Apex Headache Clinic gave me my life back!
40-year-old specialist cardiovascular nurse, Claire Lindsay from Fermanagh had been suffering horrendous migraines for years following a car crash. During these terrible years, she had tried everything in the hope of getting even a little relief, but nothing helped. Here, Claire shares how the clinic’s unique regime of specialist manual physiotherapy treatment for migraines and headaches, called The Nelson Headache Approach™, cleared her migraines, giving Claire her life back
Claire, when did your migraines begin?
A few years ago, my migraines began after I was in a car crash. I went to my GP and was put on triptans however I didn’t respond well to the medication at all, even at the lowest dose. Initially the medication did help my migraines however it made me feel very disorientated and like I wasn’t in control, so I didn’t like to take it. I went for a CT scan and MRI scan of my brain and spine, but nothing was found and I was still completely debilitated by my migraines.
How did the pain affect your life?
At it’s worst the pain and migraine symptoms were completely devastating. I have 3 children aged 12, 8 and 4 years old and when I had a migraine I couldn’t look after them as I usually did. When a migraine would happen, I didn’t want to worry my children so on a few occasions, I actually had to leave my husband to look after them and go to my parent’s house and lay in a dark room for 3 days unable to lift my head, just having water and pain relief as I wasn’t even able to eat until it had passed. There was a point where I had to take off work as I couldn’t keep trying to push through the pain as when I had a migraine the pain would radiate from my head down into my neck, it was awful. At this time, I felt so down and I couldn’t be there for my husband and family like the wife and mother I wanted and had been before. I was always a real go getter, so this was completely out of character for me.
What led you to Apex Headache Clinic?
One night I felt totally helpless with another migraine and I was awake scrolling the internet. I had already tried everything including a kinesiologist, a chiropractor, keeping a migraine diary, the list goes on but when I came across the Apex Clinic Facebook page I saw a post about a nurse who had migraines and I could relate to her story. The next morning, I called Apex Headache Clinic and arranged a call back from one of their specialist headache physiotherapists. On the phone call I felt so listened to and safe to talk about how much I was suffering with my migraines. I then arranged an initial assessment which was a big commitment for me as I live in Fermanagh, but I was willing to make the journey as I would have done anything if I thought it might help.
How has your life changed since having treatment?
From my very first appointment with my physiotherapist, Nicole, I got relief. Alongside the hands-on physiotherapy treatment, Nicole assessed my pillow and gave me advice to follow which also helped my recovery, she was so knowledgeable, and I could really tell that she lives and breathes what she does. The change has been remarkable, life changing for me and my family! I have gained total improvement in my quality of life as a mother, wife and nurse. I have had no migraines in over 4 months and I am now on a maintenance pathway attending roughly once every 12 weeks.
What advice would you offer someone suffering from migraines?
Don’t think twice about booking an appointment at Apex Headache Clinic, the treatment worked amazingly for me and has given me my life back!
To book an appointment at Apex Headache Clinic, call 028 9048 4153. No GP referral is necessary.