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Sign up with GoogleHas anyone been to the Headache Clinic at 45 Empire Road?
- Thread starter Eyenstyn
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victoria25
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Ey there. I jst had another migraine yesterday. Haven't gotten one this bad since 2004. it started round abt 2pm and is still going strong. Can't eat, can't sleep. On a normal basis I'd get average headaches. Wud u recommend me to go for a complete diagnosis?
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Ye,s please... by all means post it here so that we can all get the benefit, thanks!
Hi Victoria
I got your message via the broadband forums:
"Ey there. I jst had another migraine yesterday. Haven't gotten one this bad since 2004. it started round abt 2pm and is still going strong. Can't eat, can't sleep. On a normal basis I'd get average headaches. Wud u recommend me to go for a complete diagnosis?"
I couldn't reply using the forums because you disable receiving messages. I can give you as much information as I can about what the Headache Clinic does and different ways you could approach this problem. It sounds you might have chronic migraines and might need to see a doctor. I have tension headaches, so the information I am about to give you is from that point of view.
I do think its quite expensive (R4000) and there are other ways to solve this. The one thing that going to the Headache Clinic does do, is comfort you because your now taking the problem serious.
The headache clinic does 4 tests:
Psychological
A person will start asking you questions about:
- When did your headaches occur?
- How frequent are they?
- Do you exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle?
- Also a direct questions like: What triggered the headaches?
This is to diagnose whether the headaches are psychological or whether if you have depression?
2. Neurological
- A neurologist will also ask you questions, to try to diagnose where these headaches come from
- He gets his information from the psychologist which you previously visited and adds his own opinion to it
- He does a few physical examinations to test your reflexes
- If he suspects that its a problem with an organ or something in your blood then he will ask for a blood test to be done.
I think this guy is very intelligent but he doesn't always get it right. The main thing this clinic tries to sell is the customised mouth retainer. The Neurologist knows this and there limits the extra tests they do, based on the psychologists diagnosis.
3. Examination of teeth
- An orthodontist does X-Rays of your head to identify if there is any tension in your bone structure.
- This is also used to find if ones teeth are pushing against one another causing tension. For instance if the teeth are growing side-ways towards each other. This is normally found with wisdom teeth.
4. Tension Tests
- I found this test to be particularly useful because they place receptors on your face to identify where the most tension is?
- They found that I had tension of 7 between my forehead and this was above the normal reading of 2. From this they try to find out if this is caused by the environment I am currently in or if this is a normal everyday occurrence? I responded by saying this is my usual self.
- They also found that I had a lot of tension on my back muscle, which is the largest muscle in my body and does not lose tension easily because of its size. This tension might not go away but i can go for massage therapy and try to alleviate it.
From this test I became aware that my mind is constantly alert of everything that is going on around me. You could say hyper-alert.
Results:
After all these tests were done. A consultant sits down with you and the psychologist, and summarizes the analysis done. This is when they sell you the mouth retainer idea to reduce the tensions while you sleep. They charge R2500 additional to the R4000 for the retainer which takes 2 weeks to make, the price might have gone up by now. This is why medical aids don't supprot them because they are secretive about their process, when the main product they sell is the mouth retainer.
Apparently one can get a mouth retainer for below R200 at Dischem. I haven't bought one yet but its a lot cheaper than what they are asking for. Headaches are also caused by not eating enough or having an imbalance of something in your body.
In my opinion: I would suggest seeing a dietitian and living a healthy lifestyle by exercising as well. I also believe its also psychological, so try getting more information on something that's been bothering you?
----
Regards,
Eyenstyn
I got your message via the broadband forums:
"Ey there. I jst had another migraine yesterday. Haven't gotten one this bad since 2004. it started round abt 2pm and is still going strong. Can't eat, can't sleep. On a normal basis I'd get average headaches. Wud u recommend me to go for a complete diagnosis?"
I couldn't reply using the forums because you disable receiving messages. I can give you as much information as I can about what the Headache Clinic does and different ways you could approach this problem. It sounds you might have chronic migraines and might need to see a doctor. I have tension headaches, so the information I am about to give you is from that point of view.
I do think its quite expensive (R4000) and there are other ways to solve this. The one thing that going to the Headache Clinic does do, is comfort you because your now taking the problem serious.
The headache clinic does 4 tests:
Psychological
A person will start asking you questions about:
- When did your headaches occur?
- How frequent are they?
- Do you exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle?
- Also a direct questions like: What triggered the headaches?
This is to diagnose whether the headaches are psychological or whether if you have depression?
2. Neurological
- A neurologist will also ask you questions, to try to diagnose where these headaches come from
- He gets his information from the psychologist which you previously visited and adds his own opinion to it
- He does a few physical examinations to test your reflexes
- If he suspects that its a problem with an organ or something in your blood then he will ask for a blood test to be done.
I think this guy is very intelligent but he doesn't always get it right. The main thing this clinic tries to sell is the customised mouth retainer. The Neurologist knows this and there limits the extra tests they do, based on the psychologists diagnosis.
3. Examination of teeth
- An orthodontist does X-Rays of your head to identify if there is any tension in your bone structure.
- This is also used to find if ones teeth are pushing against one another causing tension. For instance if the teeth are growing side-ways towards each other. This is normally found with wisdom teeth.
4. Tension Tests
- I found this test to be particularly useful because they place receptors on your face to identify where the most tension is?
- They found that I had tension of 7 between my forehead and this was above the normal reading of 2. From this they try to find out if this is caused by the environment I am currently in or if this is a normal everyday occurrence? I responded by saying this is my usual self.
- They also found that I had a lot of tension on my back muscle, which is the largest muscle in my body and does not lose tension easily because of its size. This tension might not go away but i can go for massage therapy and try to alleviate it.
From this test I became aware that my mind is constantly alert of everything that is going on around me. You could say hyper-alert.
Results:
After all these tests were done. A consultant sits down with you and the psychologist, and summarizes the analysis done. This is when they sell you the mouth retainer idea to reduce the tensions while you sleep. They charge R2500 additional to the R4000 for the retainer which takes 2 weeks to make, the price might have gone up by now. This is why medical aids don't supprot them because they are secretive about their process, when the main product they sell is the mouth retainer.
Apparently one can get a mouth retainer for below R200 at Dischem. I haven't bought one yet but its a lot cheaper than what they are asking for. Headaches are also caused by not eating enough or having an imbalance of something in your body.
In my opinion: I would suggest seeing a dietitian and living a healthy lifestyle by exercising as well. I also believe its also psychological, so try getting more information on something that's been bothering you?
----
Regards,
Eyenstyn
Supadave7901
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- Apr 22, 2019
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Hi Eyenstyn,
Have you got your headaches under control. If yes, what treatment or lifestyle adjustments have helped?
Regards
David
its psychological and its a sensitive topic, rest will help, also reducing.emotional stress, its thought patterns
Supadave7901
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Thanks for feedback. I have had chronic headaches for 10 years now. All started after suffering a head injury during an accident. Over the ten years the headaches have been managable . But lately they have been quiet bad. Stress has been up and sleep a problem so will tend to agree that stress and rest a serious factor which i need to address. Thanks
i had an accident when i was young, stitching done ontop of my head near the back, a bicycle rode over me and i might have been pinned under the front or back wheel, i havent revisited the story or inquired on further info, i was maybe 3 years old, the tension i experienced from 2004 to 2010 and dormant tension after that is primarily my over-worrying as simple as that might sound is a life jourey decision path, i have done EEG readings and its higher than normal, i dont realy care for that only to be at peace and have calmness, i would couple this with a healthy diet, excercise and rest also simple and yet effective, i have started wearing orthopedic soles and will monitor the difference in body circulation, posture alignment, walking, i am still experimenting, weary about not knowing if there is something better i should try
i noticed you only joined recently, to respond to this 9 year old thread, how did you find it, are you from south africa, have you always monitored it, what have you tried, we can take conversation offline or private if you would like? i feel uncomfortable talking in public on issues that effect me personally and as deep as this one. its just how i feel, i know that might make me people uncomfortable.
The_MAC
Honorary Master
Had tension headaches for about 2 years, made the following changes and have not had one for about a year.
1) Changed Jobs - less stress
2) Drink more water
3) Sleep on a very flat pillow
4) I did and continue to exercise.
1) Changed Jobs - less stress
2) Drink more water
3) Sleep on a very flat pillow
4) I did and continue to exercise.
Barbarian Conan
Executive Member
My wife suffered from frequent tension headaches, and decided to try and get it sorted again.
In the past, it had been GP -> Refer to Neurologist -> Go to ENT for sinus -> Get tired of it all and accept her fate.
The reasoning was that the Headache clinic would at least do almost all of it on the same day, and seeing that a neurologist can charge around R3K for a visit it wouldn't be much more expensive to go this route.
She already drinks LOTS of water, she does intense exercise 5x times a week, and it definitely helped and helps. She changed from a stressful job to a job with a different kind of stress, so yeah...
She described it as when she has a hangover level headache, that it's a good day. She was almost never completely debilitated though.
I read this thread about the mount piece, so she took her dental bite plate and a Dischem mouth guard thing with her to the appointment. The appointment was R6500 IIRC. This includes a consult with a neurologist, x-rays and then with Dr Shevel.
The plan was to go for the consultation, then come home and think about the recommendations. I read up about the procedures they do, and was not convinced.
After about an hour she came out, and wants to talk about money. Her neck muscles are so tense that her neck doesn't have the natural curve anymore. Even though she doesn't appear to be very upright or even have great posture, the x-rays show that her neck muscles are extremely tense.
He also injected her with local anaesthesia in the tendons at the base of the skull to confirm that that is where the headaches originate. It worked, she was pain free, and decided then and there she wants it done. Because he is the only Dr in the world that does this procedure, there isn't even a medical aid code, so its ~R20K for the procedure. Out comes the credit card and she has it done the same day.
The headaches are supposedly caused by nerves that form in the tendons at the base of the skull that should not be there. The Shevel procedures involves cauterizing those nerves under local anaesthesia, and you can't drive afterwards. Even injecting the local anaesthesia is quite unpleasant, and while the procedure itself isn't painful IIRC, it's not exactly pleasant either. She was in quite a bit of pain when the anaesthesia wore off, and only worked half day the following day because she felt quite crap. The area in the neck stays sore because of the bruising for quite some time.
So, the result? The nerves supposedly never grow back. The headache can also "move". This is because he might not have gotten all the nerves the first time as it doesn't seem to be a very precise procedure. Whereas her headache was the whole head in the past, it was only some parts of the head and less severe when the headaches came back. So she went back. The ~R20K covers all procedures for 2 years, so you don't pay again. The second time the pain was worse as her neck went into spasm afterwards. She was off work for 4 days and on a lot of pain meds, but she says it was worth it. Well, a few weeks afterwards she said it was worth it. There appears some nerves that he didn't get, as there is still a small part of her head that gets headaches, but much less severe than before and she will be going back soon to get those sorted as well.
Last night she looked all giddy and said that she is so stressed that her whole neck is tense and sore, but it stops at the neck, it doesn't go up to the head except for those two small sections. Headaches are also the exception rather than a daily occurrence.
I saw the mouth plate in Dr Shevel's office, and while I didn't ask him about it, it seemed to only cover the roof of the mouth, not the teeth? So its probably to keep the tongue in the position that keeps it from tensing up? A mouth guard for teeth probably won't have the same effect?
There is also another procedure that they do for headaches with another cause.
The reception area's whole wall is full of emails and articles about people he helped, some of them foreigners. One person from the UK tried doctors in Russia and Greece before the Headache clinic helped him.
TL;DR - Visiting The Headache clinic was worth it for my wife. The treatment wasn't exactly pleasant, but my wife says it's definitely worth it. One of those "I should have done it earlier" things.
In the past, it had been GP -> Refer to Neurologist -> Go to ENT for sinus -> Get tired of it all and accept her fate.
The reasoning was that the Headache clinic would at least do almost all of it on the same day, and seeing that a neurologist can charge around R3K for a visit it wouldn't be much more expensive to go this route.
She already drinks LOTS of water, she does intense exercise 5x times a week, and it definitely helped and helps. She changed from a stressful job to a job with a different kind of stress, so yeah...
She described it as when she has a hangover level headache, that it's a good day. She was almost never completely debilitated though.
I read this thread about the mount piece, so she took her dental bite plate and a Dischem mouth guard thing with her to the appointment. The appointment was R6500 IIRC. This includes a consult with a neurologist, x-rays and then with Dr Shevel.
The plan was to go for the consultation, then come home and think about the recommendations. I read up about the procedures they do, and was not convinced.
After about an hour she came out, and wants to talk about money. Her neck muscles are so tense that her neck doesn't have the natural curve anymore. Even though she doesn't appear to be very upright or even have great posture, the x-rays show that her neck muscles are extremely tense.
He also injected her with local anaesthesia in the tendons at the base of the skull to confirm that that is where the headaches originate. It worked, she was pain free, and decided then and there she wants it done. Because he is the only Dr in the world that does this procedure, there isn't even a medical aid code, so its ~R20K for the procedure. Out comes the credit card and she has it done the same day.
The headaches are supposedly caused by nerves that form in the tendons at the base of the skull that should not be there. The Shevel procedures involves cauterizing those nerves under local anaesthesia, and you can't drive afterwards. Even injecting the local anaesthesia is quite unpleasant, and while the procedure itself isn't painful IIRC, it's not exactly pleasant either. She was in quite a bit of pain when the anaesthesia wore off, and only worked half day the following day because she felt quite crap. The area in the neck stays sore because of the bruising for quite some time.
So, the result? The nerves supposedly never grow back. The headache can also "move". This is because he might not have gotten all the nerves the first time as it doesn't seem to be a very precise procedure. Whereas her headache was the whole head in the past, it was only some parts of the head and less severe when the headaches came back. So she went back. The ~R20K covers all procedures for 2 years, so you don't pay again. The second time the pain was worse as her neck went into spasm afterwards. She was off work for 4 days and on a lot of pain meds, but she says it was worth it. Well, a few weeks afterwards she said it was worth it. There appears some nerves that he didn't get, as there is still a small part of her head that gets headaches, but much less severe than before and she will be going back soon to get those sorted as well.
Last night she looked all giddy and said that she is so stressed that her whole neck is tense and sore, but it stops at the neck, it doesn't go up to the head except for those two small sections. Headaches are also the exception rather than a daily occurrence.
I saw the mouth plate in Dr Shevel's office, and while I didn't ask him about it, it seemed to only cover the roof of the mouth, not the teeth? So its probably to keep the tongue in the position that keeps it from tensing up? A mouth guard for teeth probably won't have the same effect?
There is also another procedure that they do for headaches with another cause.
The reception area's whole wall is full of emails and articles about people he helped, some of them foreigners. One person from the UK tried doctors in Russia and Greece before the Headache clinic helped him.
TL;DR - Visiting The Headache clinic was worth it for my wife. The treatment wasn't exactly pleasant, but my wife says it's definitely worth it. One of those "I should have done it earlier" things.
Last edited:
airborne
Honorary Master
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Gel for what?
Pak Fa Fui
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If you have a headache, press the muscle between your index finger and thumb, your headache will go away
Nithan15
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Its a Headache Gel you rub it on your the side of your head if you dont feel like taking medication for the headaches. Works quite well I am a chronic migraine sufferer.
Nithan15
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DOes this really work? Have you tried it? would be interesting to know.
Barbarian Conan
Executive Member
My wife got some for recovery. It seemed to work.
airborne
Honorary Master
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It does kind of work on some headaches but not when you have a full grown monster on your shoulders.