This Headache Journey

In this episode of This Headache Journey, host Adam Flaherty sits down with the insightful Elizabeth Bardwell, LCPC, NCC, MS, a Clinical Professional Counselor from Tide Meadow Counseling in York, Maine. Elizabeth specializes in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy and shares her expertise on how this modality can help people not just with emotional pain, but with physical complaints like chronic headaches and other types of pain. Here’s what you’ll hear about in this episode:What is EMDR and how does it work?How mental health and physical pain are connectedWhat is an EMDR session like?What issues or symptoms can EMDR treat?EMDR vs. hypnosis and other therapiesReal-world EMDR success storiesCould EMDR be a fit for you?Who else do you know who suffers from chronic headaches or migraine? Do them a favor by sharing this episode with them. It could literally change their life!Learn more about Elizabeth Bardwell and Tide Meadow Counseling at https://elizabeth-bardwell.clientsecure.meSeason 1 of This Headache Journey in sponsored by gammaCore™ Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve StimulatorThe content of this episode does not constitute medical advice and should be discussed with your own healthcare provider before acting on it.#headache #migraine #chronicheadaches #chronicmigraine #tensionheadaches #clusterheadaches #headacherelief #emdr #emdrtherapyHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Anyone up for a "needle nap?" In episode 7 of This Headache Journey, we explore acupuncture for headache and migraine relief.Adam Flaherty shares his personal experiences with acupuncture which span many years. He describes the sensation and the results he's gotten from committing to recurring acupuncture sessions.Additionally, he sits down with Emily Pendergast, a licensed acupuncturist at Wild Roots Acupuncture and Wellness in Dover, New Hampshire, to demystify what acupuncture really is, and how it can help to reduce the frequency and intensity of chronic headaches and migraines.Topics include:What acupuncture is—through both the lens of traditional Chinese medicine and modern Western scienceWhat a typical acupuncture session looks likeWhat the needle injections really feel likeHow treatments are individualized for each person, especially when it comes to headaches and migraineHow acupuncture works differently from (and sometimes overlaps with) dry needling and trigger point injectionsTreatment schedules, and why consistency mattersWho benefits most from acupunctureOther conditions acupuncture can help with, from sleep and emotional wellness to allergies, hormonal balance, and preventive healthWho else do you know who suffers from chronic headaches or migraine? Do them a favor by sharing this episode with them. It could literally change their life!Learn more about Emily Pendergast and Wild Roots at http://www.wildrootsnh.org/Season 1 of This Headache Journey in sponsored by gammaCore™ Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve StimulatorThe content of this episode does not constitute medical advice and should be discussed with your own healthcare provider before acting on it.#headache #migraine #chronicheadaches #chronicmigraine #painrelief #headacherelief #headachetreatment #clusterheadaches #acupuncture #dryneedlingHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Are your headaches or migraines so frequent and so intense that you'd consider being injected in the head and neck more than two dozen times in the course of just a few minutes?In this episode of This Headache Journey, Adam Flaherty shares his personal experience trying Botox injections as a treatment for his for chronic headaches. Adam sits down with nurse practitioner Brooke Phenicie to dig into how and why Botox can be so effective for many people who struggle with headaches and migraine.Brooke brings her unique perspective as both a headache patient and an expert provider—she’s the founder of Renew Migraine and Wellness Center in Glenview, Illinois, and has helped countless patients reclaim their lives from debilitating head pain.Here’s what you’ll learn:How Adam's own Botox experiences went (the needles, the recovery, and the results)The history of Botox: from cosmetics to pain reliefWhat makes a headache or migraine patient a candidate for BotoxWhat Botox costs and how insurance typically handles coverageA step-by-step walkthrough of what it’s actually like to get Botox for headaches—including how many injections, where they go, and what to expect for discomfort and side effectsWhy the treatment locations matterThe success rates Brooke has seen in her clinicAnswers to common questions about long-term safetyLearn more about Renew Migraine & Wellness Center at www.renewmigraine.comSeason 1 of This Headache Journey is sponsored by gammaCore™ Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator.Who else do you know who suffers from chronic headaches or migraine? Do them a favor by sharing this episode with them. It could literally change their life!The content of this episode does not constitute medical advice and should be discussed with your own healthcare provider before acting on it.#headache #migraine #chronicheadaches #chronicmigraine #headacherelief #botoxinjections #botoxformigrainesHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In episode 5 of This Headache Journey, we dive into the world of vagus nerve stimulation for headache and migraine relief. Host Adam Flaherty sits down with Dr. Peter Staats, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of electroCore—the innovative company behind gammaCore, a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation device. During the interview, Adam shares his experience using the gammaCore device so that listeners have a clear understanding of what it feels like, and Dr. Staats brings both clinical expertise and personal passion to the table.Topics include:What the vagus nerve is, and how it's connected to headaches and migraine The science of vagus nerve stimulation Which headache types gammaCore is approved for, and why clinical studies drive those distinctions How you use gammaCore, and how it works How to try gammaCore for yourself (with the endorsement of your doctor) Success stories and the global impact of this product Risks & caveats: Dr. Staats shares the main situations where caution is needed (like for patients with pacemakers), and emphasizes the device’s overall safety profile.Who else do you know who suffers from chronic headaches or migraine? Do them a favor by sharing this episode with them. It could literally change their life!Learn more about gammaCore at http://gammacore.comSeason 1 of This Headache Journey in sponsored by gammaCore™ Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve StimulatorThe content of this episode does not constitute medical advice and should be discussed with your own healthcare provider before acting on it.#headache #migraine #chronicheadaches #chronicmigraine #painrelief #headacherelief #headachetreatment #clusterheadaches #vagusnervestimulation #gammacoreHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In Episode 4 of This Headache Journey, host Adam Flaherty shares his personal experience navigating chronic headaches, sharing a story about how a routine eye exam discovered that his eyes work harder than most peoples' eyes to refocus between objects at various distances. This discovery landed him at Victory Visual Training in the care of Dr. Amy Pruszensky.Adam shares his experience with visual training, and welcomes Dr. Amy onto the podcast to explain the relationship between the eyes and chronic headaches.Dr. Amy Pruszenski is known as the "eyeball coach" and has a passion for helping people optimize their visual system. She explains how vision therapy—a kind of physical therapy for your eyes—can truly make a difference, especially for those of us who feel like we've tried everything to relieve our headache pain.Inside this episode, we break down:Adam's surprising diagnosis about his “weird” eyes and how that relates to chronic headachesIntroducing vision therapy: what it is, how it works, and why Dr. Amy Pruszenski does what she doesThe role of computer vision syndrome, screen time, and blue light in headachesWhat happens during a vision therapy examCommon visual dysfunctions that might trigger headaches—and the connection to migrainesVisual training techniques, including glasses, prisms, and exercises, plus why “practice” matters a LOTThe role of sleep, nutrition, and other “team members” in dealing with chronic headacheDr. Amy's thoughts on new treatments like compression boots, red light therapy, and vagus nerve stimulationWho else do you know who suffers from chronic headaches or migraine? Do them a favor by sharing this episode with them. It could literally change their life!Learn more about Victory Visual Training at http://visualvictorytraining.comSeason 1 of This Headache Journey is sponsored by gammaCore™ Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator.The content of this episode does not constitute medical advice and should be discussed with your own healthcare provider before acting on it.#headache #migraine #chronicheadaches #chronicmigraine #painrelief #headacherelief #headachetreatment #tensionheadaches #visualtraining #eyestrainHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In Episode 3 of This Headache Journey, host Adam Flaherty explores sphenocath, a targeted procedure aimed at reducing chronic headache and migraine pain. Joining him is Dr. Demetrio Aguila, a peripheral nerve surgeon and pain specialist from Total Pain Solutions by Healing Hands of Nebraska. Dr. Aguila is known for his expertise in treating tough headaches and nerve pain with innovative approaches.Adam candidly recounts his personal experience trying sphenocath (twice!), and Dr. Aguila offers insightful explanations about how and why this procedure works for so many patients, even when other treatments have failed.Topics include:What is the sphenopalatine ganglion, and why is it so important in headache pain?The science behind “resetting” pain pathways in the brain and how numbing this nerve cluster can break the cycleA step-by-step walkthrough of what patients can expect during a sphenocath procedureSuccess rates for sphenocath and how many sessions are typically recommendedWhat it feels like—and honest talk about possible side effects and who might not benefitHow long results usually last and guidance on when to try again (or move on)Why technique matters, and what to consider if it doesn’t work for you the first timeCost/insurance considerations and what makes Dr. Aguila’s approach uniqueWho else do you know who suffers from chronic headaches or migraine? Do them a favor by sharing this episode with them. It could literally change their life!Learn more about Dr. Demetrio Aguila’s practice at totalpainsolutions.net, and check out his free educational videos on YouTube.Season 1 of This Headache Journey is sponsored by gammaCore™ Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulator.The content of this episode does not constitute medical advice and should be discussed with your own healthcare provider before acting on it.#headache #migraine #chronicheadaches #chronicmigraine #painrelief #headacherelief #headachetreatment #tensionheadaches #clusterheadaches #sphenocath #sinusheadacheHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In episode 2 of This Headache Journey, Adam Flaherty dives into his experiences trying neurofeedback to help manage years of chronic daily headaches. Joining him is Pam Blodgett, founder and clinical director of Brain Training of New England, who brings decades of expertise in working with neurological conditions, head injuries, and brain training.Adam shares candidly about his experience across multiple neurofeedback sessions with Pam, and Pam provides some fascinating education about the brain and its relationship to chronic pain.Topics include:·       What exactly is neurofeedback and how does it differ from biofeedback?·       The important role of brain mapping·       A description of a typical neurofeedback session·       Why traditional medical scans sometimes miss the root causes of chronic headaches and migraine·       The science-backed improvements seen with neurofeedback·       Neurofeedback myths and misconceptions vs realityWho else do you know who suffers from chronic headaches or migraine? Do them a favor by sharing this episode with them. It could literally change their life!Learn more about Brain Training of New England at braintrainingofnewengland.orgSeason 1 of This Headache Journey in sponsored by gammaCore™ Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve StimulatorThe content of this episode does not constitute medical advice and should be discussed with your own healthcare provider before acting on it.#headache #migraine #chronicheadaches #chronicmigraine #tensionheadaches #clusterheadaches #headacherelief #neurofeedbackHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this inaugural episode of This Headache Journey, host Adam Flaherty kicks things off by sharing his own long, complex journey with chronic daily headaches—and then dives into a candid conversation with Dr. Brett Racine, chiropractor and owner of Bonfire Chiropractic and Wellness in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.If you’ve wondered whether chiropractic care could help with your headaches (or if you’re just curious about what really happens in the chiropractor’s office), you'll find great value in this episode and conversation.Topics include:Dr. Brett Racine explains his philosophy on chiropractic: it’s not just for back or neck pain. Instead, he views it as a holistic “lifestyle success strategy” that can help our bodies and brains better cope with the stress of modern lifeDiscussion around common misconceptions about chiropractic care, including what it can (and can’t) do for patientsDr. Brett breaks down what makes his practice unique, focusing on a “brain-based” approach and a heavy emphasis on patient education in four domains: nutrition, movement, mindset, and sleepInsights into cervicogenic headaches—headaches that originate in the neck—and why upper spine alignment is important for some headache sufferersDr. Brett performs an adjustment on Adam, and Adam describes what it actually feels like, both with a handheld instrument and by hand, demystifying the process for newcomersExpectations and realities of a chiropractic care plan: how long you might need to commit, how much it might cost, and the importance of giving healing enough timeTips for finding a reputable chiropractor, navigating red flags, and the value of listening to your “gut feeling” when choosing a practitionerWho else do you know who suffers from chronic headaches or migraine? Do them a favor by sharing this episode with them. It could literally change their life!Season 1 of This Headache Journey in sponsored by gammaCore™ Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve StimulatorThe content of this episode does not constitute medical advice and should be discussed with your own healthcare provider before acting on it.#headache #migraine #chronicheadaches #chronicmigraine #painrelief #headacherelief #headachetreatment #tensionheadaches #clusterheadachesHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This Headache Journey is a podcast for those who suffer from chronic headache and migraine, and who’ve reached their limit of bouncing from provider to provider, investing ample time and money in each new intervention suggested to them, hoping the next one will finally be the one that works.  Hosted by chronic headache patient Adam Flaherty, the podcast takes a refreshingly honest look at many of the treatments and modalities used to treat chronic headaches and migraine. In each episode, Adam breaks down a different intervention, candidly sharing his firsthand experience with it, and bringing in top experts to unpack why that intervention works for some, who it's best suited for, and how it fits into the bigger picture of managing chronic headaches and migraine.No hype. No miracle cures. Just real experiences, real science, and practical insight to help you advocate for your own wellbeing.  If chronic headaches or migraine have been controlling your life for far too long, This Headache Journey is about taking your power back—one informed step at a time.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.