39% of chronic migraine cases will achieve over a 50% improvement with adjustable occipital stimulation – but not with static stim
Cephalalgia. 2010 Sep 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Occipital nerve stimulation for the treatment of intractable chronic migraine headache: ONSTIM feasibility study.
Saper JR, Dodick DW, Silberstein SD, McCarville S, Sun M, Goadsby PJ. abstract here
- Had to have >15 migraines a month
- Preset stim only worked 9% of time
- Adjustable stim 39% (39% over 50% better)
Unfortunately, response to occipital nerve block does not tell who will respond:
Cephalalgia. 2007 Mar;27(3):271-4.
Response to occipital nerve block is not useful in predicting efficacy of occipital nerve stimulation.
Schwedt TJ, Dodick DW, Trentman TL, Zimmerman RS. abstract here
Chronic migraine is a terrible disease, and though the response rates are not high, they are worth a try