Since April 1, Vitaz’s multidisciplinary pain center has been recognized by the Riziv for the treatment of cluster headaches with neurostimulation. This recognition is good news for the patient: the implants for the treatment will now be reimbursed. This treatment is offered by only five hospitals throughout Belgium.
For years, Vitaz has been focusing on the treatment of cluster headaches, a serious form of headache that is unfortunately also often called ‘suicide headache’. Patients for whom other treatments do not help or do not help sufficiently are often at their wits’ end. Anyone who qualifies after a multidisciplinary screening can be treated using occipital neurostimulation. This is a minimally invasive technique in which electrodes are placed subcutaneously in the back of the head and connected to an implanted battery. The patient can operate this himself with an external device. 83% of treated patients experience a good long-term effect on cluster headaches and therefore an improvement in quality of life.
Patient Dirk Devolder (51) from Izegem can only confirm this: “About 20 years ago I started to suffer from headaches a lot. To such an extent that I was at home three times for several months because I could no longer work. It was also a very big burden for my family. My son plays basketball but it was unbearable for me to go to his games. I immediately started having severe headaches. After the correct diagnosis of cluster headache was finally made, I ended up in Vitaz 9 years ago where I was implanted with a stimulator. Immediately afterwards I was pain free, that feeling was indescribable. My quality of life improved enormously: I could drive a car again, cycle, play sports and go on excursions with the family. The operation of the device is very intuitive. I am now on my second stimulator and I am still very enthusiastic.”
Unique treatment
The treatment is quite unique. Vitaz is the only hospital that offers this in the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg. In East Flanders, only the Ghent University Hospital also offers neurostimulation. In recent years, the Vitaz multidisciplinary pain center – together with the neurology department of Ghent University Hospital – published the treatment algorithm and the successful results. A new and sustainable type of electrode was developed and launched in collaboration with the medical industry.
Refund
Since April 1, Vitaz has been able to offer the treatment implants reimbursed as one of the five implant centers in Belgium that have recently been recognized for this by the Riziv. Until recently, the costs were borne by the patient, but support was provided by Vitaz’s medical innovation fund, the medical industry and some local service clubs. Due to the recognition, reimbursement will now be provided by the Riziv.
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Tags: Pain center Vitaz centers Belgium recognized neurostimulation cluster headaches
