Peripheral Nerve Stimulator

I had an appointment with a pain medicine specialist today. He thinks I am a good candidate for a peripheral nerve stimulator. He said about 80% of the migraine and headache patients get relief. His staff is going to contact my insurance company to work out the details then they will call me to set up an appointment for the trial. He will install the leads on my face in the area of the nerve above my left eye and near the nerve below my left eye - where my daily pain always exists. The leads will attach to an electrical impulse generator that I will wear on a belt. I'll wear that for about a week. If I get relief from that - then I will have surgery to install the equipment inside my body.

The doc said that the brain can only process so much stimulus at once. The electricity overrides the pain signal and retrains the brain. I may even get relief from non-pain symptoms.

I will have the nerve stimulator procedure at the end of November.

Well - the peripheral nerve stimulator trial was a bust. Another hope dashed. My pain is too near my eye. The skin there is too thin and the leads would erode through. I asked if anyone else had pain so near their eye. I was told no - others have pain in their forehead or cheek which can be treated, but not so close to the eye like me. Aren't I lucky to be so special? That's a rhetorical question - no need for an answer.

Aren't enough margaritas around to improve this Monday.