GUEST INTERVIEW - Migraine and Physiotherapy with Roger O'Toole - MAM2022

Roger O'Toole from the Melbourne Headache Centre talks to Sarah, our Director of Engagement, Communications and Campaigns, about migraine, physiotherapy and the Watson Headache Approach.
Find out more about Roger and the Melbourne Headache Centre here: www.melbourneheadachecentre.c...
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[@tammyforeman920]

Love love love that he discusses addressing central sensitisation as “changing how sensitive the brain stem is” rather than “how the patient perceives symptoms.” Shows an incredible awareness of the power of language in discussing these things and the importance of minimising stigma and blame on the patient. It’s not a matter of our cognitive interpretation of the pain being wrong - it’s the central nervous system rewiring itself in a misguided attempt to protect itself. Discussing it as such is so important for reducing the tendency we have to question our own perception of our pain.

[@MelbourneHeadacheCentre]

Thanks Tammy, Yes, I spend many hours each week with clients who have had to defend the assumption that if there is 'nothing on the scan' then it must be a mental health disorder. It shows a fundamental misunderstanding about how pain (or other symptoms), anxiety and mood interact. You are not meant to feel 'good' when you have pain. You are meant to think about it, and try to avoid it happening again. Its adaptive - for acute symptoms. It's maladaptive for chronic. So much by way of anxiety and depression symptoms are being driven from the 'bottom-up' rather than a true behavioural or mental heath disorder. In many cases it is not a 'comorbidity' - you have migraine AND a mental health disorder, but they are different, and entirely predictable manifestations of the same process. Our medical system struggles with 'functional' or 'primary disorders' - nothing to 'fix', no bugs to kill. So the next 'silo' that fits the symptom list is mental health. The way we view this relationship, and the judgements that are inherently linked to it needs to change. Thank you again for your feedback, Regards Roger@MHC

[@debrareinholdtsen3101]

Thank you Roger and Sarah, great little interview. Lots of information and easy to understand. If anyone is considering seeking out a Watson Headache Clinician this is a great introduction and helps explain that sensitised brain stem in Migraine, Headache and other related conditions.

[@MelbourneHeadacheCentre]

Thank you for the feedback Debra. I'm glad you found it easy to understand. It's a complex issue that can be challenging to explain - I'm always looking for the best way to convey the concepts. Thanks for your again for commenting as it all helps shape the message. Regards Roger@MHC