Email This Story
Print This StorySurgical Procedure Helps Cure Migraines
Cleveland Doctor's Research Paving Way For Medical Acceptance
UPDATED: 11:36 am EST February 25,
2004
CLEVELAND -- It's one of the most painful experiences there is. Millions of people experience migraines every day. But now there's hope for migraine sufferers in a revolutionary new surgery that one Cleveland doctor is now performing. NewsChannel5's Ted Henry reported on this story that is so personal to him because his wife was a long-time migraine sufferer -- and now she and others have a chance to be pain-free.
The surgical procedure has the possibility of eliminating chronic migraines 100 percent, and a Lyndhurst plastic surgeon is its pioneer. Henry's wife, Jody Cleary(pictured, left), has had four migraines a week, on average, for the past 20 years. She first learned of Dr. Bahman Guyuron's migraine research last year. When she learned he was open to new patients, she jumped at the chance. Jody said if you've never experienced a migraine it is really hard to understand how painful they really are. "A bad migraine is really a hideous experience," said Cleary. Guyuron had discovered the benefits of this procedure while performing a forehead rejuvenation surgery on a patient in 1999. In a follow-up, the patient claimed she hadn't had a migraine headache for six months.
"A week later, another patient repeated the same story. I was convinced there was something to it," said Guyuron (pictured, right). Guyuron then went back and checked 314 patients who had undergone similar procedures. He found that those who had a history of migraines, nearly all of them were now either symptom-free or realized great improvement. "Every day that goes by, I am more convinced that we are helping these patients," said Guyuron. Viera Bernat is now typical of the migraine patients Guyuron has operated on -- her migraines are gone. "It is a cure. It is a cure, and I believe it," said Bernat. To help him with his research, Guyuron has put together a team of headache experts. The early finding from reconstructive surgery, and then the use of Botox to help pinpoint the source of migraines, have led Guyuron's team to help find and quell migraine trigger points. "If you can remove those triggers permanently by removing the muscles from around the nerves and prevent them from being squeezed on, then you will prevent the migraines from occurring," said Dr. Jennifer Kriegler, of the American Migraine Center. "This is the first time we've actually had a chance to cure migraines," said Dr. Tarves Tucker, also of the American Migraine Center. Guyuron performs surgery and clinical tests frequently as he continues to compile research to bring worldwide medical accreditation and acceptance of his migraine theories. Guyuron says the research finds that in 92 percent of the patients, the migraine headaches have either been eliminated or improved by at least 50 percent. Jody got to know Guyuron and his team of specialists very well before she agreed to have the surgery, which took place a year and a half ago. "Dr. Guyuron asked me to make a headache calendar, and I was really shocked to see it in record that I was accustomed to living with 20 migraines a month," said Jody. Because her migraines came from so many areas, Guyuron worked on all of Jody's known trigger points, finding where Botox injections could be used to paralyze points in the scalp. Bill Prysock is also a migraine patient who underwent the surgery. Many of his migraines lasted two to four days at a time. "It's miserable. It's like having a knife bite in your brain," said Prysock. Prysock, a medical doctor himself, underwent the procedure a year and a half ago, and now he says he has not had a migraine since then. "I am ecstatic, and I know that my life is changed forever," said Prysock. The medical establishment, skeptics and medical insurance companies are watching carefully as Guyuron continues with his elaborate research. So far, Guyuron has spent $2 million out of his own pocket, but he continues to be passionate about the track he's on -- he says he knows this will be his legacy in medicine. Henry: "Doctor, this work of yours has taken your profession in a whole different, dramatic direction. It must be very rewarding work for you." Guyuron: "I can't describe for you how fulfilling this is." Jody says her migraines have been cured more than 95 percent, and she says she feels terrific about it -- "It's a whole new life. It really is." For more information on this treatment, call (440) 461-7999.
| Video |
Migraine Treatment "A week later, another patient repeated the same story. I was convinced there was something to it," said Guyuron (pictured, right). Guyuron then went back and checked 314 patients who had undergone similar procedures. He found that those who had a history of migraines, nearly all of them were now either symptom-free or realized great improvement. "Every day that goes by, I am more convinced that we are helping these patients," said Guyuron. Viera Bernat is now typical of the migraine patients Guyuron has operated on -- her migraines are gone. "It is a cure. It is a cure, and I believe it," said Bernat. To help him with his research, Guyuron has put together a team of headache experts. The early finding from reconstructive surgery, and then the use of Botox to help pinpoint the source of migraines, have led Guyuron's team to help find and quell migraine trigger points. "If you can remove those triggers permanently by removing the muscles from around the nerves and prevent them from being squeezed on, then you will prevent the migraines from occurring," said Dr. Jennifer Kriegler, of the American Migraine Center. "This is the first time we've actually had a chance to cure migraines," said Dr. Tarves Tucker, also of the American Migraine Center. Guyuron performs surgery and clinical tests frequently as he continues to compile research to bring worldwide medical accreditation and acceptance of his migraine theories. Guyuron says the research finds that in 92 percent of the patients, the migraine headaches have either been eliminated or improved by at least 50 percent. Jody got to know Guyuron and his team of specialists very well before she agreed to have the surgery, which took place a year and a half ago. "Dr. Guyuron asked me to make a headache calendar, and I was really shocked to see it in record that I was accustomed to living with 20 migraines a month," said Jody. Because her migraines came from so many areas, Guyuron worked on all of Jody's known trigger points, finding where Botox injections could be used to paralyze points in the scalp. Bill Prysock is also a migraine patient who underwent the surgery. Many of his migraines lasted two to four days at a time. "It's miserable. It's like having a knife bite in your brain," said Prysock. Prysock, a medical doctor himself, underwent the procedure a year and a half ago, and now he says he has not had a migraine since then. "I am ecstatic, and I know that my life is changed forever," said Prysock. The medical establishment, skeptics and medical insurance companies are watching carefully as Guyuron continues with his elaborate research. So far, Guyuron has spent $2 million out of his own pocket, but he continues to be passionate about the track he's on -- he says he knows this will be his legacy in medicine. Henry: "Doctor, this work of yours has taken your profession in a whole different, dramatic direction. It must be very rewarding work for you." Guyuron: "I can't describe for you how fulfilling this is." Jody says her migraines have been cured more than 95 percent, and she says she feels terrific about it -- "It's a whole new life. It really is." For more information on this treatment, call (440) 461-7999.Copyright 2006 by NewsNet5. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
