title: Neurostimulation in the treatment of primary headaches.
abstract: There is increasing interest in using neurostimulation to treat headache disorders. There are now several non-invasive and invasive stimulation devices available with some open-label series and small controlled trial studies that support their use. Non-invasive stimulation options include supraorbital stimulation (Cefaly), vagus nerve stimulation (gammaCore) and single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (SpringTMS). Invasive procedures include occipital nerve stimulation, sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation and ventral tegmental area deep brain stimulation. These stimulation devices may find a place in the treatment pathway of headache disorders. Here, we explore the basic principles of neurostimulation for headache and overview the available methods of neurostimulation.
authors.affiliation: Headache Group, Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Neurometabolism, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Alex J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Headache Group, Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
authors.forename: Manjit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matharu
mesh_terms: D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006261:Headache / Q000628:therapy*; D020773:Headache Disorders; D006801:Humans; D010525:Peripheral Nerves
keywords: HEADACHE; MIGRAINE; Neurostimulation