(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)
Amman April 3 ( Petra)-- By: Safa Khasawneh
It had never come to Muna's mind that what she has been through since ten years ago was caused by tension headache which can be treated in one session that would not take more than half an hour.
Muna Az'zaim is a young lady in her 20s who has been fatigued by severe and chronic headache over the past 10 years which usually used to last for 4 days. The prolonged pain used to make her completely disabled to do anything stay in bed and couldn't even attend her work.
Searching for a cure for her chronic headache Az'zaim has spent years going from one doctor to another but it was to no avail.
"I started suffering from severe headache when I was at my Tawjihi year and after doing all medical tests doctors said my pain was caused by exams' anxiety panic and stress and so they asked me to take different kinds of painkillers.
My exams had finished but my pain increased become frequent and extended to my eyes neck and teeth.
"Since that time I've been going from one doctor to another getting different recommendations with different treatments but with no cure" she explained.
One of the doctors attributed the pain to eye deviation I had and recommended performing " LASIK" eye surgery. After doing the corrective surgery my sight was corrected but the headache was not over and didn't subside she added.
Eight years later doctors thought that the nagging headaches are associated with dental problems and said the wisdom teeth must be removed so I got rid of my teeth but not of the continuous headache.
Doctors speculations continued but with no results said Az'zaim who had a degree in Medical Analysis adding that after all she had to use the pain killing injections because the use of lot of pain killers caused her terrible stomach ache.
After attending an awareness lecture on chronic headache by Dr. Ihsan Shanti who has the American Board in Pain Management and who has introduced the advanced "Pulsed Radiofrequency" in Jordan she decided to see if she could benefit from this new technique hoping it will end her agony.
Visiting the clinic and conducting all medical tests and analysis proved that she has been suffering tension headache and so she was treated with Pulsed Radiofrequency which proved to be effective and relieved her from all pain.
Dr. Shanti who is also the first registered board certified pain management specialist in Jordan explained that tension headache is a common type of chronic headache where the patient feels pain or discomfort in the head scalp and neck. It can occur at any age but is most common in teens and adults where up to 50% of women and 40% of men experience this type of headache during their lifetime.
Tension Headache results from an inflamed occipital nerve feeds the scalp Dr. Shanti explained.
It is originated from the back of the neck both sides of the head around the eyes the symptoms include pain in the neck headache burning in shoulders dizziness and ringing in the ears Dr.Shanti further added.
Different conditions may contribute to tension headaches such as poor posture mainly in front of computers Trauma to the neck placing mobile between shoulder and neck for long period of time. Driving for long hours lack of exercise obesity Argela (water pipe smoking) especially among teen agers smoking stress of daily life sudden change in weather can also trigger the headache.
Dr. Shanti confirmed that Jordan is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region that has introduced the "Pulsed RadioFrequency" treatment about seven months ago.
Pulsed Radiofrequency is an advanced technique that was first used as pain treatment option in the mid 1990's in the USA Dr. Shanti said adding that it was mainly performed on the spine the joints of the spine among other usages such as other joints including the shoulders and others.
Dr. Shanti explained that the evolution of Pulsed Radiofrequency thermo-coagulation has been rampant because of many reasons first of all when done on the spine it is a curative technique not a palliative. Second once the patient feels better and relieved of his chronic pain he can go on with his life with less disability more performance less medication and less of their side effects such as tolerance dependence and other systematic complications.
Since it's so safe and effective; Pulsed Radiofrequency usages has increased as well. Once we diagnose the pain generator which is the source of pain Dr. Shanti explained we use fluoroscopy ( X-ray) to position an electrode close to the affected nerve and then the pulsed radiofrequency procedure is performed creating heat to stimulate the sensing and the motive (motor).
When Pulsed Radiofrequency is applied to a certain nerve Dr. Shanti clarified we create an artifact which selectively blocks the nerve's ability to transmit pain signals thus ending the headache.
After performing the treatment which takes approximately 30 minutes the patient starts feeling the results after 7 days usually with a success rate of 90% and that's what makes this technique a curative not palliative.
Mona who received this treatment seven months ago said "It sounds like a dream thank God I feel much better now returned to my normal life with no repeated headaches no pain in the neck and I no longer need any kind of pain medication.
Dozens of patients from Jordan and other countries including Saudi Arabia Qatar Algeria and Libya were treated by Pulsed Radiofrequency since we have started using this technique seven months ago Dr. Shanti stated.
Some patients from the United States also prefer to be treated by this technology in Jordan due to relatively low cost compared to America.
To avoid triggers of this type of headaches Dr. Shanti advises people to have a good portion of sleep exercise mildly avoid obesity good posture to reduce neck strain reduce eyestrain from computers at work and at home.
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3/4/2016 - 01:05:54 PM
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