Controlling Migraine Attacks with Greater Occipital Nerve Stimulation Implant

Occipital Nerve (ON) stimulation procedure was for the first time successful performed in Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Eight contact electrodes were implanted along Greater Occipital Nerve. The electrodes are connected to the pacemaker implanted on the chest wall. The pacemaker delivers current to stimulate the GON through the electrodes. So whenever the patient gets migraine attack he can switch on the pacemaker and control his migraine.

This surgery does not cure migraine, it only controls the migraine attacks, according to Dr. Paresh Doshi, HOD, Department of Sterotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.

"Patients are selected by the specialist as per the International Headache Society guidelines to undergo this treatment," said Dr. K Ravishankar, Headache Specialist, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai.

Now the patient has been off drugs and has not suffered any lasting migraine attacks. And in future even if he does get an attack he can switch on the pacemaker anytime and be relieved from the attack. "Although this procedure has been done on 40 patients all across the world, this is the first time in India we have carried out this procedure," said Dr Doshi.

Kudos to the good doctors for bringing this procedure to India.

And to my gentle readers from India - if you think you might benefit from the procedure, here's the skinny:

The surgery costs Rs 4 lakh which is inclusive of the cost of the equipment that is Rs 2-3 lakh. Not cheap but if you can afford it, might be well worth the expense.

Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre contact info:

15 G,Deshmukh Marg,Peddar Road,Opposite Doctor House
Pedder Road, Mumbai, 400026, India
+91 22 66573006

They do have a website as well:

http://www.jaslokhospital.net/

If get to be there, do let us know how migraine-friendly the hospital is.

link: Treatment of Migraine by Stimulation of Greater Occipital Nerve