NEW ORLEANS — More than a quarter of teens say they have experienced a migraine headache.
And veterans, who served in the Middle East, report two to four times the incidence of migraines as the general public.
Now there is a device that uses technology to help prevent – and treat – debilitating headaches.
Courtney Clarke is passionate about all the things a high school senior would like, hanging out with friends, music, making jewelry, and playing sports, but often those had to take a backseat to something else in her life.
“I've missed so many classes. I've missed sports practices, games, birthday parties. There's this one surprise party that I spent a while planning for one of my friends, and I couldn't even go. It was pretty sad,” said Clarke, 18 of New York City.
At the age of seven, she started suffering from migraines. Over-the-counter pain meds stopped working. Insurance doesn't always cover prescription pills for young people, plus they cause side effects.
“It's not easy to be the person that has to leave in the middle of class to go to the nurse, or the one who missed the super fun field trip to the super cool place,” she remembers.
But then Clarke asked her doctor if she could try the Nerivio REN wearable device. It’s technology, FDA cleared to treat migraines in adults, and teens as young as 12.
“It can be worn on an as-needed basis when a migraine attack starts, or it can be worn on a regular basis to prevent migraine from occurring altogether,” explained Dr. Karissa Thal, a Family medicine physician in Bellefonte, Penn.
Here's how it works. The upper armband sends electrical stimulating impulses through the nerves to your brain. That sends messages that turn on pathways that inhibit pain, and turn off pathways that signal pain. It's non-invasive, drug-free, and connects to Bluetooth so you can keep a smartphone diary.
“The data supports its use, and effectiveness, in episodic, and chronic migraine, as well as both migraine with, and without aura,” added Dr. Thal.
“It has really helped me diversify my treatment options, and I'm less dependent on medications, which means that I have less side effects, and I can participate more fully,” said Clarke.
Clarke uses Nerivio REN to prevent migraines, and sometimes with medication to treat an attack. She's a school ambassador to educate parents about migraines in the young. Now she is looking forward to starting her engineering degree at the University of Michigan.
The first Nerivio device is $49 and provides 18 treatments, and each replacement device is $89 – also for 18 treatments.
For more information on Nerivio REN, click here.
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