“Apex Headache Clinic has changed my life”

41-year-old Social Worker Rhonda Mullan from Dungiven, Derry/Londonderry had been suffering with constant headaches which had left her debilitated. When she came across Apex Headache Clinic online, Rhonda decided to book an initial appointment to try get some relief. Here, she shares how the clinic’s unique regime of specialist manual physiotherapy treatment for headaches, called The Nelson Headache ApproachTM, cleared her headaches, meaning she could get back to enjoying life.

Rhonda, when did your headaches begin?

In June 2019 I started suffering with headaches and after seeing my GP I went privately to see a Consultant Neurologist who diagnosed me with a rare neurological headache condition called Hemicrania Continua. I had constant nerve pain in my head which was all left sided and when it was at it’s worst my eye would even swell up and water. Most people don’t understand that a headache could be that bad and I think they believe when you have a headache if you take paracetamol you’ll be fine but this was horrendous.

How did the head pain affect your life?

The pain completely floored me, and I had to take 3 months off work. I couldn’t function as the pain was so bad and I couldn’t even pick up my kids from school. I was isolated to my house.

What led you to Apex Headache Clinic?

I was desperate for help and was researching on the internet for anything that could help me. I was taking medication, but this made me very tired and some of the medication I tried even made me physically sick. This made me determined to find an alternative and that’s when I came across headache clinics in the USA and while researching them, I came across Apex Headache Clinic in Belfast, and I thought I would give it a go. I phoned up and after speaking with one of the specialist physiotherapists over the phone who confirmed that my condition was one which was suitable for their type of specialist treatment regimes, I booked in for an initial assessment.

How has your life changed since having treatment?

My life has changed dramatically! After a few months my pain significantly improved. My headaches have now completely cleared and I am medication free. I now see my specialist physiotherapist once every 6 weeks which keeps my headaches away. Before having treatment, I couldn’t go out as I was so worried about anything that would make my pain worse and loud noises aggravated my pain. I was stuck in my house. After having treatment at Apex Headache Clinic I have been able to get my life back, I can be a mummy, a social worker and I can go out with friends.

What advice would you offer someone suffering from headaches?

Medication can be beneficial in the short term, but I think alternative treatment such as the specialist physiotherapy treatment offered at Apex Headache Clinic for headaches is so important and people need to be aware of this to avoid long term medication use. I would recommend Apex Headache Clinic to anyone, my specialist physiotherapist is fantastic and the receptionists are lovely too. I really enjoy that my specialist physio is so upbeat with a bit of craic during my appointments which helped me at the beginning, when I was going through such a difficult time.

To book an appointment at Apex Headache Clinic, call 028 9048 4153. No GP referral is necessary.