Israeli Hospital Performs Breakthrough Brain Surgery to Relieve Man's 40-Year Cluster Headaches

Meir, a 62-year-old Israeli lawyer, suffered from debilitating cluster headaches for over 40 years, beginning at age 16. His condition worsened over the last 13 years, with daily chronic pain and up to ten severe attacks per day, each lasting about an hour and a half. Cluster headaches, known for their extreme intensity and symptoms like tearing and nasal discharge, severely impaired Meir's ability to function and work.

After exhausting all conventional treatments, including nerve electrode implants outside the brain, Meir underwent a pioneering deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The six-hour procedure involved implanting an electrode into the hypothalamus, the brain region active during cluster headaches, connected to a pacemaker under the skin. The surgery was performed by Prof. Alon Mogilner and Dr. Siag Abd Elguad, with Dr. Avraham Ashkenazi present.

This is the first successful case of DBS for cluster headaches in Israel, with Meir reporting a 70% reduction in attack intensity and a 50% decrease in frequency. He described the pain as feeling "sucked into a black hole" and said the surgery significantly improved his quality of life and daily functioning. Dr. Ashkenazi called the case rare and a major breakthrough for patients unresponsive to existing treatments. Prof. Mogilner noted that globally only about 100 patients have undergone this procedure for cluster headaches, highlighting the significance of Meir's positive outcome.

Meir expressed relief and gratitude, emphasizing that the surgery restored his motivation and ability to perform everyday tasks that had become difficult due to chronic pain. He chose Shaare Zedek after careful consideration of medical centers in Israel and views the procedure as the only effective treatment for his condition in recent years.