Patient Successes - Buffalo Spine and Sports Institute

Patient Successes - Kathy King

At the age of twelve, Kathy King experienced her first migraine headache. It was a painful experience that quickly became a pattern of head and neck pain that attacked the pre-teen without rhyme or reason--if she played out in the sun, if she got too much sleep, if she didn't get enough sleep, if she was stressed, if she smelled gasoline, perfume, cigarette smoke or apples and almost always before her monthly period.

Soon, even simple things such as loud noises or bright colors set off
Kathy's migraines. To make matters worse, she didn't realize that her
headaches were actual migraines, so she treated them with aspirin,
which actually made them worse.

Finally, when Kathy turned 14, she went to see her family doctor
about her, “headaches.” After the exam, the physician prescribed
muscle relaxers and some powerful pain medication, in combination
with advice that the young teen's headaches would go away when
she went through change of life. It's a moment Kathy recalls with
great clarity.

"Needless to say, as a young teenager, I was pretty discouraged by
that news. However, rather than give up, I became determined to
learn more about migraines and their cause. What I discovered was
that food can be a contributing factor. "

Kathy's food revelation launched her on a strict “migrane” diet,
eliminating chocolate, peanut butter, anything with nitrates-
including lunchmeat and hotdogs, msg, aspartame, caffeine, fresh
bread dough, frozen foods, dairy products and aged cheese from her
diet. Yet despite her best efforts, she continued to suffer debilitating
migranes on an almost daily basis.

Ultimately, in desperation, the young woman turned to an endless
chain of pain specialists, neurologists, physical therapists and
chiropractors. As Kathy recalls, the wide variety of physicians and
clinicians treated her with strong medications and tranquilizers which
often made her sick to her stomach and, in some instances, seemed
to make her headaches worse.

"At one point a doctor prescribed Imitrex injections, however, they
seemed to cause my migranes to come on so fast that I was almost
literally knocked off my feet. "

As Kathy married and became the mother of two, she turned to alternative treatments such as exercise and bio-feedback to try and stem her intense head pain. In 2000, she even decided to undergo a complete hysterectomy, hoping the hormonal change would eliminate the migranes. It did not. Left with what seemed like no options, Kathy took significant life step.

"Finally, I took an early retirement from my job, hoping that the relaxtion would help. Unfortunately , it did not. And so,my life was reduced to days and nights hanging over the toilet, vomiting in excruciating pain."

In 2007, Kathy came across a magazine article explaining the ways that BOTOX was helping migraine sufferers. As she investigated further, Kathy discovered that physicians at Buffalo Spine and Sports were administering Botox treatments. Without hestitation, Kathy made an appointment for an assessment and ultimately, for her first Botox treatment. To her amazement, for the first time in 48 years, she experienced relief from her migraine pain. She terms the result, "...like a miracle."

Now, every three months Kathy get shots in the trigger areas of her head and neck, which allows her to live migrane free. As a result, she has been able to return to work four days a week and has not been forced to call in sick, even once. It's a whole new world for a woman who thought her life was pretty much over.

"I have been blessed with a new happiness and passion for life, thanks to the doctors at BSSI and their botox treatments. Even more amazing is that I can run and play with my grandchildren and truly enjoy my life everyday."