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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Mayo Clinic
By Tania MacWilliam
A world leader in research and healthcare, offers acupuncture treatments for chronic pain.
Imagine waking up in pain every day for more than 20 years.
Headache & Pain Relief Centre
Not just a headache
A Toronto clinic offering headache and chronic pain relief.
Jennifer Hovestadt was hospitalized for her first migraine at the age of 14 where she spent four weeks undergoing testing and treatments. Every day since has been a struggle for the 36-yearold. Making plans with her friends is not possible when her only focus is pain. Not only does pain affect her social life, but her livelihood.
Migraine information Here are the common characteristics and potential triggers of a migraine, as outlined by the Mayo Clinic: Symptoms Acupuncture needles in place for arthritis.
PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM
“Sometimes I only work a couple of days a week,” she said. “Sometimes only a couple of hours in a week.”
Nausea and/or vomiting
It isn’t just a headache. Migraines are an often debilitating condition that can leave people reliant on medication for their entire lives. A 2010 Statistics Canada health report showed that among Canadians ages 12 to 44, 1.8 million reported suffering from chronic migraines.
Sensitivity to light and sounds
Hovestadt has tried prescription medications, but nothing offered her relief.
Intense pounding or throbbing pain
“I have tried everything else,” she said. “I just take Tylenol 3. The other medications don’t work.” What was worse was the side effects.
Usually localized to one side of the head
“I’ve put on so much weight from the other medications,” said the Cambridge resident.
Blurred vision
Looking for relief When prescription drugs, such as Zomig and Imitrex, no longer offer relief, many sufferers turn to acupuncture as an endof-line treatment option. Fed up with the effects of pain and medications, Hovestadt decided to attend a seminar at the Ontario Migraine Clinic in Georgetown. Brendan Cleary, founder of clinic, initially opened Ah-Shi Acupuncture in 1997 and treated a number of ailments. Finding that his assessments worked exceptionally well with migraines, he opened the Ontario Migraine Clinic two years later.
Dizziness or lightheadedness Triggers Changes in sleep patterns Skipped meals
Clients receive multiple treatments, spaced at about 90 minutes apart, reducing the need for frequent visits. This is especially helpful to those who travel great distances, says Cleary.
"I knew I couldn't keep popping Tylenol for the rest of my life."
Bright lights, loud noises, or strong odors Estrogen level change/fluctuation
As an acupuncture practitioner, Cleary has to work doubly hard at explaining assessments and treatments to prospective patients.
Stress and anxiety
“Western medicine, it’s everywhere and we’re familiar with it, so we rarely question it,” said Cleary.
Barometric pressure changes
Peter Berardi was skeptical at first, but at the urging of family members who have witnessed his agony for decades, he decided to seek treatment from Cleary.
Red wine
“I knew I couldn’t keep popping Tylenol for the rest of my life,” he said. “My liver wouldn’t take it.”
Caffeine (too much or withdrawal)
The Peterborough man has lived with migraines since he was a teenager. Simple pleasures, like going out to dinner with his wife, became unbearable. “Someone would drop their fork or knife on the china plate,” he said. “It would be like someone banging cymbals up against my head.” Committed to treatment, he travelled for his weekly appointments for about five months, even in snowstorms. Now 66, he
Foods that contain nitrates, such as hot dogs and lunch meats Foods that contain MSG (monosodium
Committed to treatment, he travelled for his weekly appointments for about five months, even in snowstorms. Now 66, he no longer gets migraines. Living a pain-free life is an obvious ideal, but if you experience a sudden migraine, there are people who understand and can help.
Getting help on campus Tracy O’Donnell, the charge nurse at Sheridan College’s Davis Campus, knows all too well how migraines can affect people. “They’re usually pretty bad,” she said. “By the time they get to us they’re in quite a lot of pain. A lot of the times they’re barfing, very sensitive to light, just having a really rough time.” Students who are struck with migraine pain can visit Health Services for solace. There is a quiet rest area with a bed where students can recover. “We do what we can to get them to feel better.” Nurses are limited on what they can offer, she said. They can’t give out prescription medication, but if on site, the doctor can give injectable anti-nausea medication. Migraine medication, such as Imitrex, is sometimes available in the college’s medicine cabinet for doctors to give in extreme cases, she said. Doctors are usually on site about four days per week for scheduled appointments. Headaches are a common ailment, but if you are experiencing persistent pain with visual disturbances or nausea, experts advise it might be a migraine. Seek medical attention and don’t worry about being perceived as a hypochondriac. “I felt like, ‘OK, I’m not crazy,’ ” said Hovestadt. “When I say I have a headache every day, I’m not the only one.”
Pain-free Peter Berardi.
PHOTO BY TANIA MACWILLIAM
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MSG (monosodium glutamate) Foods that contain tyramine, such as aged cheeses and soy products Aspartame
Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials "Because of the side-effects of long-term drug therapy for pain and the risks of dependence, acupuncture analgesia can be regarded as the method of choice for treating many chronically painful conditions."