Can Psychedelics Be a New Option for Pain Management?

By Kevin Lenaburg

Science, healthcare providers and patients are increasingly finding that psychedelics can be uniquely effective treatments for a wide range of mental health conditions. What is less well-known, but also well-established, is that psychedelics can also be powerful treatments for chronic pain.

Classic psychedelics include psilocybin/psilocin (magic mushrooms), LSD, mescaline and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a compound found in plants and animals that can be used as a mind-altering drug. Atypical psychedelics include MDMA (molly or ecstasy) and the anesthetic ketamine.

More than 60 scientific studies have shown the ability of psychedelics to reduce the sensation of acute pain and to lower or resolve chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, cluster headache and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

The complexity of pain is well matched by the multiple ways that psychedelic substances impact human physiology and perception. Psychedelics have a number of biological effects that can reduce or prevent pain through anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Psychedelics can also create neuroplasticity that alters and improves reflexive responses and perceptions of pain, and helps make pain seem less important. 

New mechanisms of action for how psychedelics improve pain are continually being discovered and proposed. Mounting evidence seems to show that a confluence of biological, psychological and social factors contribute to the potential of psychedelics to treat complex chronic pain. 

It is premature to state that there is one key or overarching mechanism at work. Research continues to explore different ways that psychedelics, combined with or without adjunctive therapies, can impact a wide range of pain conditions.

The National Institutes of Health recently posted a major funding opportunity to study psychedelics for chronic pain in older adults. And for the first time, PAINWeek, one of the largest conferences focused on pain management, has an entire track dedicated to Psychedelics for Pain at its annual meeting next month in Las Vegas. 

Clearly, pain management leaders are welcoming psychedelics as a vitally needed, novel treatment modality, and it is time for healthcare providers and patients to begin learning about this burgeoning field.

It is important to note that all classic psychedelics are currently illegal Schedule I controlled substances in the US. The FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to multiple psychedelics, potentially accelerating access, but the road to approval at the federal level is long. 

However, at the state level, the landscape is changing rapidly. Similar to how states led the way in expanding legal access to cannabis, we are now seeing the same pattern with psychedelics. 

In 2020, Oregon voters approved an initiative that makes facilitated psilocybin sessions available to adults who can afford the treatment. 

Voters in Colorado approved a similar measure in 2022, with services becoming available in 2025. To become a certified facilitator in Colorado, individuals must pass a rigorous training program that includes required instruction on the use of natural psychedelics to treat chronic pain. 

This coming November, voters in Massachusetts will also decide on creating legal access to psychedelics. 

Over the next decade, we will likely see multiple pathways to access, such as continued expansion of state-licensed psychedelic therapies; FDA-approved psychedelic medicines; and the latest proposed model of responsible access, Personal Psychedelic Permits. The last option would allow for the independent use of select psychedelics after completing a medical screening and education course focused on benefits and harm reduction. Overall, we need policies that lead to safe supply, safe use and safe support.

As psychedelics have become more socially accepted and available, rates of use are increasing. This includes everything from large “heroic” doses, where people experience major shifts in perception and profound insights, to “microdoses” that are sub-perceptual and easily integrated into everyday life. 

In the area of chronic pain, a lot of the focus is on finding low-doses that are strong enough to reduce pain, but have no or minor visual effects. This amount seems sufficient for many people to activate the necessary receptors to reduce chronic pain.

While doctors are years away from being able to prescribe psychedelics, increasing public usage indicates that now is the time for the medical community to become more knowledgeable about psychedelic-pharmaceutical interactions and psychedelic best practices to serve the safety and healing of their patients.

We also need healthcare providers and pain patients to join the advocacy fight for increased research and expanded access to psychedelics. Providers have the medical training and knowledge to treat pain, while patients often have compelling personal stories of suffering and their own form of expertise based on lived experience. 

One of the most effective lobbying tandems is a patient who can share a powerful personal story of healing, hope and medical need, combined with the expertise and authority of a doctor. Together, we can create a world with responsible, legal access to psychedelic substances that lead to significant reductions in pain and suffering.

Kevin Lenaburg is the Executive Director of the Psychedelics & Pain Association (PPA) and the Policy Director for Clusterbusters, a nonprofit organization that serves people with cluster headache, one of the most painful conditions known to medicine. 

On September 28th and 29th, PPA is hosting its annual online Psychedelics & Pain Symposium, which features presentations from experts and patients in the field of psychedelics for chronic pain and other medical conditions. The first day is free and the second day is offered on a sliding scale, starting at $25.

First, Do No Harm

By Mia Maysack, PNN Columnist

When living in immense amounts of pain, it can be common to regularly dismiss minor inconveniences that would greatly perturb others, if not hinder them immensely.

Speaking from personal experience, I’ve permitted medical situations to worsen due to my tolerance for ailments, as opposed to promptly treating them. What’s one more thing, right?  

But when it begins to get unmanageable and my go-to treatments aren’t working, I’m often at a loss to calm a pain flare or break a pain cycle. Sometimes I am left with no other choice than my absolute least favorite thing to do — which is go to the ER. 

Recently I was severely dehydrated, the main reason I ever visit an emergency department. Because without retaining adequate water, there can be little improvement in any of my other symptoms. I essentially have given up on the pursuit of pain relief.

It’s typical that when I convey my reasons for being at the ER -- such as days or weeks of an unbreakable migraine or a never-ending cluster headache attack -- there’s judgment about my sincerity regarding conditions that don’t present themselves as a broken bone or bleeding cut.

I recall a time before I retired from nursing, when a patient came in with severe head pain. Knowing what that is like, I ensured dimmed lighting, used a soft voice, closed the blinds, and just moved in a way that I’d appreciate if I was the one lying in the bed. Which is far more often than I’d like.   

A colleague stormed in, turned on the lights and basically shouted at the patient. He later conveyed a disbelief for the patient’s claims -- even though the oath we took includes trusting discomfort as being just as the patient describes it.

The fact of the matter is that no one is able to fully comprehend another person’s pain. And it’s not up for any of us to have a final say on what we don’t personally experience.   

For years, providers have been up in arms regarding the misuse of opioid medication, and as a result are trying to over-correct a mistake that was never the patient’s fault. It’s now impossible for many of us to receive adequate pain relief.   

This has led to a distrust in the healthcare system and is also playing a large role in the number of lost lives we’re seeing.  One of the leading causes of death is suicide. And one of the leading causes of disability is depression. There’s definitely no shortage of reasons to feel down. What’s occurring in our world is cause for chronic sadness. 

As I sat there in the ER with my shades on, while picking up on their shade, I had to use all my might to explain why I was there – telling them my history and answering their questions. There are no words to adequately explain what it’s like to go through inquisitions like that so many times. To have hundreds of appointments, spend countless hours on the phone or in waiting rooms, and fighting for a proper diagnosis. Not to mention all the trial and error treatments, and the constant “permission slip” signing of authorizations just to be seen.  

Having been through it for as long as I have, it has caused its own form of trauma, something I believe is underappreciated. There are moments when I’m not even able to bring myself to enter a medical clinic due to the impact of things like being stereotyped, not believed or even helped. 

This could obviously lead anyone to seek out some sort of way to assist or soothe on their own. That includes, but isn’t limited to, checking out of their own physical existence. I’ve felt pushed to contemplate that a number of times, which I’m not ashamed to admit. Because this needs to be talked about more.   

The healthcare system often fails to such an extent that people are left to feel as though they have no other choice than to find an exit. If only things were set up to truly be concerned about our well-being. Then suicide prevention would look a lot like harm reduction, in the form of providing basic needs like affordable housing, food security and access to mental health resources.  

The medical-industrial complex can lead a person to believe their life does not matter. I live on in spite of it and to honor those who are gone.

Mia Maysack lives with chronic migraine, cluster headache and fibromyalgia. She is the founder of Keepin’ Our Heads Up, a Facebook advocacy and support group, and Peace & Love, a wellness and life coaching practice for the chronically ill. Mia is the recipient of the International Pain Foundation’s “Hero of Hope” award for 2022.

MindMed Investigating Use of Psychedelics to Treat Chronic Pain

By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

A startup pharmaceutical company has announced plans to investigate the use of LSD and other psychedelics to treat chronic pain.

New York-based Mind Medicine (MindMed) is exploring the use of psychedelics to treat two pain conditions, which it is calling “Project Angie.” The company is already investigating the use of psychedelics to treat addiction, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

"With the launch of Project Angie, we seek to align closely with MindMed's core mission to improve mental health and combat substance use for the many patients in need. If we can help to develop a new paradigm to treat pain, it may have the potential to greatly reduce the use of addictive medicines such as opioids currently ravaging society and its mental health," MindMed CEO & Co-Founder J.R. Rahn said in a statement.

MindMed did not disclose what pain conditions it was developing treatments for, but it is working with researchers in Switzerland who have a Phase 2 clinical trial underway on the use of LSD to treat cluster headache. The company said it is also evaluating a second indication for a “common, often debilitating, chronic pain syndrome.”

Interest in using psychedelics to treat medical conditions has been growing in recent years. Preliminary research suggests that microdoses of LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and other psychedelics may offer a new way to treat pain. The exact mechanism in which psychedelics have an analgesic effect is not fully understood, but early research indicates that LSD can modulate serotonin receptors that help regulate pain and inflammation.

"Evidence dating back to the 1950s suggests that LSD and other psychedelics may have analgesic effects, but this treatment area remains largely untapped by companies studying psychedelics, with the majority of research focusing solely on psychiatric indications," said Rob Barrow, MindMed’s Chief Development Officer. 

The company is planning to submit a Pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the Food and Drug Administration for a Phase 2a proof of concept study of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in the second half of 2021.

MindMed will have to clear some high regulatory hurdles. LSD, psilocybin, MDMA (Ecstasy) and other psychedelics are classified as Schedule I controlled substances, meaning they have a high potential for abuse and currently have no accepted medical use in the United States.

Lessons Learned from 20 Years of Chronic Pain

By Mia Maysack, PNN Columnist

This year, I'm honoring the 20th anniversary of how long my head has been hurting.

I was fortunate to learn at a young age that we're not invincible. Slipping into a coma, two brain surgeries, and years of rehab resulting from a near death experience with bacterial meningitis has a way of humbling a person.  

Healing isn't linear and has thus far proved to be a lifelong process for me. I've got no reason to believe I've reached an apex of wellness.   

Simply put, the journey has had many ups and downs. Relationships with others were shattered because my own life was in pieces. I didn't know how to effectively communicate with others about my health, because I wasn't fully aware about my own limits. This ultimately overtook my career goals and almost claimed my sanity.

Maybe I lost my mind long ago. If you see it, let me know!

Of course, it hurts to bid adieu to people I still care about, but I've had to evolve to put my own self-care first. Drama isn't a thing I'm physically well enough to take on, as it greatly depletes me. I've had to cultivate avoidance of it by all means necessary.  

I've grown to no longer feel a desire to excuse or justify the accommodations I need. And I know that anyone who doesn't honor what my personal needs are couldn't be what's best for me. So though distance can hurt, it isn't always a loss. 

Anything that's forced -- be it with another person or within our own selves – is a signal to me. An instant message from somewhere deep. It’s an inner wisdom we all carry, always there to be heard and listened to. 

We may not know what exactly is happening in regards to our pain or illness, nor comprehend why it exists, where it came from or what we can do about it. But when we slow down to the point of fully acknowledging ourselves lovingly, there's power, freedom and a sense of peace in that.  

Of course, it's not just about us. How we conduct ourselves has an impact on every one and thing around us. If nothing else, this pandemic has undeniably demonstrated that much. Nothing about life, especially living under strenuous circumstances, is easy. It requires us to keep our heads up and continue growing.  

This requires many things -- diet, sleep, exercise and lifestyle balance, to name a few. One of the more recent revolutions of mine has been that I do not need to follow suit on what anybody else -- providers included -- thinks is best for me. It's a team effort and any form of support is vital and definitely a blessing. But any person or thing outside of ourselves can only take us so far. Our loved ones, friends and our healthcare teams need open communication about that.  

Not everyone has a cure or fix, but our circumstances can improve with a more helpful attitude. We can tune in and reflect on what aligns with where we're at on the path of figuring all this out – and then proceed according to that. We're still just as valuable as we've always been, just in different ways. 

A Greater Purpose

Until I chose to no longer allow this to just happen to me but affirmed myself in active boss mode over what repeatedly tests my will to live, there's a co-existence that's possible -- an intimacy with yourself, a language spoken within, that's solely between you and your vessel. 

It's not glamorous. It’s isolating and lonely. But the truth is that we're not alone, and your reading of this column thus far is a demonstration of that.

What I needed in life didn't exist, so I dedicated myself to creating ways to keep the parts of myself alive that matter most. I'm devoted to never giving up because there's a greater purpose to be found in our challenges. 

There are always new breakthroughs. We cannot know if something could help if we don't keep our minds and hearts open to it by coming to terms with our losses. Without a doubt, that’s the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, other than survive every day.

Addressing tough moments doesn't mean that's the end of them. But letting these conditions dictate the overall quality of my days became intolerable and unacceptable. Pain is a part of us – but not who we are. I’ve evolved to accept the past for what it was, the present as it is, and the future for whatever it'll be.  

Partake in self-pity moments when you must, but don't unpack and live there. It is okay, normal and natural to breakdown or even completely fall apart. Start over. Life is always evolving and it requires the same from us.

Mia Maysack lives with chronic migraine, cluster headache and fibromyalgia. Mia is the founder of Keepin’ Our Heads Up, a Facebook advocacy and support group, and Peace & Love, a wellness and life coaching practice for the chronically ill.

Headache on the Hill: How Advocacy Empowers Patients

By Mia Maysack, PNN Columnist

Headache on the Hill is an annual lobbying event for migraine and cluster headache patients and advocates that takes place in Washington, D.C. I was fortunate to participate this past week and for the last three years, and look forward to participating in as many more as I am able.  

Headache on the Hill (HOH) is organized by the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy and there are multiple other coalitions, organizations, foundations and institutions that make up the partnering network. 

Hundreds of patients, caregivers and medical professionals join forces in venturing to the Hill together, visiting congressional offices (there were 250 meetings this year, the most ever!) to present ever changing “asks” for more research and funding.

My first year at HOH was surreal. I hadn't realized exactly what I'd gotten myself into or the extent it would alter the course of my life. I found a great deal of comfort, as well as empowerment, from the realization that our legislators are much like doctors in the sense that they essentially work for us and we're supposed to be a team.  

The second time around, I shifted my approach from requesting everything right off the bat to inquiring about their knowledge: “Do you or does anyone you know live with headache or migraine?"

Many do have a connection, which isn't surprising, given there are 47 million Americans living with migraines and cluster headaches.  Bonding over facts is a great way to raise awareness and build rapport.  

They say the third time is a charm and, in this instance, I’d have to agree. Not only have I become stronger and more affirmed in using my voice, but one could even say I've grown darn right ballsy!

My two-decade old traumatic brain injury has hurt every day since it happened, so that along with the fact I know I'm not alone in this experience, is what leads me back to these gatherings.

Our agenda was to address the emergent shortage of specialists and astronomical need for more pain management education prior to a provider going into practice. 

As of now, the United States has less than one-sixth the number of headache doctors it needs.  There are 1.2 physicians per 100,000 people with migraine. And by 2032, we’ll be facing a shortage of up to 122,000 doctors and specialists.

As with other chronic pain conditions, when acute migraine and headache attacks are not treated properly or go untreated, they can become chronic and symptoms worsen. Improper pain management can lead to an understandable feeling of desperation, which could play out as people attempt to self-medicate. That has potential to land us in the exact sort of drug crises we’re facing right now.      

We know migraine is the second leading cause of global disability (behind low back pain), yet it has received little funding.  According to the World Health Organization, migraine results in more lost years of healthy life in the U.S. than epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), tuberculosis and ovarian cancer combined.  

Head-related pain often doesn’t respond well to opioid medication, but despite the risk of complications, opioids are still being used, primarily in emergency room scenarios. 

In a more general sense, 50 million Americans have chronic pain, of which 20 million, myself included, experience “high impact” chronic pain. I don't know about you, but the fact so many of us are living without an adequate care plan or any relief whatsoever, is about as crucial as it gets. Hence the importance of showing up at HOH to demonstrate our commitment and the seriousness pertaining to these issues.   

The travel, excitement, boat load of walking, and emotional components take a very real toll. It's not uncommon after trips like this that we all crash. Some require weeks to months just to get back to baseline, but what's most remarkable is that we continue to do it all over again. 

When navigating the maze of those congressional halls and seeing, supporting, encouraging and taking care of one another, it is times like those that build me up, give me strength and fuel my fire to continue on with the work long after we've left Washington. 

Being an advocate is no longer something I do -- it is a part of who I am. 

Mia Maysack lives with chronic migraine, cluster headaches and fibromyalgia. Mia is the founder of Keepin’ Our Heads Up, a Facebook advocacy and support group, and Peace & Love, a wellness and life coaching practice for the chronically ill.

Pain Is Not a Competition

By Mia Maysack, PNN Columnist

Recently I chose to step away from one of the last support group forums I belonged to because it continually felt less than supportive.  

“Pain is pain” may be the motto of our community, yet there are persistent comparisons that consistently belittle someone’s reality in some shape or form.  It’s like a competition to see who has the most pain.

To serve as one example, “cluster migraine” is not a scientific term, though it is a phrase I use to convey the type of pain that I feel -- an inclusion of multiple beasts (chronic migraine, cluster headache and fibromyalgia) that are not to be confused as the same or even similar, but co-exist within me nonetheless.

There's no doubt that cluster headache is one of the most excruciating conditions known to humankind. If you haven’t gone through it -- there is no possible way to fully comprehend it.  This does not mean that migraine is any less valid or any less painful.

We all seek validation in having our perception understood and it is frustrating that we consistently battle general stigma and then turn around and cast the same judgment onto each other. Cluster or migraine aside, it’s like a whole new attack.   

One person could say migraine is worse because it can literally be never-ending, whereas cluster headache episodes are considerably shorter in length. 

The next person states that it doesn't get any more terrible than cluster headache as they're called suicide headaches for good reason. 

Then someone else shares they have lost someone to migraine as well. Point is, there's a spectrum.  

By eliminating the unnecessary tone of competition (that no one should want to “win” anyway), we make room for discovering the similarities we all share. One being that whichever way this sh*t pie gets sliced, it stinks!

Nobody wants or deserves to be shunned just because their truth is different. And no one gets to degrade how someone else views the world. Whether or not we agree, there should be a sense of camaraderie throughout our planet that is severely lacking. It most certainly shouldn't be among us Spoonies.  

Fixating on how an individual thinks does not benefit our cause. That same focused energy on the bigger picture could create lasting change -- like how the word “headache” isn't an accurate depiction of any brain disease or disorder to begin with. And if it were, aspirin would have cured it long ago, right? 

It’s imperative we avoid contributing to the very issue we want to solve by joining forces and declaring that we are more than just suffering patients. We are actual people living with the disability inflicted by these conditions.

And since we’re already in the fight for our lives, let's make sure it’s together and not against one another.

Mia Maysack lives with chronic migraine, cluster headaches and fibromyalgia. Mia is the founder of Keepin’ Our Heads Up, a Facebook advocacy and support group, and Peace & Love, a wellness and life coaching practice for the chronically ill.

The information in this column should not be considered as professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is for informational purposes only and represents the author’s opinions alone. It does not inherently express or reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of Pain News Network.

Finding Validation at the Migraine Symposium

By Mia Maysack, PNN Columnist

It was an honor to attend the annual Migraine Symposium and Awards Dinner held by the Association of Migraine Disorders (AMD) this past weekend at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.  

At the symposium there were more than 25 experts covering topics from breakthroughs in migraine research, emerging technology, holistic treatments, medicinal cannabis and one of the most painful conditions known to mankind: cluster headaches.        

As someone who lives with multiple brain diseases and disabling chronic intractable pain, sharing space with migraine community members and healthcare professionals that sincerely care made the occasion extraordinarily meaningful to me.

I was introduced to many exceptional human beings, each of whom I could easily write a column about, but for now I'd like to shine the spotlight on the President of AMD, Dr. Frederick Godley.  Not only is he an extraordinarily intelligent and kind soul, his positive attitude illuminated the entire room

#ShadesforMigraine

Let me share one of the very first moments of validation I'd ever experienced as a person living with migraine and cluster headaches caused by post-bacterial meningitis. Having inquired with many healthcare professionals as to whether or not I am living with a traumatic brain injury (and been disregarded by each and every one), my eyes fill up with tears while rejoicing when I write that although I am not a patient of Dr. Godley or being treated by him, he acknowledged that possibility.  

At the end of the day, it doesn't do those of us coping with severe ailments much good to fixate on any specific diagnosis. What's most important is we find a way to manage whatever hand we are dealt. But the validation helps. There have been moments when I've begun to question my own sanity. There's no possible way my head could be hurting *this* bad or for *this* long. Most others are in persistent disbelief as well, even though I crack jokes that if I were to ever wake up pain free, then I must be dead!

I am grateful that I am not and tremendously excited about the future possibilities in migraine treatment. Considering that for about 30 years one of our only options was a small class of medications, now is the best time to get involved in the migraine community because we're moving forward with such momentum. There have been funds granted for much needed further research.

PTSD and Psychedelics

Some other thoughts about the symposium:

The very significant validation that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common underlying element of pain or even a potential cause of it. Think about it. If your own body feels as though it is fighting and turning against you on a daily basis, how are we to live without stress or experience any sense of security? 

It's not as common as it should be to go into a doctor's office and be addressed as an entire person. In my experience it has been: “Let's do what we can to mask the symptoms and settle on normalizing what’s left.” That is not treatment. Unacceptable.

The same small class of medications that are one of the only options for people living with ongoing head pain have a similar chemical makeup to Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in mushrooms. Psilocybin and LSD are beginning to have more credibility as potential options in treating Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia (TAC) or cluster headaches. There's hope they could be helpful in treating other conditions as well, despite the fact they've got an overall reputation as being hazardous drugs. 

Ever come across a rule that just seems absolutely ridiculous? That's kind of how I feel about the current classification of these substances. We all know it only takes one person to essentially ruin things for everyone else. As a result, most people think this kind of stuff only causes harm and chaos.  No one is suggesting that anybody should go to their local drug dealer and score a bag of whatever -- we’re discussing potential. It all boils down to the science and our focus here is solely medicinally related.

Much like we've been exploring the use of CBD without THC, we are moving forward with learning more about these other substances -- potentially without the psychedelic or hallucinogen properties. Perhaps they're needed to induce relief. And if that is the case, in what micro-dosage could this possibly be prescribed in a safe, effective way?     

Although I am not using them, I've known others who’ve had successful results. In the proper way and for the right reasons, I have also chosen to advocate for them, as there seems to be far less complications with more natural options than those from the pharmaceutical realm. Each approach has its rightful place and there's no one-size-fits-all for everyone. 

Mia Maysack lives with chronic migraine, cluster headaches and fibromyalgia. Mia is the founder of Keepin’ Our Heads Up, a Facebook support group, and Peace & Love Enterprises, a wellness coaching practice focused on holistic health.

The information in this column should not be considered as professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is for informational purposes only and represents the author’s opinions alone. It does not inherently express or reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of Pain News Network.

Climbing Mountains Together

By Mia Maysack, PNN Columnist

Just about every time I'm in the bathtub, I contemplate slipping my head under water for a tad bit too long.  I do not consider myself suicidal, nor do I really want to die in the literal sense. But sometimes I reach a point when I'd do almost anything to kill this pain.   

Current situation: At least 30 cluster headache attacks thus far this week. Constant migraine going strong for about two weeks. Ongoing fibromyalgia flares. Working to pass kidney stones induced by stress and dehydration. Nausea, dizziness, fatigue and exhaustion have latched onto my soul like draining parasites. None of my go-to treatments have eased any of the discomfort.   

Despite my own battles, I consistently make myself available to others in the thick of their own private storms. The world needs more light and I can always use a distraction from my own body self-destructing. Win/win.  

Recently I did what I could to talk a loved one off the ledge. This person is also unwell but in a very different way. Their infliction is not physical, but boils down to their own personal choices.  

You might imagine the frustration I feel when surrounded by others who could save themselves from drowning simply by standing up.

All the while, I've been standing strong for years but consistently get swept away by overwhelming undercurrents that are entirely out of my control. 

It can be difficult to encourage others to live when you're barely hanging onto a shred of hope for yourself. But I consider myself honored for the opportunity to try.  

I cannot keep track of how many times I've had to “die" in a figurative sense so that I could grieve the losses of countless aspirations, ideas, goals and dreams.  I've always been known as a positive person and that's most definitely who I am.  It is not an act, but people tend to think it’s easy for me and they couldn't be more wrong. 

It takes absolutely everything I have to lay my head down at night, knowing I'll awaken to the same demons I spent the previous day slaying. And that it'll likely remain this way, forever.  

My positivity began out of necessity and is a method of survival. Relentless pain every single day for 20 years straight is enough for anyone to question their sanity or possibly even lose it. As a matter of fact, we're currently mourning the medically assisted suicide of a fellow Pain Warrior, who endured similar pain for the same amount of time.   

I felt the need to write this so that others do not think they are crazy. Under our circumstances, it's understandable we might fantasize about no longer feeling this way. The mantras, positive quotes and clichés can only get us so far, and it can be downright devastating to not have adequate support, acknowledgment, validation or pain relief.  

I also had to write this because I want to convey that you are all the main reason why I still hold on. Knowing there's a community of others who truly get it, provides me with a purpose and reason to get myself out of bed in the morning.

It has become my mission to demonstrate that these mountains of misfortune aren't meant to be carried, but they can be climbed. They might even be moved if we all work together.   

No one can give us quality of life or the will to live outside of ourselves, but we can lean on one another during our deepest and darkest moments of despair. It's okay to have bad days, to be in a negative headspace, to question the purpose of all this, to feel angry, hurt or sad.  

As I envision the water calming my ailments and swirling its way down the drain, I think about the possibility of someone reading this at a time they needed it most. That thought gives me the strength I need. 

Mia Maysack lives with chronic migraine, cluster headaches and fibromyalgia. Mia is the founder of Keepin’ Our Heads Up, a Facebook support group, and Peace & Love Enterprises, a wellness coaching practice focused on holistic health.

The information in this column should not be considered as professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is for informational purposes only and represents the author’s opinions alone. It does not inherently express or reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of Pain News Network.

Nerve Stimulator Approved for Cluster Headache

By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

A neuromodulation device that stimulates a key nerve in the neck has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for the prevention of cluster headache.

The handheld device – called gammaCore – is the first and only product cleared by the FDA for the prevention of cluster headache. It has already been cleared for the relief of pain caused by cluster headaches and migraines.

Cluster headaches are a series of short but extremely painful headaches that can occur every day for weeks and months at a time. They strike suddenly and subside quickly, but are so severe they’ve been called “suicide headaches.” Men are more likely to get cluster headaches than women. The cause is unknown and there is no cure. Recommended treatments for cluster headaches are limited to oxygen and triptan. 

“The FDA clearance of gammaCore for adjunctive use for the preventive treatment of cluster headache has the potential to help the approximately 350,000 Americans impacted by this debilitating condition often referred to as a ‘suicide headache,’” said Frank Amato, CEO of electroCore, the maker of gammaCore.

“We are pleased that cluster headache patients now have a FDA-cleared option, and one that is both safe and effective, especially given the difficulty in treating cluster headache and the limitations of current treatments.”

gammaCore is available by prescription only but can be self-administered by patients. It sends a mild electric charge to the vagus nerve in the neck, which stimulates the nerve while reducing pain. It’s recommended that the gammaCore be used twice daily to prevent cluster headache and reduce its severity.

ELECTROCORE IMAGE

The $600 device also has regulatory approval for the treatment of cluster headache, migraine and medication overuse headache in the European Union, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Australia, Colombia, Brazil, Malaysia, and Canada. 

Potential Treatment for Lupus

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body, running from the base of the brain through the neck, heart, lungs and abdomen. In addition to cluster headache, scientists think vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) could be useful in treating a variety of chronic pain conditions.

FEINSTEIN INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH

In a small pilot study at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, researchers found that VNS significantly reduced pain and fatigue associated with lupus, an autoimmune disease that damages joints, skin and internal organs. Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common lupus symptoms, affecting up to 95 percent of patients.

Feinstein researchers used an experimental device to stimulate the vagus nerve through the ear. Lupus patients who were treated with the device for five minutes daily had a significant decrease in pain and fatigue after just five days.

“Previous studies at the Feinstein Institute have found that under certain conditions, stimulating the vagus nerve can reduce inflammation,” Timir Datta-Chaudhuri, PhD, wrote in an email to PNN.

“With inflammation being a factor in many conditions, the vagus nerve could be used as a therapeutic target for conditions beyond lupus, and potentially for pain, when inflammation is a contributing factor. In fact, this discovery has been used in the past to develop bioelectronic devices which have been tested in clinical trials in Europe and shown to be effective in reducing the joint pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.”

Datta said there are plans to continue testing the device in clinical trials. If the results are positive, the Feinstein Institute would seek to partner with other labs and companies to create a device for wider use.

Positivity Is My Survival Technique

By Mia Maysack, Guest Columnist

As a young girl, swimming and diving were my main passions in life. I spent every day at our neighborhood pool, from the moment they opened it until the second they closed -- even on rainy days.  I figured I was already wet and there was a great group of lifeguards. I didn't have a care in the world.

All of that changed at the age of 10 when I developed “swimmer’s ear” -- an infection of the ear canal that is often brought on by water that remains in the ear after swimming.  The water creates a moist environment that aids bacterial growth.  

After a routine visit for ear drops at a local clinic, I returned home to rest. Within a couple hours, I awoke from a nap feeling stiff from my neck on down. It was as if I were suddenly paralyzed. I was terrified. The next few moments felt like an eternity. If my mother had not come in to check on me, I could have died right there in my childhood bed.  

My mom knew something was wrong with her young and healthy daughter, and it wasn't much longer before we were on our way to the hospital. During the ride, I remember feeling the head pain for the very first time.

I also recall feeling upset with my father, because on the way he had all the windows down and I felt so cold.  He also had his rock music blasting, which angered me considering how much head pain I was feeling. I did not realize it then, but he was only doing his best to keep me awake - as I was slipping into a coma. 

After arriving at the hospital in a wheelchair, I threw up all over my poor dad. After profusely apologizing, I fell into a deep sleep. Days passed without anyone having any idea what was going on. When my desperate mother inquired, she was told, "Every moment Mia survives is a miracle."

Eventually it was discovered my body was fighting a grave infection and emergency surgery was required. The bacteria was harbored within the mastoid bone of my left ear. It should have been a relatively quick fix, but during the procedure the surgeons found the bone so infected that it crumbled into tiny pieces. It required hours of focused and careful work. 

After sewing my head shut, I was left to rest in the intensive care unit. It was then that left side of my face began oddly twitching. My family had been through the ringer at this point, but my mother did not leave my side. She noticed this change and called for immediate attention, fearing I was having a stroke or seizure.

MIA MAYSACK

It turned out there had been bacteria left behind and it was now attacking my facial nerves, which demanded a second emergency surgery. 

This rare experience left me with deafness in my left ear, partial facial paralysis that has turned into permanent facial synkinesis, as well as chronic migraines and daily cluster headaches. Considering the odds I was up against, I often refer to myself as walking miracle. Bacterial meningitis is swift, sometimes deadly and often results in limb removal. So although my entire life had been turned upside down, I knew I was lucky to be alive. 

Although I go through life with a positive and gratitude attitude, my head has been hurting every single day since this happened. We had no way of knowing back then that I would live with the consequences of that experience forever. I am thankful to have learned the concept of mortality at a very young age, as that helped to cultivate core values, morals and choices for myself  -- which kept me out of a lot of unnecessary trouble other kids my age were getting into. 

Upon returning to school, none of my friends wanted anything to do with me. Instead of checking in and asking what happened to me, untrue stories circulated and the teasing began. Children can be downright cruel in middle school and high school, and because I now looked different than everyone else, I was an easy target. I would spend my recess inside the nurse’s office, working with her on facial retraining exercises. I used to glue or tape my eye closed at night, otherwise it would have essentially dried out and I may have suffered vision loss or lost the eye altogether. 

Accepting My Differences

I have come a long way since then with overall acceptance and I embrace my differences because they represent my fight for life, health and well-being. 

Over all these years, I have tried just about every treatment for my pain that anyone could think of. Medications further complicated things, while neglecting to help with the underlying issues.  Diet changes made no difference.  Nor did biofeedback, acupuncture, Botox, dry needling, trigger point injections, herbal remedies, massage, and chiropractic. The list goes on and on. 

I feel a deeply rooted disappointment with our current healthcare system. We have made many powerful discoveries and improvements in medicine, and the breakthroughs are tremendous for many.  I have come across some great personnel within the medical community, however they are few and far between. 

Due to my illness being invisible, I am often either treated as though I am overreacting, flat out lying, drug seeking or being dramatic. At one point I was banned from a pain clinic for missing a few appointments  because I did not feel safe enough to drive myself.

There is a common attitude toward chronically ill patients, that we are not fully taking responsibility for ourselves or our ailments, and a general opinion within society that we should pop an aspirin and shut up already. If only it were that easy or simple. I wouldn't be here writing this if it was. 

Living each day with head pain, among other discomforts, gets in the way of me being able to think straight and living the life I used to envision for myself.  Often overlooked or flat out disregarded is the constant losses the chronically ill are forced to navigate through.

For example, I worked very hard to earn a job at the very same hospital that saved my life, but ultimately had to step down because they were unwilling to accommodate my need to work fewer hours. I've also had to drop out of college multiple times because they are not set up to cater to the needs of those who suffer from debilitating pain. 

Within the past year and a half, my daily pain scale number of 5/6 has escalated to a 7/8, which has been devastating. Due to high demand, getting in to be seen at a pain clinic (if you are fortunate enough to have one in your area) can take months. When you've been stuck in a cluster headache for 90+ days, it's only natural to feel isolated and alone. There are times I have asked myself how or if I am able to go on like this. 

Our health is one of the most important things in life. That truth is what led me to pursue patient advocacy so passionately. I began witnessing other people getting treated the same way that I was, and it sparked a fire to advocate for the sake of them as well. 

I am living proof that we are far more than any diagnosis. Positivity has become a survival technique as well as a coping mechanism for me. It has led me down a path of holistic wellness through mindfulness and the humble reminder that -- although things could definitely be better -- they could have been much worse.  

Mia Maysack lives in Wisconsin. Mia is a proud supporter of the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy and was recently honored by the U.S. Pain Foundation as its “Pain Warrior of the Month.”

Pain News Network invites other readers to share their stories with us. Send them to editor@painnewsnetwork.org.

The information in this column should not be considered as professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is for informational purposes only and represents the author’s opinions alone. It does not inherently express or reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of Pain News Network.

Nerve Stimulation Effective in Treating Cluster Headache (VIDEO)

By Pat Anson, Editor

A neuromodulation device that stimulates a nerve in the neck substantially reduced the number and frequency of attacks in patients suffering from cluster headache, according to small study published in the journal Neurology. 

Image courtesy of electrocore

Seventy-nine percent of patients who completed the study (15 out of 19) reported an overall improvement in their condition after using gammaCore, a nerve stimulator that sends electrical signals along the vagus nerve, which runs through the neck to the brain. Eleven of the patients had chronic cluster headaches, and eight were classified as episodic.

“Cluster headache is a dreadful, extremely painful and disabling condition that can be very complex to manage. Given the unmet need for effective and safe treatments, we were excited to see the outcomes in these patients of an approach offering very considerable promise for future development.” said Peter Goadsby, PhD, who led the research at the Royal Free Hospital in London and the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.

Cluster headache is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring, severe headaches on one side of the head, often around the eye. Attacks occur suddenly and can range from 15 minutes to three hours. Recommended treatments for cluster headaches include oxygen or triptan. 

Nearly half (47%) of the acute attacks treated with gammaCore ended in an average of 11 minutes.  Ten patients reduced their use of oxygen by 55% and nine patients reduced their triptan use by 48%. Preventative use of the gammaCore device resulted in a substantial reduction in the frequency of attacks, from 4.5 attacks every 24 hours to 2.6 after treatment. 

The treatment, which is self-administered by the patient for two minutes, involves placing the hand-held gammaCore device on the skin of the neck over the vagus nerve. In the study, patients administered two to three rounds of neurostimulation twice per day. Acute attacks were treated with up to six doses at the onset of the attack. Patients reported no serious side events.

GammaCore, which is manufactured by New Jersey based electroCore, is not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is not available in the United States. 

The company is seeking FDA approval for gammaCore in the treatment and prevention of cluster headache. The device currently has regulatory approval for the acute and/or prophylactic treatment of cluster headache, migraine and medication overuse headache in the European Union, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Australia, Colombia, Brazil, Malaysia, and Canada. 

“It is not certain how vagus nerve stimulation treats and prevents migraines and cluster headaches, but data suggest that it may work by sending signals into the brain that reduce the amount of a substance, called glutamate, that has been associated with headache symptoms,” the company says in a statement on its website.

ElectroCore is developing Vagus Nerve Stimulation (nVNS) therapies for the treatment of multiple conditions in neurology, psychiatry, gastroenterology and respiratory fields. The company’s initial focus is on the treatment of primary headaches (migraine and cluster headache), and the associated chronic co-morbidities of gastric motility, psychiatric, sleep, and pain disorders.

ElectroCore has raised more than $80 million from investors including Merck’s Global Healthcare Innovation fund.