"I call him a miracle doctor."
Kevin Harris should have been enjoying retirement: he had a faithful dog by his side and a circle of thoughtful friends. But it’s hard to have fun when debilitating migraines take over. “It was every day. It made me a very irritable, meaner person,” said the 66-year-old Kansas Citian.
Harris had dealt with migraines for years. “I just kind of took a lot of Tylenol, way too many, which is not good for your stomach and I never really did conquer it,” Harris said. Besides his migraines, he was relatively healthy. Harris suffered a few concussions when he was younger, thanks to youth football and a few motorcycle wrecks. He wondered if his migraines were the result of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a condition often connected to professional football players who have repeated head injuries.
At the urging of his primary care physician, Harris met with Board-certified Neurologist Parashar Koirala, MD, who specializes in treating patients with migraines and other chronic headache syndromes. Dr. Koirala knows that patients who suffer from migraines can feel defeated.
“Migraine is often misunderstood because it’s invisible,” said Dr. Koirala. “People may assume you’re fine just because you “look okay,” which can be isolating. But migraine is a real, disabling neurological condition.”
After a quick exam, Dr. Koirala explained that Harris’s pain was caused by a pinched nerve in the upper part of his neck. This nerve controls sensation in the back of his head and all the way up to the very top, which is why he felt pain in those areas. Dr. Koirala said that it was a fairly common condition, especially in older adults or people with a history of trauma. He then scheduled a procedure called an occipital nerve block, which involved four injections of an anesthetic and steroid "cocktail" into the back of Harris’ head. “For many patients, a few rounds of occipital nerve blocks are needed,” said Dr. Koirala. “Others may need maintenance injections every few months. For Mr. Harris, we’ll keep monitoring his progress and treatment and base our approach on how he’s feeling over time,” said Dr. Koirala.
“It immediately numbed it and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. This is a miracle!’” recalled Harris.
While the impact on Harris’ life was huge, he jokes that it’s his friends who are enjoying the benefits. “I kind of sounded like a grumpy old man all the time. My friends, true story, were happier than I was when I got those shots.”
Harris is grateful Dr. Koirala was able to identify and treat his pain so quickly, calling him “a miracle doctor.” He acknowledged that because there are no visual symptoms, people who suffer from migraines often felt like their pain isn’t being taken seriously. He understands that could keep some migraine sufferers from seeking treatment, but encourages them to find a doctor who they trust.
Now, Harris is focused on maintaining his progress. He signed up for a gym membership, is pushing himself to walk more, and plans on enjoying the pool. “I want to be happy the last 20% of my life,” he said.
Dr. Koirala recommends that people who are struggling be specific when speaking to their doctor. He suggests tracking symptoms: how often they happen, what triggers them, and how they affect your life. “You deserve relief,” he said, “and there are many effective options available.”
To schedule an appointment at the University Health Headache Clinic, call 816-307-8682. Click here to read more about the specialists and services at UH Neurology.