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Migraine

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Ask the Clinician

Should I Try the Spring Device for Migraine If Cefaly Failed?

Ask the Clinician , Health Professional

Question:

I’m confused about something and hope you can help. I’ve been using the Cefaly and have been reading about the Spring device. Do they work the same? Should I try the Spring even if the Cefaly isn’t doing me any good? Thank you, Cheryl.

Answer:

Dear Cheryl;

The Cefaly and the Spring are both external devices. That’s about where their similarities end. They are vastly different.

The Cefaly delivers electrical pulses via an electrode to stimulate the trigeminal nerve. The theory behind the preventive use of the Cefaly is that the neurostimulation sedates the trigeminal nerve, and that the sedative effect helps reduce migraine frequency.

The Spring is used to deliver a magnetic pulse to the back of the head. At this time, it’s FDA approved for the acute treatment of migraine with aura and is in clinical trials for preventive treatment. When used as acute treatment, it interrupts the irregular wave of electrical activity that occurs in the brain during a migraine attack (cortical spreading depression). When used for migraine prevention, it’s used twice a day to prevent the cortical spreading depression from starting.

We can’t advise you as to whether you should try the Spring. Only a doctor who has reviewed your medical history and examined you in person should offer that advice. That said, the Cefaly not working for you doesn’t indicate that the Spring won’t work. The two devices work very differently.

Thank you for your question,
Dave Watson and Teri Robert

Credit: Thinkstock

About Ask the Clinician:

Credit: Thinkstock

Questions submitted to our Ask the Clinician column are answered by Dr. David Watson and Teri Robert.

If you have a question, please click** HERE. Accepted questions will be answered by publishing the answers in our column. Due to the number of questions submitted, no questions will be answered privately, and questions will be accepted only when submitted via THIS FORM**. Please do not submit questions via email, private message, or blog comments. Thank you.

**_Please note: We cannot diagnose, suggest specific treatment, or handle emergencies via the Internet. Please do not ask us to diagnose; see your physician for diagnosis._** For an overview of how we can help and questions we can and can't answer, please see _**[Seeking Migraine and Headache Diagnoses and Medical Advice](https://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/c/9924/162100/migraine-headache-diagnosing)** _.

We hope you find this general medical and health information useful, but this Q & A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. For all personal medical and health matters, including decisions about diagnoses, medications and other treatment options, you should always consult your doctor. See full Disclaimer.

Do you have questions about Migraine? Reader questions are answered by UCNS certified Migraine and headache specialist Dr. David Watson, and award-winning patient educator and advocate Teri Robert. Questions may be submitted via our submission form. Accepted questions will be answered by publishing the answers in our Ask the Clinician column. For an overview of how we can help and questions we can and can’t answer, please see Seeking Migraine and Headache Diagnoses and Medical Advice.

Published On: Jan 21, 2017
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