
However, raising new hope for people living with the devastating neurological condition, a study conducted by doctors from AIIMS Delhi and Srinagar military hospital has found that going under the knife may help treat a migraine, The Times of India reported.
According to the study, 14 (46.7%) out of 30 patients who underwent surgery reported complete elimination of a migraine after a year. The study also claimed that an equal number of patients reported significant relief of symptoms one year after the procedure.
The results of the study, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, a monthly US journal, showed that only two (6.6%) patients failed to notice any significant improvement.
“Surgery for a migraine involved removing some muscles of the forehead or temples that are believed to trigger the attacks by compressing neighbouring nerve branches,” Dr Anson Jose, maxillofacial surgeon at Srinagar’s military hospital, who led the study, was quoted as saying to TOI.
Although surgical treatment of a migraine is being carried out abroad on trial basis, few such attempts have been made in India.
“While patients are given botox injections at the trigger site, there is at least a 50% reduction in frequency and intensity of pain, surgical removal of these muscles provides long-term relief,” said Dr Ajoy Roychoudhary, professor and head, division of oral maxillofacial surgery at Centre for Dental Education and Research at AIIMS.
“Bahman Guyuron, a US-based plastic surgeon, observed that many of his patients, who were also suffering from migraine, reported significant reduction in headache,” added Dr Roychoudhary, who also said that this led to the beginning of research in this field. However, he cautioned that surgery may not be a solution for all.
Women are more likely than men to have migraines. According to a a study published in the journal The BMJ, women who get migraines are also more likely to develop heart conditions like heart attacks and strokes. They are also slightly more likely to die from these conditions compared to women who do not regularly get migraines.