Neuroaugmentation Brings Relief To Chronic Migraine Sufferers

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This September, National Pain Awareness Month turns a spotlight on Americans who face chronic, often debilitating pain, including the estimated 37 million who suffer from migraine headaches. Those unresponsive to traditional migraine remedies may find new hope in an innovative therapy being offered by Dr. Standiford Helm of DISC Sports & Spine Center.

Called neuroaugmentation, this treatment is simple, minimally invasive and effective, involving the same groundbreaking technology now being used to stop tremors in Parkinson's Disease patients. Similar to Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), yet placed in a different part of the body, neuroaugmentation involves implanting electrodes beneath the skin to stimulate the occipital and supraorbital nerves. When stimulated, these nerves stop communicating the headache causing pain signal.

World Health Organization statistics rank migraines as the 19th most common reason for disability. Migraine sufferers use twice the amount of prescription drugs and visit doctors and emergency rooms twice as often as those who don't have the disorder. A study published by the International Headache Society (2010) suggests that neuroaugmentation can markedly ease the pain, neurological symptoms and disability in 80% of patients with severe, chronic migraine and refractory chronic migraine headaches.

"I have seen wonderful improvement in patients who had all but given up on leading normal, productive lives," said "Dr. Helm. "To be able to give them a second chance at life with a lot less pain is incredibly gratifying, and I'm thankful to DISC for giving me the collaborative team and venue at which to make it all possible."

Established by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Robert S. Bray, Jr., DISC Sports & Spine Center offers state-of-the-art surgery centers in Newport Beach and Marina del Rey, both accredited by the AAAHC for providing the highest quality of standards and care as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation. Today's news reconfirms Dr. Bray's commitment to leading-edge patient care by providing the most advanced minimally invasive treatments available.

A graduate of Harvard College and Tufts University, Dr. Helm is a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, with subspecialty certification in pain medicine. He has practiced interventional pain management since 1982.

For more information, contact DISC at 866.481.DISC or visit www.discmdgroup.com.

Press Contact:
Kristien Brada-Thompson, Priority PR
310-954-1375 x2 / [email protected]

SOURCE DISC Sports & Spine Center