I feel like a brand new person, thanks to Apex Headache Clinic

For 39-year-old Information Officer Julie Reid from Comber, life was a struggle. At the age of 15, she experienced her first migraines, which became progressively worse over time. For over 24 years, she sought a cure but was told that migraines were something that she was just going to have to live with. After hearing about Apex Headache Clinic, Julie booked an appointment in the hope of getting even a little relief. Here, she shares how the clinic’s unique regime of specialist manual physiotherapy treatment for headaches and migraines, called The Nelson Headache Approach™, cleared her migraines, meaning that she could finally enjoy life again.

Julie, when did your migraines begin?

I had my first ever migraine at the age of 15. At that time, I was getting around 2-3 severe migraines a year but as I got older, I would get 2-3 migraines a month. I also had a constant headache and couldn’t get through a single day without painkillers. When I say I’d tried everything to clear my migraines, I literally mean everything! I’ve been on every form of medication possible including beta-blockers. I’ve also tried herbal remedies, therapy bracelets, massage and botox injections. As no one could find a physical cause of my headaches and migraines, I was told that these were something I was just going to have to learn to live with, which was heartbreaking because the pain was so severe.

How did the pain affect your life?

The major problem was working. When I had a migraine, I had to leave work and go home. Due to high levels of absence, I had to attend a couple of disciplinaries, which was extremely stressful, therefore adding to the vicious cycle of the migraines. The medication for my migraines made me sleepy so this, coupled with the pain, meant that the only thing I could do was to go to bed until it eased. If a migraine struck in the afternoon while I was at work, I tried to battle through the rest of the day. I really had no life and I had started to become reclusive. A simple social occasion such as going over to a friend’s house or visiting my nephew felt impossible.

What led you to Apex Headache Clinic?

I came across an article on Facebook about someone else who had attended Apex Headache clinic. I was really skeptical at first – I thought there’s no way this could work, after I had already tried so much. But I visited Apex’s website and was surprised to see so many interviews with other people who had great success and I realised it must be true so I booked an appointment. During my first appointment, Nicole diagnosed my headaches and migraines as stemming from my neck. I was so surprised. Because I work at a computer all day, my neck is stiff from time-to-time but I didn’t link this to the cause of my pain.

For me, the relief from treatment was immediate. I had a migraine before treatment and it cleared afterwards. A course of specialised treatment then followed to my neck and the migraines and headache became progressively less and less over the next few months. In the past 5 months, I have only had 2 migraines, which is unbelievable, considering how often I was getting them before. My headaches have also cleared completely.

How has Apex Headache Clinic changed your life?

My life has completely changed. To go from taking painkillers daily to just the odd time is amazing. A work colleague recently commented that she wished she had taken a before and after photo of me. Before, I was tired all of the time, had dark circles under my eyes and was pale. Now, my complexion is glowing and my eyes are open and bright. I feel like a brand new person.

What advice would you offer someone suffering from migraines?

I really can’t praise Apex Headache Clinic enough. I would tell anyone who has headaches or migraines to book an appointment with them. Apex has changed my life and I have no doubt that it will continue to do the same for so many others.

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