Tucson Social Security Disability Blog

A New Treatment For Headaches?

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Migraines and other similar headaches are among the most common causes I see for people filing for Social Security disability. People who endure migraines suffer really debilitating symptoms. These can include being unable to tolerate even light and sound. Those having a migraine headache may also have nausea and vomiting. While there are drugs and other treatments available, it often seems as if doctors have very little to offer those poor souls with migraines.

My Kingdom For Relief!

New Hope For A Better Therapy?

That may be changing. According to the New York Times, medical researchers are focusing on something called a calcitonin gene-related peptide, or CGRP. This is critically involved in the way the brain handles pain. For unknown reasons, CGRP can become overactive. While this does not cause pain in the brain itself, the brain can respond by sending intense pain signals elsewhere in the head. One likely place for these signals to cause havoc is in the meninges. These lie between the brain and the skull. As a result, a person having a migraine will suffer from the symptoms noted above. This might explain why so many migraine sufferers have to retreat to a quiet, dark, and still place until the pain has gone.

A New Drug Seems Promising–But What About The Downsides?

A new class of drugs is designed to turn off CGRP and prevent the brain from sending errant pain signals.  The drugs can apparently do this without causing serious side effects. But, as always, there are downsides. These drugs are extremely expensive and many health insurers are balking at paying for them. The CGRP blockers also simply fail to work for some people with migraines.

Doctors Are More Focused On Headaches As Their Own Problem

A Possible Solution?

But, it is encouraging that medical researchers are starting to take headaches seriously. Until now, all treatments for migraines arose from the search for treatments of such other conditions as seizures and depression. The mere fact that doctors are now looking at headaches as their own pathology is a good sign.

No Cure Is Coming Soon

If you suffer from migraines, none of this new research is likely to assist you anytime soon. But, with some luck and a lot more funding, medical researchers might be getting closer to an effective way to turn off this crippling pain.

If you have migraines that prevent you from working, let me know.

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If Social Security has scheduled your disability case to be heard by one of their judges, call me immediately. Unlike many large law firms, I can move quickly to get your case ready to be won.

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About The Author

Since 1992, I have been helping the people of Southern Arizona get the benefits they are due. Before devoting all my efforts to assisting people with Social Security disability claims, I also handled such complex lawsuits as medical malpractice and products liability. I brought to my Social Security cases all the skills and attention to detail that I developed in the courtroom. I approach each Social Security disability case as if it were a million-dollar lawsuit. For the people trying to get Social Security benefits, their claim is every bit as important. Because I have personally handled so many Social Security cases, I have refined the skills I need to win your case for you. I have helped people win cases for every kind of ailment from arthritis to valley fever. At present, I am focused on helping those persons with neurological and orthopedic disorders. Because claims for people over age fifty bring additional complications, I particularly seek out those cases to work on. I regularly write about back and spine conditions on my blog. I actively seek out the latest information about orthopedic and neurological disorders to ensure I can represent my clients as effectively as possible. Because of my current focus, I regret that I am not able to take any cases for mental disorders. If you are over age fifty and suffer from any orthopedic or neurological disorder, please contact me at once.