Migraine sufferers might have become irritated of using different types of medications to treat and relief their pain and may be hoping to find an alternative, probably a non-medicinal treatment which doesn’t involve any medicines. But, here is a great news for people suffering from migraines. A new electric device treatment called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is accessible which relieve the pain to some extent.
The occipital lobe in the brain is usually the first to know about the migraine attack. In anxiety it weakens the vision, increasing with dark spots, strengthens the sensitivity to fluctuating lights, implanting things that actually aren’t there. Precisely at that point, the migraine pain attack arises, spreading from the brain and then to the whole body following with symptoms like numbness, weakness, confusion and dizziness.
At present, there are no fully gratifying treatments for migraines. But, some of the researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston, are testing a low-tech treatment which can be an alternative to drugs. The technology known as Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is simple and a form of neurostimulation (is a therapeutic activation of a part of nervous system) which stimulates the brain with sudden, constant, squat use of electricity to interrupt and modify the brain circuits via electrodes on the scalp responsible for causing migraine pain.
Dr. Felipe Fregni and Soroush Zaghi, investigators at Harvard Medical School, have joined 24 patients who suffer migraine headaches at least 15 times every month. Fregni connects electrodes to a patient’s scalp and passes two milliamps of current through the brain, aiming at a particular position of the pain. In his two months study, he is cheered by the result. In the first trial, the outcome was positive as anticipated. Irrespective of the chance that the trial got succeeded, more testing has to be done all together for medical device regulators to approve this tDCS device for migraine treatment and which can be sold in the United States.
At present, neuroscientists are presuming why convulsion in the brain would aggravate chronic migraine pain and is the answer would be we don’t know. There is one theory which applauds that chronic migraine pain happens when parts of the brain become hyperactive. In this situation, the brain functionality will be less prepared to deal with normal blockage of sights, sounds, and smells. For instance, the hyperactivity of one area spreads to other areas, which eventually causes blood vessels that support the brain to swell, putting excruciating pressure on the body part.
Resulting to the above theory, anything that triggers migraines are only a convincing example of what causes headaches in the brain. Neurons are the cells that convey messages in the brain which receives constant electric inputs from the cells which are closer to the brain. These cells coordinate energy signals. It is the way in which the stimulation changes the brain function is either by causing the neuron’s resting membrane potential to depolarize or hyperpolarize.
While positive stimulation is sent, the current causes a depolarization of the resting membrane potential, which in turn increases neuron excitability and allows for more impulsive neuron cell firing. When negative stimulation is sent, the current causes a hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential, which decreases neuron excitability which effects decreased impulsive neuron cell firing.
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How it works
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) works by sending persistent, a low direct current through the electrodes (a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance, or region). When these electrodes are positioned in the region of importance, the current then induces intracerebral current flow. Then the induced current flow then either increases or decreases the neuronal excitability in the particular area being stimulated established on which type of stimulation is used.
Parts included in TDCS
The tDCS device is quite simple and easy to use with only a few parts. This tDCS device includes two electrodes and a battery-powered device that delivers a constant current. For each device, it has an anode (positively charged electrode) and a cathode (negatively charged electrode). Current usually defined as passing from anode to the cathode, creating a circuit. The device may control the current as well as the duration of stimulation.
How to set up Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
To setup the tDCS device, the skin and the electrodes must be equipped. For a successful tDCS technique, the electrodes must be carefully placed and these electrodes come in pads with various sizes. Each electrode pad size will have their own benefits. A smaller size electrode accomplishes a more intensive stimulation, while a larger electrode confirms that the whole area of importance is being stimulated. Before using this device we should check that everything is placed correctly and if the electrode is placed incorrectly then the stimulation will have faulty results. So, the electrodes should be placed correctly and then the stimulation can be started. Once the stimulation is started, the current will continue for the amount of time set on the device and then will be automatically shut off.
In recent times, a new approach has been announced that instead of two large electrode pads, small sized gel based electrode pads are used to aim particular cortical structures. This new approach is called High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS). In a trial study HD-tDCS it was established to have longer and superior excitability changes than tDCS.
Safety measures of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is broadly considered as a safe method for brain stimulation, causing no harm. Safety rules limit the current, duration, and frequency of stimulation, thus limiting the effects and risk.
In the past 10 years, much work has been done to develop a safety protocol for managing tDCS. Various studies have been conducted to decide the ideal time of stimulation and current used. The standards are still not fully set and continue to grow as more research is done. In addition to that steps are taken in order to lessen or remove the side effects sensed by the person during the stimulation.
There is no strict constraint on the duration of stimulation fixed at a point however a stimulation time of 20 minutes is deliberated the best time. The usage of stimulation duration the longer, then the longer the pragmatic effects of stimulation persevere when the stimulation ends. A stimulation duration of 10 minutes also results in pragmatic effects which last for up to an hour.
Usually, it is stimulated to wait at least 48 hours to a week before repeating the stimulation. As well it is recommended to caution the person receiving the stimulation of the probable after-effects of the tDCS. These studies specify that Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is safe in a single session. But, there are no studies which estimate the long-term safety of repeated sessions of stimulation.
Side Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Skin irritation
- Phosphene is a sensation of light caused by excitation of the retina by mechanical or electrical means rather than by light as when the eyeballs are pressed through closed lids which start at the time of stimulation.
- Nausea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Itching and tingling sensation
In a recent study conducted on above 500 patients in which people used currently accepted protocol reported of only a slight skin irritation and a phosphene as side effects. The device tDCS looks to be somewhat effective usage as a brain stimulation technique and migraine sufferers may end up with a treatment safe enough to use without a specialist required.
Risks of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
By using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) there are no known risks at this time. This stimulation is not advised to use to people susceptible to seizures like epilepsy.
As of 2015, the Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has not been approved for any use by the US FDA (Food and Drug Association). An FDA updating a document which was prepared in 2012 stated that “There is no regulation for the therapeutic tDCS”.