"In addition to reducing headache frequency and severity surgical treatment for migraine leads to significant improvements in everyday functioning and coping ability according to a study in the January issue httpjournals.lww.complasreconsurgFulltextAbility_to_Cope_with_Pain_Puts_Migraine_Surgery..aspxPRIDPRS_PR_ of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery httpjournals.lww.complasreconsurg the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons http ASPS.  Our study demonstrates the high functional disability experienced by migraine patients compared to those with other pain conditions  comments ASPS Member Surgeon William Gerald Austen Jr of Massachusetts General Hospital. The results also show that migraine surgery can lead to dramatic improvements in functioning and coping ability even in patients who are very disabled before surgery. Standard Pain Assessments Show Functional Improvement after Migraine Surgery  Surgery has become recognized as an effective treatment option for selected patients with chronic severe migraine headaches who do not respond to standard treatments. Developed by plastic surgeons who noticed that some migraine patients had fewer headaches after cosmetic foreheadlift http migraine surgery procedures address trigger sites linked to certain headache patterns. However most studies evaluating migraine surgery have relied on migrainespecific questionnaires. Pain questionnaires used in the evaluation of betterunderstood and more common pain syndromes have not been applied to migraine surgery Dr. Austen and coauthors write. The study evaluated the performance of one such questionnairethe Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire PSEQin migraine surgery patients. The PSEQ has been used to study treatment outcomes in patients with a wide range of pain conditions. It provides information not only on pain scores but also on functional disability and ability to cope with pain when performing normal daily activities. The study included  patients who underwent migraine surgery performed by Dr. Austen between  and . Before and after surgery patients were evaluated on a standard migraine questionnaire the Migraine Headache Inventory or MHI and on the PSEQ. The final analysis included  patients who completed both questionnaires at oneyear followup after migraine surgery. Before migraine surgery the patients had extremely poor PSEQ scores indicating a high level of disability. Preoperative pain coping scores in migraine patients were substantially lower than reported for patients with other types of chronic painfor example neuropathic related to nerve damage pain arthritis or lower back pain. One year after migraine surgery the patients had a very large percent improvement in average PSEQ score on average  percent higher than baseline. That was much higher than in studies of patients with other types of chronic pain for example an average  percent improvement after nonsurgical treatment for low back pain. Migraine surgery improved functioning and coping even in patients with very low initial PSEQ scores. Thats in contrast to patients with musculoskeletal problems such as low back pain in whom low PSEQ scores predict poor treatment outcomes. It seems that migraine surgery patients can recover function and ability to cope with pain very well after surgery in stark contrast to what has been shown in other pain conditions Dr. Austen and coauthors write. They note that surgery also led to an average  percent improvement in the migrainespecific MHI score measuring outcomes like headache frequency duration and severity. The new study shows continued positive outcomes after migraine surgery in appropriately selected patients including large improvements in migrainerelated disability. Dr. Austen and colleagues conclude Chronic pain questionnaires such as the PSEQ add to our understanding of functional outcome after surgery and put pain in migraine surgery patients in perspective to betterknown pain conditions.  Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery httpjournals.lww.complasreconsurg is published by Wolters Kluwer http Click here to read Ability to Cope with Pain Puts Migraine Surgery Patients in Perspective. httpjournals.lww.complasreconsurgFulltextAbility_to_Cope_with_Pain_Puts_Migraine_Surgery..aspxPRIDPRS_PR_ DOI .PRS. About Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery For more than  years Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery http has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery brings subscribers uptotheminute reports on the latest techniques and followup for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery including breast reconstruction experimental studies maxillofacial reconstruction hand and microsurgery burn repair and cosmetic surgery as well as news on medicolegal issues. About ASPS The American Society of Plastic Surgeons http is the largest organization of boardcertified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than  physician members the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than  percent of all boardcertified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in  the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer N.V. 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