A hand-held electronic device that emits electromagnetic waves relieves migraine pain before it even begins, a new study says.
The study found that the device can eliminate pain if used when a migraine is in its earliest stage.
Out of 164 patients who received treatment, 39 per cent reported being pain free two hours later, compared to 22 per cent of subjects who received placebo treatment.
The device, called a noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulator (TMS), interrupts the aura phase of the migraine. It does this by sending an electric current through a metal coil, which creates an intense magnetic field. When that magnetic pulse is held up to a person's head, the pulse creates an electric current in the neurons of the brain that disrupts the aura.
The aura often predicts that a migraine is on the way. Migraine patients describe it as feeling like there is an electrical storm occurring in the brain, and can lead a sufferer to see visions such as shooting stars, zigzagging lines, flashes of light and spots. The aura can also cause weakness or a tingling sensation in the body.
"Because of the lack of adverse events in this trial and the established safety of the TMS device, this is a promising treatment for migraines with aura," Dr. Yousef Mohammad, a neurologist and principal investigator of the study at Ohio State's Medical Center, said in a statement.
"This sets the stage for future studies in migraines without aura."
The research was conducted at The Ohio State University Medical Center. The findings are being presented Friday at the annual American Headache Society meeting in Boston.
Previous research was conducted on a similar machine that was large and bulky. This new, smaller device will be usable by patients at home or on the go.
No adverse side effects were reported by patients who were treated with the TMS device.
The TMS offers a safe alternative to migraine drugs, which can have side effects, Mohammad said. As well, some patients can become addicted to prescription-strength medications.
According to Migraine Canada, more then 3 million Canadians suffer from migraine each year. Migraine is a type of severe headache that can last for hours, or even days, and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound.
Many people who suffer from migraine find it difficult to attend work and social activities when they are in pain.
Only about half of migraine sufferers respond to conventional migraine drug treatments. Therefore, the findings are promising for migraine sufferers who can't find relief for their pain.
