The Harvey Cushing Institutes of Neuroscience, which is part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, is seeking adults who have chronic migraine headaches to participate in a clinical research study.
A Genesis ® neurostimulator, which has been developed by the St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation Division, will be used for the research. The study will be “testing the safety and effectiveness of a therapy called peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), which uses an implanted device in an attempt to control pain.”
Genesis is a device implanted into the torso that delivers “mild electrical pulses” to the base of a person’s head so that the occipital nerve can be stimulated.
“Chronic migraine headaches can be debilitating,” said Dr. Alon Mogilner, the Director of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital. “In addition to severe headache pain, patients can suffer nausea and vomiting and other symptoms that may interfere with work or school and other day-to-day activities.”
North Shore University Hospital is one of 15 sites in the United States what will be participating in the research.
Prospective study participants must be at least 18 years old. The other criteria is that the individual has “headaches that start in the back of the head and/or neck, have tried two migraine-specific medications that did not adequately relieve their symptoms and have had headache symptoms for at least 15 days a month for at least three consecutive months.”
“For those experiencing chronic migraines that do not respond to existing medical treatment, PNS could be a new option,” Mogilner said.
There are about 28 million Americans suffering from migraine headaches, according to the National Headache Foundation. When having a migraine, what begins as a dull pain, becomes a constant throbbing or pulsing sensation. Other problems that can be associated with a migraine are nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sensitivity to noise.
To find out more about the study, including becoming a participant, contact research coordinator Maria Gillego, NP, at the Harvey Cushing Institutes of Neuroscience by calling 516-570-4468 or e-mailing Mgillego@nshs.edu. More information on the study can also be found at www.PowerOverMigraine.com.
